by V J Dunraven
“Never. Cassie has tea, but she makes my coffee for me.” Jeremy lifted his chin to let his valet fix his cravat.
“You’ll ride all the way back to Waterford Park just to have your damned coffee.” Allayne raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
“Well, no—not really.” Jeremy flashed him a crooked grin. “I’m going home because I miss your sister—and I’ll be damned if I don’t see her soon enough.”
“Good God, man!” Allayne threw his hands in the air with a shake of his head. “We’ve only been out for two hours!”
“I’m afraid that is long enough,” Richard interrupted. “I must go see Desiree. The twins should be up from their nap and I promised to take them to the pond so they can go fishing with Edward.”
“Damnation!” Allayne waved at his valet to pack up his pistols. “Both of you have turned into domestic bores.”
“Ah, but you don’t understand domestic bliss, my friend.” Richard patted his back, humor twinkling in his blue eyes. “At least, not yet.”
“Gah!” Allayne ran his fingers through his long, wavy, honey-blond hair. “Please—I have no desire to get leg-shackled any time soon.”
“But shouldn’t you be thinking about it?” Richard plunged his arms into the sleeves of the velvet coat his valet offered. “You’re three and thirty, my friend—you’re not getting any younger.”
“I don’t care. I’m content with my life, my sport and my books.” Allayne let his own valet assist him with his coat. “I don’t need some chit hovering over me—not even for sex. God knows I have more than enough offers to indulge in liaisons to fill my calendar for the next five years.”
Jeremy laughed. “I know what you mean, old chap.” he slapped Allayne on the shoulder. “But I guarantee—you’ll eat every single word you said once you find The One. You just haven’t met her yet, that’s all.”
Allayne rolled his eyes heavenward. “Oh please—not another lecture from Reverend Jeremy, our very own fallen profligate.”
“I vacated the throne as the Most Notorious Rake in England when I fell in love with your sister.” Jeremy waggled his brows, his dark eyes teasing. “And the last time I looked, you—Allayne Carlyle—have taken up residency as the new King of Rakes.”
Allayne shrugged. “The more reason why I don’t need to tie myself up with a single chit—when there’s a whole buffet of them to sample out there.”
“Spoken like a true Corinthian,” Richard chuckled as his valet tied his straight blond hair loosely with a black ribbon on his nape. “I can’t wait to see you swallow your own tongue when you finally meet your match.”
“Speaking of a match,” Jeremy interjected, “Cassie said your mama is quite determined to send you off to Bath to meet the Earl of Weston’s daughter at the Countess Dowager Penthorpe’s house party in a few days.”
Allayne snorted. “Lord, I just wish my dear mother would stop this relentless matchmaking!” he rubbed the back of his neck. “She even has a list—can you believe it? I have met every single one of them and rejected them all, still—she would not leave me alone. Now she’s dispatching me to her friend’s godforsaken house party! I don’t even know anyone, nor do I have the acquaintance of the hostess, Lady Penthorpe, who I assume shall introduce me to this chit. I told her this will be the very last time I am letting her manipulate me into one of her schemes. If this chit turns out to be as insipid as the other ones, I am moving to Waterford Park—away from my mother.” he thrust a finger at Jeremy’s chest. “And don’t even think about saying no—I’ll sleep in the stables if I have to.”
“Of course you can stay with us at Waterford Park,” Jeremy replied with a sweep of his hand to brush the lock of black hair that had fallen on his forehead.
“Or you can hide here at Grandstone Park,” Richard added with a suppressed grin.
Allayne watched his two best friends exchange mischievous glances.
“Good God,” Jeremy suddenly exclaimed. “What a damn pickle!”
He and Richard burst out laughing.
“Do you think this is funny?” Allayne glared at both men. “What am I supposed to do in Bath for a fortnight with a bunch of peers my parents’ age?”
Richard and Jeremy looked at each other.
“Well, if you ask me, it seems Lady Carlyle purposely arranged for both you and the chit to be out of place,” Richard replied, his lips twitching. “Perhaps to encourage more time together?”
“Ah, Lady Carlyle has finally learned from the master.” Jeremy did a theatrical bow.
Both men dissolved into another fit of laughter.
“This discussion is over. I’m going home,” Allayne said in irritation, cocking his head at his valet who hastily gathered his things. His friends have certainly turned into silly love-struck buffoons.
“Nonsense.” Jeremy anchored an arm around his shoulders and strolled with him to the path leading to the driveway. “You’re coming with me to Waterford Park to visit with your nephew and my wife.”
Richard caught up next to him and gave him a slap on the back forceful enough to dislodge his tonsils. “Better than going back to Rose Hill, old chap—your mother might concoct yet another scheme.”
Allayne began to protest, but changed his mind. What good would it be to go home if his mother would not leave him alone? He could not even read his books in peace, for heaven’s sake, without her whining about their fortune going down the drain someday if he did not produce an heir. And not just one—she wanted a dozen! The lady must think he was some buck rabbit who could churn out a nest of offspring in a single mating. “Alright,” he finally acquiesced.
“Excellent.” Richard turned towards the garden entrance of Grandstone Manor. “My family and I shall see you there in an hour and a half. Joshua and Diana can’t wait to go fishing.”
“Cassie has plans to take Desiree to the village for some shopping,” Jeremy called over his shoulder. “That should keep them occupied while we’re at the pond.”
“Splendid! We’ll see you then.” Richard waved at them by the door before he went in.
The grooms brought their horses around and held the reins. Allayne mounted alongside Jeremy.
My family, Richard’s voice echoed in Allayne’s mind, as they urged their horses into a gallop. My wife, Jeremy’s voice sounded in his ear.
Goddammit! Allayne rattled his brain free from the uncanny taunts. What the hell was he thinking of? Yes, times have changed and his friends have other priorities now—but so what? He could still go on his merry way to London if he wanted to. He was a free man, without any liability and commitment to no one. He could do anything he desired!
Minutes later, they turned their mounts onto the tree-lined drive of Waterford Park. At the very end of the road where the wide steps to the mansion’s entrance ascended, his sister Cassie stood with her son Edward, waving at him and Jeremy.
Jeremy jumped off as soon as the groom steadied his horse. He went straight to his wife and gave her a kiss thorough enough to embarrass the servants, and make his son Edward whistle with his fingers in his lips.
Allayne chuckled and gave his nephew a sideways hug. As they waited for Cassie and Jeremy to pry their eyes away from each other, he could not help but feel a certain yearning in his heart.
It must be nice to have someone waiting home for you who loves you like that, a little voice in his head whispered.
No, thank you! Allayne chastised the annoying voice, shuffling his feet with unease.
“Did you say something?” Cassie swiveled her head at him, her eyes shining with happiness.
“Me? No—” he dropped a kiss on his sister’s blushing cheek. Oddly, he felt alone—like an outsider, even though he was family. “I was just—it’s nothing. Nothing at all.”
VJ Dunraven was educated with a Bachelor’s in Arts and Sciences and a PhD
in Dental Medicine. After spending years in the scientific and medical field, she decided to pursue her dream to become a designer, a venture that gave her tremendous fulfillment and success.
However, her creative inclination took a literary turn in the beginning of 2011. She began writing the first book in the Highest Royal Coven of Europe series, entitled The Silver Eyed Prince, immediately followed by two books belonging to the series called Heirs of Cornwall, entitled The Promise and Heaven Sent (The Wrong One).
When asked why she likes to write, she replied, “Don’t you want to escape sometimes? Once in a while, to that magical land where no problems exist, no bosses and teachers breathing at your neck and no hours to keep? I do—so I can live in that world and see it, feel it, touch it—in moments when real life gets too exhausting.”
These days, VJ Dunraven spends her time designing for private clients and pursuing her writing. She loves hearing from her readers! Visit www.VJDunraven.com to drop her a line, read more about your favorite characters and find out about the latest releases.