“There is no need to thank me for looking out for her as if she were a member of my family,” Thorn said, his mouth quirking upward at Gideon’s expression of absolute shock. He was too old to receive a lashing like an errant child. “I assure you the pleasure was all mine.”
“Christ, Thorn,” Gideon said, sounding as indignant as the lady’s father.
Lord Dewick leaned into the coach, and for the first time Thorn questioned the wisdom of baiting the gentleman. It angered him that Olivia’s father was so careless with his only daughter. Instead of being treasured, she was wandering about Town while the baron dallied with Lady Grisdale or anyone else who caught his fancy. Any clever rogue could have seduced her.
He knew this firsthand. The taste of her orgasm still teased his lips and coated his tongue.
“Pleasure and sin. Oftentimes entwined … and yet very few people comprehend there is always a price to be paid,” Lord Dewick said, thankfully unaware of Thorn’s thoughts. “You will honor me with a visit tomorrow.”
It was not an invitation.
Thorn gave him a measuring look. “We could speak now.”
“No, I confess, this evening is not a good time for me. I am weary from my journey and I wish to see my daughter.”
Fair enough. Even so, the heat in the baron’s gaze revealed that there was more to his refusal than exhaustion. “How is early afternoon?”
“I will be expecting you, Lord Kempthorn. Pray do not disappoint me.” Lord Dewick inclined his head and moved to leave.
Something caught his eye, causing the man to hesitate. He leaned down and when he straightened he had something in his hand. “Just one more thing.” The baron tossed the leather glove Thorn had removed earlier into his lap. “You should have more care with what belongs to you.”
Lord Dewick said farewell to Gideon and departed.
Without waiting for an invitation, his brother climbed into the coach. His gaze dropped to Thorn’s bare hand and his expression became even more foreboding as he considered the reason for it.
“You are home early,” Thorn said lightly.
“And you are a bit late. It is obvious you had an adventurous evening,” Gideon said visibly striving not to lose his temper. “And you have managed to include Olivia, too. I cannot wait to hear all of the details.”
* * *
Olivia was waiting for Lord Dewick in the front hall.
She crossed to meet him halfway. “How angry are you?”
“Have you done something for me to be angry about, Olivia?”
“Well, no, not really. Though as my father, you might feel differently when it comes to Lord Kempthorn.” She trailed after her father as he headed in the direction of the library. “I will not be able to sleep until we discuss what happened.”
“What do we need to discuss?” he politely inquired. Lord Dewick opened the door to the library and waited for her to enter the room. He shut the door and went straight to the cabinet where several glass decanters and wine bottles were stored.
Olivia recalled the night Gideon had caught her talking to the marble bust. Later, he had kissed her in the back gardens. She brought her hands to her cheeks to hide the blush from her father.
“A little port should help both of us sleep,” he said.
She waited as her father poured the port into two glasses and handed her one. “Papa, it would be foolish for me to deny that Lord Kempthorn kissed me.”
“Aye, daughter, it would.”
“A kiss,” she said, refusing to meet her father’s gaze. “There is nothing to be upset about. It happened once. I cannot fathom it occurring again.” Olivia frowned down at the glass of port in her hand.
“You have always been a sweet, dutiful daughter,” Lord Dewick mused out loud. “However, you are dreadfully naïve when it comes to the intentions of a gentleman. You also lack the ability for deceit. Whatever happened between you and Kempthorn was more than a kiss.”
“Papa—”
Lord Dewick walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead. “Finish your port and then go to bed. I will settle this with Kempthorn tomorrow.”
A frisson of unease twisted in her stomach. “But—”
“Lady Grisdale warned me about the Netherwoods, and I did not listen,” he said, turning away from her. “I thought Gideon was the one you favored, which proves I have not been paying enough attention to you.”
Heartening words, to be certain, but she did not wish for him to take the earl to task about what her father thought he witnessed. “Lord Kempthorn will not tolerate being lectured by you or anyone.”
“And my daughter is not to be trifled with by any gentleman,” her father replied angrily. “I know how to deal with young Kempthorn.”
“And if I asked you to cancel this meeting?” she said, giving him a steady look.
“If you ask, then I will consider the matter much worse than I had assumed,” the baron coolly replied. “Perhaps I should be calling for pistols at dawn rather than a conversation with your young gentleman.”
Thorn was not hers in any fashion.
“If I cannot dissuade you then I will take your suggestion and retire. Welcome home, Papa.”
Olivia handed her glass of port to her father and fled the room.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Thorn was surprised to find St. Lyons, Rainbault, and Chance in his game room when he and Gideon had arrived at the town house. His cousin and friends had probably been there for at least an hour, since St. Lyon and Rainbault had discarded their evening coats and were playing a game of billiards.
“I thought we were meeting at the gaming hell to play Hazard?” he asked, entering the room. “Chance, would you mind sharing some of that brandy. My throat is a bit parched.”
He glanced at his twin, who was far from finished with their argument. His ears were still ringing from his brother’s accusations.
Was it your intention to ruin Olivia? Do you despise her so much?
It hurt that his brother had such a low opinion of him.
“A change of plans,” Rainbault said, studying the billiard table as he pondered his strategy.
“Did Dewick find his daughter, Gideon?” Chance picked up the half-filled bottle of brandy and poured some in a glass for Thorn. “I assume she is well, but this business with Norgrave has unsettled all of us.”
“Ask my brother,” Gideon said, walking over to the marquess and claiming the glass of brandy that had been poured for his twin. “After all, he was the one who insisted on seeing Olivia safely home.”
St. Lyons, who was leaning against the wall while he waited for his turn at the table, appeared amused by the tension between the brothers. “What have we missed?”
“Nothing,” Thorn said, plucking the bottle from his cousin’s hand and pouring his own glass of brandy.
“Lord Dewick caught Thorn with his hands on his daughter,” Gideon revealed.
His friends started at the news, and then everyone looked at him with humor and curiosity in their eyes.
“I do not believe it,” St. Lyon said as he pressed the butt of his cue stick just under his chin as he denounced Gideon’s accusation.
“I confess, I am not convinced either,” Rainbault said, bending over the table as he positioned himself to strike the billiard ball.
Gideon sputtered in disbelief.
“Dewick is mistaken. Thorn is too discreet with his affairs,” Chance added.
“I am relieved someone in the family does not believe I am a villain,” Thorn said to annoy his brother.
He lifted his glass and saluted him. Righteous bastard, he thought uncharitably.
“I do not believe this!” Gideon muttered.
“You have been gone too many years to remark on Thorn’s habits,” Rainbault said, straightening. He glanced at the viscount. “Your turn, St. Lyons.”
The gentleman stirred and moved away from the wall. “He is very particular about his lovers. How long has it been since you bedded a woman, Thorn?”
St. Lyon motioned dismissively with his hand. “I will wager it has been months.”
“At the very least five months,” the duke said.
Chance chuckled. “If we are placing bets, I wager it’s been more than six months.”
He mumbled an expletive that would cause even a sailor to blush. “Nosy gossips … all of you. Keep out of my business.”
“Lives like a monk, if you want to know my opinion,” St. Lyons teased. “Tell me, Thorn, do you have to shake off the dust when you present your cock to a wench?”
“At least I have one. You have dipped yours in so many females, I am amazed it hasn’t fallen off,” Thorn taunted back with affection infusing his voice.
“I am particular about my lovers,” the viscount said in feigned outrage.
“He limits to himself to females,” Chance said, his mood lighter since he had left Lady Purles’ residence. “I suppose one could call that being particular.”
“I disagree,” Rainbault said. “St. Lyons, do you recall that one night when we—”
Gideon threw his empty glass to the floor. It shattered and effectively silenced everyone as his brother charged at Thorn. His twin seized him by the front of his coat and drove him backward. The back of Thorn’s legs struck and knocked over a rosewood gaming table, sending the concealed contents skittering across the rug. Chance, St. Lyons, and Rainbault were shouting and slowly moving toward the brothers. However, none of it mattered to Thorn. He and Gideon had been avoiding the unspoken issues between them for a long time.
Thorn’s back hit the wall with enough force to rattle the paintings, armor, and swords mounted on it. He gritted his teeth. “Are we fighting, Gideon?”
“I do not like the games you are playing with Olivia Lydall,” his brother said, holding Thorn against the wall. “First you visit her under the guise as me—”
“Really,” St. Lyons drawled. “You have been keeping some very intriguing details to yourself, Kempthorn.”
Chance stood within arm’s reach but did not interfere. “Your mother is fond of Miss Lydall, cousin. As is Tempest and her sister. You will have half the ladies in our family furious with you if you break that girl’s heart.”
Gideon retreated an inch so he could batter the back of Thorn’s skull with the wall again.
“Damn it, Gideon. Will you calm down and listen to me,” he said, struggling not to laugh. There was nothing humorous about his predicament, however, his brother’s anger reminding him of the countless fights that had occurred in their youth.
“I am Lord Dewick’s witness, you arrogant blackguard!” Gideon shouted at him. “There are countless females in Town you could have used to knock the bloody dust off your cock, but you had to chase after Olivia.”
“My apologies for belittling your appetites for lechery, Thorn,” Rainbault said, clapping his hands. “Even I would not stoop so low as to bed an innocent miss for sport.”
“Olivia is untouched!” Thorn glared at all of them, then returned his attention to his brother. In his mind, he recalled all of the things he and Olivia had done, even though they had barely scratched the surface of depravity. “Well, untouched is not quite accurate. Nevertheless, the lady departed with her maidenhead intact.”
Chance expelled a low whistle to convey his surprise and turned away. He seemed content to allow Gideon to mete out the appropriate punishment.
Gideon’s green eyes darkened in pain and disgust. “If Dewick wants to put a bullet in you, I will not stop him.”
“The baron is a reasonable gentleman. He will mostly issue a warning to Thorn to court his daughter in a decorous fashion or stay away,” Rainbault said casually. “No one mentioned a duel.”
As if his twin could not bear standing so close to Thorn, he sneered in his face and released him. Gideon turned away.
Thorn’s chest constricted as pain made it difficult to breathe. “You readily defend the lady. Have you told her that you love her or are you just annoyed that I trifled with her first?”
From the corner of his eye, he noted St. Lyons’s wince.
The momentary distraction was all that Gideon required. He whirled halfway around and buried his fist into Thorn’s abdomen.
“Merde!” Thorn’s hand covered his stomach as he doubled over. His brother had not held back his strength, revealing the depth of his fury.
Rainbault had grabbed his arm to prevent him from punching Thorn again. “That’s enough.”
Gideon shook off the duke’s hand and pointed at Thorn. “I expect you to keep that appointment with Lord Dewick tomorrow.”
Thorn angled his head and gave his brother a sullen look. “And if I do not?
“Then I will offer my services as the baron’s second, and I will happily load his dueling pistols,” Gideon threatened. Without another word to their friends, he left the room.
Rainbault gazed contemplatively at the door Gideon had just slammed.
“It is unlike you, Thorn, to handle your affairs so messily.”
Thorn flinched as he rubbed his bruised stomach. His friend was correct. He felt as if his tidy life was unraveling and he was angry enough at the moment to blame his brother and Miss Lydall.
“This profound observation coming from a prince who has no people, no country,” Thorn said, ignoring the murmurs of objection from Chance and St. Lyon. “Concentrate on your own problems, Your Royal Highness. Leave me to mine.”
* * *
Olivia paced her bedchamber unable to sleep.
She had never seen her father so angry, and she was to blame. If she had only stayed in this evening, but she had been so worried about Thorn returning to the house that she had taken a risk and accepted Lady Arabella’s invitation. In the end, everything had circled back to the earl anyway and she had ended up in his arms. She had allowed him to touch her intimately. It was wondrous and embarrassing, and a part of her wanted Thorn to do it again.
However, she was too sensible to permit such boldness and intimacy with him again. After catching her and the earl in a very telling embrace, her father was certain to order Thorn to stay away from her. It was for the best. She understood it intellectually, but her heart was reluctant.
I may have to stay away from Lady Felstead and the rest of the family, too.
In his anger, her father might have come to the conclusion the Netherwoods were not a good influence on his daughter. Olivia’s chest tightened at the thought of never visiting Malster Park again.
She walked to her open window and stared down into the dark back gardens that would take her to Thorn and Gideon’s town house if she was daring enough to traverse the land in the dark.
Olivia started at the loud crack as something struck one of the panes of glass in the window. Frightened, she stepped back, but then heard someone whisper her name. She moved closer to the window and peered into the shadows.
Thorn.
Olivia stuck her head out of the window and realized there were subtle differences in the gentleman’s attire from when she last saw him. “Gideon?” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“I wish to speak to you,” was his reply. “Can you come outdoors without alerting your father?”
If her father caught her speaking to Gideon, he might order her to return to Treversham House. “Can it wait until tomorrow?” There was a sense of urgency in his voice, and she assumed he wished to discuss what he had glimpsed in the coach.
Unless Thorn confessed everything to him.
“I need to see you now.”
Olivia sighed. “Very well. Give me a few minutes.”
* * *
Olivia slipped out of the town house fifteen minutes later. To cover her state of undress, she wore a brown silk cloak over her linen nightdress. She was covered from her neck to her feet, but it did not negate the impropriety of meeting Gideon.
>
He strode over to her and clasped her bare hands within his gloved ones.
“Is something amiss, sir?” she asked innocently.
Gideon led her away from the door where they might be overheard to a nearby wooden bench. “Are you well?”
The query surprised her. “Of course. Why do you ask?”
“Your father was upset when he left us,” Gideon said, his face a dark mask. “I was concerned that he would have reprimanded you for the offense that should be laid squarely on my twin’s shoulders.”
“You need not have worried so,” she said, lightly touching him on the arm. “Papa was distressed and I did my best to console him, but he remains resolute in speaking with Lord Kempthorn.”
“As well he should,” Gideon said fiercely. “Thorn went too far this evening, and I intend to make him pay for it.”
Was Gideon jealous? After all, she had kissed him first. Olivia glanced away, troubled that she had come between the brothers. Gideon and Thorn would weather their difficulties. However, first she needed to ease his concerns that his twin had taken advantage of her.
“For a few kisses?” she asked blithely. “How can you condemn your brother when you are guilty of the same indulgence?”
“What are you talking about? I have not”—he swallowed his protest—“aye, you have the right of it.”
Gideon looked uncomfortable.
“You are one of my dearest friends and I have loved you for most of my life,” she confessed. “I could not bear it if I was responsible for the rift between you and your brother.”
“I love you too, dear friend,” Gideon said huskily. “I have missed our talks. During my travels, your letters comforted me, especially when I questioned my decision to leave England.”
“I am happy for it.”
“I do not understand this business between you and my brother.” He exhaled heavily. “I do not trust Thorn.”
Olivia’s lips parted as if to reassure her friend, but she hesitated. In truth, she did not wholly trust the earl either. He felt some sense of duty to watch over her. It still did not explain the growing attraction between them.
“Your brother would not hurt me,” she said, knowing the words were the biggest falsehood she had uttered all day. By opening her heart to the earl, she was giving him the power to break her heart. “Do you believe your twin will keep his appointment with my father?”
Waiting for an Earl Like You Page 21