Page 14 of The Dueling Duchess

Guy laid a hand on Sin’s shoulder, stopping him, because this topic was too important to discuss while striding down the street.

Once they were face-to-face, he said, “Sin, I know these next months are critical—I know that we are going to Europe for Benjamin, not so I can enjoy a long-delayed tour of the Continent.”

Sin smiled at that last part, as Guy had hoped.

“I won’t do anything to jeopardize our mission or Ben’s life,” he promised.

Sin huffed out a breath. “I know that, Guy, and I don’t mean to hector you. It is only that you have a tendency to, er, leave a trail of brokenhearted women in your wake.”

Guy wanted to argue that there weren’t that many women who pined for him, but the man had a point. Guy was lighthearted when it came to his amours and always hoped that his lovers—he never dallied with maidens, only with women of experience—would see their time with him for what it was: temporary sensual pleasure. But often women began angling for marriage—even if they hadn’t wanted to marry him at the beginning. Even women who were married sometimes developed terrifying obsessions.

In his experience, the only way to avoid crushing a lover’s expectations was to leave long before she could develop any. And that—unfairly enough—was why he’d earned a reputation as a heartless libertine, all because he’d tried to avoid heartbreak.

A drop of moisture hit him on the nose and shook him from his thoughts. He saw that Sin was still watching him, his brow furrowed in concern.

Guy smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. “You have not offended me, old man. Truth be told, the last thing I need to be doing right now is indulging in erotic adventures. Not after the conversation I had with my grandfather last week.”

Sin winced. “Bad news?”

“Yes. His Grace told me that matters on the ducal estate have taken an abrupt turn for the worse.”

“Guy—are you sure you want to go to France right now? I won’t blame you if—”

“Don’t be daft. Of course, I’m going. Besides, my grandfather said that the end of the year would be soon enough to announce a betrothal. The marriage itself I might put off until the middle of next year.”

He didn’t need to explain the subtext of that statement to his friend—they both knew what he meant. Once a man was betrothed to an heiress, his creditors suddenly developed both patience and a willingness to extend yet more credit.

And the Fairhurst dukedom was critically in need of both patience and credit.

Sin made a sympathetic noise. “Anyone in mind?” he asked as the rain began to fall more heavily and they resumed walking.

Guy laughed, but there was no amusement in it. “No. But my mother and grandfather have been conspiring on a list.”

He had planned to tackle their list once after Easter, but now that he would be away from England until at least the end of April, he’d have a few months’ reprieve.

Guy knew this journey across France was not without danger, nor was it undertaken frivolously. Indeed, it was deadly serious, but that didn’t mean he didn’t look forward to spending time with his two best mates.

Sin, he already saw far too rarely.

And Elliot Wingate—the other man who would accompany them—he saw even less, even though Guy shared lodgings with Elliot. But his friend worked for the government—an agency so secretive it didn’t have a bloody name—and had been run off his feet these past few years.

Hopefully that would change now that the war was over and the Corsican Fiend was caged on Elba.

When they reached the small, inconspicuous town house they were using while they prepared for their mission, Sin turned to him. “Want to come inside and get dry?”

“No, I need to be on my way.”

“Shall I see you and Elliot for dinner at the club tonight?”

“I can’t speak for Elliot as I’ve not seen him for two days, but I’ll be there.”

“Excellent.”

“Oh, and Sin,” Guy said as his friend turned to go.

“Yes?”

“Taking advantage of women who labor for their crust is not something I do. I shan’t tamper with Miss Tremblay or anyone else who works at Farnham’s. You have my word on that.”