Pausing on the threshold to regard her brother with a look of surprise, Angelika sniffled. “The duke proposed marriage, and I accepted, and then his valet said he couldn’t marry me because he’s already betrothed to Lady Phoebe,” she blurted.
Richard seemed to think on her answer for a time before he said, “So he’s not some sort of beast?”
She blinked and scoffed. “Not likeyou’reimagining,” she said as she urged him into the library. Only a few doors away was the guest bedchamber where she had left Andrew and his valet. “And he’s not the least bit disfigured.” Even as she made the comment, she was remembering his naked body. After they had made love, he had pulled off his shirt and then held her in his arms.
He was not disfigured in the least. His body was like that of one of the Greek statues her mother had ordered for the back garden. As for his face, well, he was more handsome than he had any right to be.
Oh, Andrew.
Apparently her body hadn’t sorted the news of his betrayal, for frissons of pleasure suddenly darted about beneath her skin.
Less than hour ago, she had been incandescently happy. Experiencing pleasures she could never imagine. Imparting pleasure without even understanding how. Speaking of a future with Andrew had made her realize life with a recluse might be lonely, but the freedom he would grant her would more than make up for his need to remain indoors.
Richard’s hand waving in front of her face had her giving a start. “What?”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re obviously in love with him,” he said. “So why are we going to look him up inDebrett’s?”
About to deny his supposition, Angelika let her last breath out in awhoosh. “His valet says he’s betrothed to Lady Phoebe,” she whispered.
His dark brows furrowing, Richard crossed his arms in a way that made him look like a younger version of his father. Despite her mood, Angelika nearly tittered.
“Lady Phoebe isn’t going to marry the duke,” Richard stated.
About to pull the latest edition ofDebrett’s Peerage and Baronetagefrom a shelf, Angelika paused and stared at her brother. “What?”
“Lady Phoebe isn’t going to marry the duke,” her brother repeated.
“How do you know this?”
“Because she promised Robert she would marryhimwhen he returned from his Grand Tour,” he replied.
Angelika blinked as she stared at him. “How… how is it you know this?” she asked, never having learned her older brother had a woman in mind to be his eventual marchioness. As far as she knew, he hadn’t been courting anyone after he completed university. “And are we speaking of the same Lady Phoebe?”
Richard shrugged. “Robert danced with her at the district ball before he left for Greece,” he said. “She was complaining that she was betrothed since birth to a beast, and she claimed she had no intention of marrying him.”
“The district ball?” Angelika repeated. “The one we hosted before Robert left for Greece?”
Richard settled onto the leather couch and stared at her in disbelief. “You hosted it,” he claimed. “Or father did. You always say I’m too young to attend, but I told you at dinner I was watching from the top of the stairs,” he added with a wicked grin. “And some other places during the evening.”
Angelika wasn’t about to tell him he was still too young to attend district balls, but thought better of it. He had information she needed. “Go on,” she said.
“I might have only been five at the time, but I remember it quite well. I saw Mr. Cooper from the draper store kiss my nurse.”
Angelika stared at her brother for a long time before she said, “That’s because your nurse and Mr. Cooper are married.”
Richard blinked before his eyes rounded. “Ewww,” he said in disgust.
“Tell me more about Robert and Lady Phoebe,” she ordered, gasping when Bronson appeared with her luncheon on a tray.
Behind him was Andrew, his expression unreadable.
Richard glanced up at the duke and immediately came to his feet, apparently aware the man was someone of importance.
Dipping a deep curtsy, Angelika kept her eyes downcast as Bronson placed the tray on the library table and then bowed before taking his leave. “Your Grace,” she murmured.
“Yes, do tell us more about your older brother and Lady Phoebe,” Andrew said, his words directed to the boy. “You are Lord Richard, I presume?”
Richard bowed. “Your Grace,” he said, struggling not to topple onto his head. “It’s very good to make your acquaintance.”
