Passions of a Gentleman (Gentlemen of Honor #3) - Rose Gordon Page 0,14

position, leaning back on his elbows. “Drake and Juliet are both reasonable—”

Brooke placed her finger against his lips. “Dear husband, don’t you know by now that I already have another plan?”

“I’m sure you do,” Andrew muttered, falling back against the pillows. He caught her hand in his. “It had better not involve me.”

Brooke pulled her hand free from his and used her fingertip to trace the edge of his hair-roughened jaw. “Oh, you already involved yourself when you made Simon escort Rae to the park today.”

Andrew groaned. “I was hoping their primal urges would have taken over and solved everything.”

“Primal urges on a walk?” Brooke scoffed. “Only you.”

“And you, too,” Andrew countered, snaking an arm around her and bringing her on top of him. “You know as well as I do that when love is involved, it doesn't matter where you are…a bed…a star gazing gazebo...the woodwork,” he said between kisses. “Location matters not if the attraction is strong enough.”

Brooke pulled back hesitantly. “Do you think I’m wrong?”

“Is that a trick question?”

“I don’t mean any of my plans. I mean about Henrietta and Mr. Appleton.”

“It’s as obvious as Lady Olivia’s red hair that he’s smitten with her. As for her…” He scratched his jaw. “I’m not an expert on your sex’s feelings,” he said with a shrug.

“Nor, need you be,” Brooke said with another kiss. “Only mine.” She kissed him again then put her head on his chest. “Sometimes what we want seems to be driven by what we cannot have. If she can have her smithy, perhaps she’ll see him how he really is and not how she thinks he is.”

“And if she decides to marry him?”

Brooke sighed. “Well, it is her decision.” She moved her fingers down toward his waist. “But I don’t think she will.”

Andrew encircled her wrist with his fingers, staying her wandering hand. “What are you planning?”

“Oh, so you do want to be involved,” she teased.

“No.” He released her hand. “It’s probably best I don’t know so I can plead ignorance when Drake finds out about all of this.”

6

Rae chided herself for being skeptical of Brooke. She was a magnet for scandal, not a liar. She wouldn’t rescind her promise to allow Rae a reprieve. Still, Rae wouldn’t allow herself to believe it until she arrived at Crumbles.

Of course then she’d have to contend with Juliet, but after evading Brooke’s matchmaking attempts, she should be able to avoid Juliet’s with ease.

“Already packed, I see,” Brooke said, breezing into Rae’s room.

Rae flushed and ran her clammy palms over her blue muslin skirts. “Please don’t take it as an insult to your hospitality. You and Andrew have been most kind to me.”

“But we’re no match for your Mr. Fisher,” Brooke said with a wink. Rae choked on a giggle.

Brooke reached for the red velvet bell chord and gave it a pull. “While the footmen bring your things down, let’s go over our plan again. It wouldn’t do for us to slip up in front of Juliet. She might hang me.”

Licking her lips, Rae nodded. “Or me.”

“All right, I’ve penned a letter to Juliet telling her of your time in London and that you’ve finally found someone on which to set your cap,” she said, handing Rae a folded, and sealed, piece of vellum.

Rae swallowed and took the paper from her chaperone. Yesterday, Brooke had been adamant that the only way Juliet would accept their story was for Juliet to have reason to believe that Rae had a prospect in London and was just visiting.

“I explained that he wouldn’t be able to distance himself from London long enough to attend Caroline’s house party.” At Rae’s smile, she added, “I tried to keep it as truthful as possible.”

Rae could have sworn she heard Brooke mutter something else after that, but wasn’t certain. “Perfect.” Instinctively, she gave Brooke a hug. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.”

Rae pulled back. “Pardon?”

Brooke plucked at the lace on her glove, then sighed. “I may have mentioned Mr. Appleton.”

Rae’s heart slammed in her chest. “Mentioned him? Mentioned him how?”

“That he’s a potential suitor,” Brooke said, holding her gaze. “Henrietta, she writes to me almost every day inquiring about you. She cares about you—and not just if you make a match. She really loves you.” She flicked her wrist. “I’m sure you know all of that already and I remember at your age that I wasn’t so impressed by my sisters’ love for me. But the fact remains, if I didn’t name a gentleman Juliet would be