Which is absurd. Entirely absurd for that seems remarkably close to jealousy.
The Duke of Wexford was arrogant, infuriating, overprotective, meddlesome, and impossible. She ought to be delighted if one of them wished to marry him.
Instead, for reasons she absolutely refused to examine, the thought left a very unpleasant feeling in her chest.
One she pointedly ignored.
Good thing he refuses to marry anyone…including me.
Chapter Eight
Are house parties designed specifically to test a man's patience?
Damien stood at the foot of Amberhall Manor's grand staircase with a glass of brandy in hand.
Around him, guests drifted through the entrance hall in elegant clusters. Laughter echoed beneath the soaring ceilings. Servants moved quietly amongst the gathering crowd, carrying trays of champagne and refreshments.
Beside him stood Caspian Turner, Duke of Amberhall and, more importantly, the husband of Damien's sister.
The poor fool looked entirely content, which Damien found mildly suspicious.
Marriage is supposed to make a man tired, irritated, and perpetually inconvenienced.
Instead, Caspian appeared happier than ever. He took a sip of his brandy and glanced sideways at Damien. “I still don't understand it.”
“That is because you insist on discussing subjects beneath my interest,” Damien replied dryly, lifting his own glass.
Caspian laughed outright. “You are thirty years old.”
“A tragedy, I know,” Damien said.
“You are wealthy,” Caspian continued. “You possess a title. You should be married.”
Damien groaned and tipped his head back for a moment. “There it is.”
“There it is,” Caspian agreed with obvious satisfaction.
They stood together watching guests descend the staircase, greeting acquaintances and drifting into the ballroom beyond. Caspian swirled the remaining brandy in his glass before fixing Damien with a patient look. “You cannot avoid the topic forever.”
“I have managed quite successfully thus far.”
Caspian shook his head. “Why?”
Damien rolled the amber liquid around his glass and watched it catch the light. “Because marriage is not for me.”
The answer came easily. It always had.
Marriagecomplicates matters. Marriageweakens judgement. Marriageencourages foolish decisions.
His father had claimed to love his mother and still managed to make her miserable. Damien had learned early that affection and devotion were not necessarily the same thing. It was far safer to avoid both.
Caspian regarded him with the expression of a man preparing to dispense wisdom, and Damien immediately regretted remaining in the conversation.
“You know,” Caspian began.
Here it comes. The wisdom.
“Marriage can change a man.” Caspian winked.
