Chapter Ten
Denham House
St. James Place
Mayfair, England
“What the devil, Ravenhurst? It’s nearly dinnertime.” If he was in a disgruntled mood, Wallace couldn’t help it. He was hungry and he wanted sustenance. “I wasn’t expecting guests, but you are welcome to share what we have.”
“I am aware of that, but I have news concerning Buckthorne you ought to hear. Perhaps that was enough for the interruption.” He moved to the sideboard and poured a measure of brandy into a cut-crystal glass. “But if you’d rather me delay…”
“Of course not,” Wallace snapped with a narrowed gaze. “Out with it.”
Ravenhurst came across the room with his brandy glass in hand. “The news isn’t good, I’m afraid. Mildly interesting, perhaps, but not good.”
“So then you think to tease me with it?” Wallace glanced from the door at the other side of the room to where his friend stood sipping his liquor.
Abigail hadn’t yet come down to join him, and neither was she haranguing him to join her in the dining room.
That was a relief. After blowing out a breath, he asked, “Well? Tell me what happened.”
“Rumor holds Captain Buckthorne absconded with a former mistress to his ship that is in dry dock.”
“What?” Shock slammed into Wallace’s chest. “He kidnapped a woman of the ton?” It didn’t matter her position in society. That behavior was outside of enough.
“Oh, yes, and took her to his ship. They spent the night there. He brought her back to her townhouse by noon the following day.”
Why did Ravenhurst seem far too impressed with the whole story, as bad as it was? Wallace narrowed his gaze. “To what end?”
The other man snorted. “Why do you think, Eggleton? He was randy, and he probably didn’t wish to bring her to the club due to there being little privacy.
” His shrug lifted one shoulder. “No doubt he fucked the woman senseless.” He took a sip of brandy.
“At least, that’s what I would do. And did with the woman who is now my wife,” he added with a wink.
“Damn.” Slowly, Wallace shook his head. “You know this is your fault.”
“My fault?” Ravenhurst’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “How the devil do you figure that? I wasn’t even there.”
Wallace drilled a forefinger into his friend’s chest. “You started this whole domino affect by kidnapping a woman for a revenge plot then kept her for sexual favors and play.” Why hadn’t he seen that he was rapidly losing control over his clubmates even back then?
“Now the rest of the members assume such a thing is acceptable behavior. How many of our friends have done exactly that? Over the past two years?”
“Does it matter?” Ravenhurst didn’t look remotely sorry or regretful. “You must admit that kidnapping a woman is the best way to remove her from a situation that doesn’t suit the situation.”
The man had a point, but he refused to utter those words aloud. “Regardless, what is Buckthorne playing at?”
“I would have no idea, since I haven’t seen him since the incident.”
“God.” Wallace shoved the fingers of one hand through his hair. “Will he try and claim his birthright, then? Does he believe she can help him?”
“Perhaps not for that, but clearly, he believes she can do something else for him.” The sexual insinuation there was unmistakable. “However, I’m not certain I would want to reclaim the title if I were in his situation.”
That was odd. “Why?”
“Well, Buckthorne is not exactly destitute. From what I understand, he’s made a fortune.
Additionally, he’s a mostly respected ship captain.
Some in society think he’s a murderous pirate, of course, not that such is a bad thing, and I suppose he might have done…
things during his privateering days.” Ravenhurst paused to drain his brandy glass.
“Also, he is retired from the Navy. That gives him some respect. Why the hell would he want to take on the mantle of duke if he didn’t need to? ”
Wallace frowned. “Because it’s his fate. It’s his birthright. He can do great things with that reach.”
“Ha.” Ravenhurst shook his head. “To my way of seeing it, he has a choice. His brother wants the title; Buckthorne doesn’t. He can walk away if he wants.”
While it made sense to a point, it wasn’t feasible.
“Not now, not since he announced his presence and his identity in a rather bold way. And one can’t just give up his title.
” God, what a coil. Why couldn’t his friends just live their lives quietly?
Of course, they wouldn’t be members of Club Damnation if they did.
“The title is his by birth; he is the legal heir.”
“This is true, but if the beau monde doesn’t believe him…” He shrugged. “Either way, we at the club will back whatever decision he makes.”
Could a man truly escape his God-given destiny? Wallace didn’t think so. It would be interesting to see the story play out. “Yet none of that explains what the deuce he’s doing with the woman.”
“The mistress? With him just recently off a ship from a long stint at sea?” Ravenhurst snorted. “Surely, you’re not too old to wonder why.”
“Fuck off, Ravenhurst.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course I know why in that regard, but I’m afraid he’ll do something halfcocked.”
A wicked glint entered the other man’s eyes. “Oh, no doubt he’s fully cocked, which is why he’s with the woman.” A chuckle escaped him. Obviously, being married and a father had an effect on his sense of humor. “Perhaps he’s easing himself back into London life.”
Wallace frowned. “By fucking his brains out with a former mistress?”
“Why not? They have a history, and I have a feeling there is more to that story than either of them has admitted.”
That’s what he was afraid of. The damned history. With a woman. No doubt it would lead Buckthorne astray, and soon. “So we should leave him to it, even knowing that he wants to kill his half-brother and probably his stepmother as well?”
Ravenhurst’s expression suggested he didn’t care either way. “That’s none of our concern. When have any of us not been in such a position? We’ve all found our paths.”
“That doesn’t make it legal!” Wallace wanted to tear his hair out in frustration. “You can’t just go around and murder people who’ve wronged you.” What the hell was his club coming to?
Ravenhurst slowly shook his head. “When a reasonable man is pushed past his limits, something must be done, Eggleton. You know this, and if that means taking a matter into our own hands, so be it.”
This was insane. He never wanted this for any of his friends. “Good God, how long will it be before the authorities come after me for hosting all you completely mad men at my club?”
There was no threat in the inquiry, and both men shared a laugh.
“Leave it alone, Eggleton. Life will go on as it was always supposed to whether you approve or not. Buckthorne will find his way. Haven’t we all landed on our feet after what seemed like reckless behavior or impossible situations?”
“I suppose so.” Even he heard the grudging tone in his voice.
“All right then.” Ravenhurst nodded, but he grinned as he set his empty cut-crystal glass on a small table nearby. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go back home. My wife and I are trying to have another baby, and that means—”
“I know what it means,” Wallace said as he held up a hand.
Yet he was pleased the other man was so happy and content with his life.
“Go. You both deserve the best. Perhaps you’ll have your heir.
” Then he waved his friend away. “Fucking hell. These men will be the death of me, I swear it,” he whispered to himself before scowling into the flames of the fireplace.
It would make him more comfortable if one of his friends sought Buckthorne out to make certain he was still in his right mind. Yet he blew out a breath. Of course he wasn’t in his right mind. If he were, he wouldn’t have done any of this time.
Then we’ll make certain he’s not in immediate danger. It’s all I can do.