Passions of a Gentleman (Gentlemen of Honor #3) - Rose Gordon Page 0,18
about such pleasures.”
“Say one more thing about my wife and you won’t need a second. We’ll settle this here and now.”
“Sorry, Appleton,” Gateway said not a bit apologetically. “I’d tell you what the ladies have schemed up, but alas, my duchess is expecting me tonight.”
“Poor girl,” Townson muttered. “Not a day goes by that—”
“And neither of you will have another blasted day if you don’t tell me what the hell is going on,” Simon demanded, crossing his arms. He couldn’t care less about whatever private feud these two wanted to settle. “What did you do?” he asked Townson then moved his gaze to Gateway, “And what do you know?”
“Yes, Gateway, what do you know?” Townson asked.
Gateway’s lips contorted into an overdone frown, his pale blue eyes full of mischief. “Just that there will be a new Mrs. Appleton gracing the ballrooms around London soon.”
“Ignore him,” Andrew said. His frown deepened. “It doesn’t make him disappear—unfortunately. But, as usual, Benjamin doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” He sighed. “He can’t help it of course—” he dropped his voice to a stage whisper— “it’s just part of his illness.”
Gateway snorted. “You might think my being in all the right places at the right time is an illness, but I think it’s an advantage.” He quirked a brow. “Now, you. You have an illness. It’s called prick-in-her-reticule-itis.”
Townson shrugged. “That doesn’t bother me. In fact, it’s preferable to having my head shoved up my own arse—an ailment you’ve suffered from your whole life.”
“Well, can he pull it out long enough to tell me what’s going on with Lady Townson and Miss Hughes?” Simon roared.
Both men sobered then exchanged looks.
“Miss Hughes has decided to go back to Crumbles for a few days,” Townson said.
“And?” Gateway prompted.
Townson scowled at him. “You might want to make a trip there to discuss Lord Drakely’s investments.”
Simon folded his arms. Never in his life had he been so damn irritated. There was something they still weren’t telling him. “Why would you think I need to do that?”
“Because it might have been implied that you and Miss Hughes have been courting,” Townson said matter-of-factly.
“Courting?” Simon echoed.
“With a strong prospect of marriage,” Gateway supplied helpfully, making every drop of Simon’s blood to drain straight to his toes.
8
If Rae had thought rushing to bed would dissolve her sister’s questions, well, she had thought wrong.
Contrary to her mother’s favorite words that everything looks better in the morning—it didn’t.
Well, that wasn’t necessarily true.
Simon Appleton looked awfully handsome standing in the doorframe of the dining room. Sure, his brown coat and dove pants were wrinkled and his cravat askew, and perhaps his face was a little flushed, but he was rather dashing for a man who’d clearly traveled all night.
Traveled all night? Her body constricted from head to toe. What was he doing here?
“You look like hell, Appleton,” Drake commented around a bite of kippers.
“That can happen to a man when his lady disappears from Town,” he drawled. His green eyes swirled with something she didn’t recognize.
“His lady?” Juliet said, grinning.
Drake said something that sounded oddly like ‘besotted fool,’ then raised his voice, and motioned toward the chair next to Rae, “Join us.”
Locking eyes with Rae, Simon strolled over to the unoccupied chair. He flashed her the widest grin she’d ever seen then took a seat.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered behind her napkin while the footman set out a plate in front of Simon.
“I was concerned about your safety,” Simon replied for all to hear.
Rae clenched her teeth. What did he care about her safety? “Well, now that you’ve seen for yourself that I made it here safely; perhaps you should be getting back to London.”
“Henrietta,” Juliet admonished.
“He’s an important man in London,” Rae defended.
Simon coughed. Rae ignored his quirked eyebrow. “What would all of those lords do if he wasn’t there to advise them on their investments?”
“Talk to his father?” Drake suggested.
Rae frowned.
“Oh, Henrietta dearest, no need to be bashful.” Juliet reached across the table and patted Rae’s hand. “I think it’s sweet he came here to see you.”
Rae would just bet Juliet did think it was sweet. She could see the wedding bells chiming in Juliet’s grey eyes.
“You will stay with us a few days, won’t you?” Juliet asked Simon. Without waiting for his response, her face lit and she said, “Oh, you must! On Saturday night the village is having its annual fair. You cannot miss it. Everyone in the village will be there—”