Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,6

sexual pleasure and drank and gambled to excess. They broke every rule of Polite Society and lived their lives with no goal other than achieving enjoyment. They’d even come up with rules of their own making to guide them on their hedonistic journey through life.

Rule Number One had been easily agreed upon. They never stayed overnight with a lover. It was one thing to bed a woman but to wake up beside her in the morning light was quite another. Women were difficult creatures and could become very possessive. Finding a man had remained with them all night put odd notions in their heads. Ones that Weston and George didn’t care to deal with.

Their second rule allowed them a wide field of choices. They could make love to any willing woman between eighteen and eighty. Younger than eighteen was like robbing the cradle, and therefore, forbidden. Over eighty would be unthinkable—although he could think of one countess who had passed eighty and still looked a good twenty-five years younger.

They parted ways on the third rule, which was perfectly fine with Weston. He chose to have sex with a woman only once. One time was enough for him to get a taste for her and satisfy his curiosity. More than that led to that air of possession again, which he avoided at all costs. George, on the other hand, limited himself to three encounters before he moved on to someone else. Weston couldn’t remember why but it seemed to work for George. It probably had something to do with charming his lover and leaving while things were still sweet between them.

Rule Number Four was de riguer. They must come home and bathe after any encounter. Not having the smell of a particular woman on them—or their sheets—was important. Their home and personal bed must always remain their sanctuary, which led to their final rule.

Never, ever, ever allow a lover in your own bed.

The only exception occurred at a house party. Both he and George had gone to women and brought prospective lovers back to their beds when they were away from home, experiencing entertainment in the country. Since it wasn’t their actual bed but a guest bed instead, they eased the rule whenever they found themselves away from London.

These rules had served the both of them well. Until now. Out of the blue, George opened up to him on their carriage ride to Devon. That, in and of itself, shocked Weston. They never talked about anything having to do with their emotions. Though they were closer than brothers, they never allowed the personal to come into their conversations. They drank and gambled. Raced their phaetons and boxed and hunted. The closest they came to discussing anything personal was comparing various lovers they’d shared.

Then George had gone and ruined it all. He’d bared his soul to Weston, telling him he was tired of the years spent in emptiness. The loneliness and waste of time. How he wanted only one woman in his life and a family with her.

And then he’d mentioned Samantha.

The thought of his sister caused guilt to rush through him. Once, he and Sam had been the closest of siblings. Then she’d wed a boring, harmless viscount and moved far north while he’d lived with the aftermath of Juniper breaking their engagement and the creative lies she’d spread about him. He tried to live up to and beyond those lies, running wild amidst society. Weston had never recaptured his closeness with his sister. He’d seen the disappointment in her eyes when they crossed paths during the following two Seasons. Then she’d stopped coming to London. He hadn’t written or visited. He had nothing to say. Nothing that would explain his actions. He’d promised himself long ago that he would never reveal what he had seen in Juniper’s bedchamber. Not even George knew why Weston hadn’t married his fiancée. He’d merely joined in the fun once his own bride jilted him in front of hundreds of guests at their wedding.

Closing his eyes, he continued sipping the brandy, wanting it to dull his pain. Of all things, Sam had turned up at the Windhams’ house party, the last place he would have expected to find her. He dreaded the confrontation that would occur between them. Then he noticed a change in the air and knew he had company. He wearily opened his eyes and saw his sister seated in a chair next to him. He steeled himself for whatever she would say,