Chapter One #2
William heaved a sigh. He’d made it to his thirty-seventh birthday, and in that, he was luckier than most in his family.
However, if he did die early, what would become of his title and estates?
The manor in Kent? This townhouse in London?
Though there were a couple of younger male cousins on his father’s side that everything could be passed down to, he wasn’t ready to concede defeat just yet.
Besides, those young men would destroy everything he’d worked toward regarding investments and newer farming techniques that netted stronger yields—except for last year, obviously.
“Not to butt into your affairs, but do you keep a current mistress?”
“Not really.” William shook his head. “I sent the last one packing about two months ago. She got a bit possessive, you see. I was tired of buying her gifts when she showed a marked decline in wishing to continue servicing me in the bedroom.” Those types of relationships were transactional, but for some men, they weren’t.
Some men fell in love with their mistresses over and above their wives, yet William stopped short of letting that happen.
“There must be something there, you know, to continue giving expensive parures she’ll probably pawn later. ”
“God, Wolcott, that’s a cold way of looking at it.” Scarborough shook his head. “There is more to a relationship than the carnal, you know.”
He snorted. “I doubt that.”
“The very act of letting a woman touch you intimately or you doing the same to her is an extension of trust. You might not believe emotions are exchanged between you two, but can you honestly tell me that when you couple, you feel nothing beyond the release?”
Heat crept up the back of William’s neck. “Perhaps there was something, but I don’t need to worry about that now.” Did he miss the mistress? A bit, but he could easily procure a new one if he wished.
“So, for the past two months, you’ve taken yourself in hand when the need arises?” One of the duke’s eyebrows rose as he pinned William with a look.
“Why do you want to know?”
The duke shrugged. “Just trying to get a feel for how desperate you are, all in the hopes of finding you a match.”
“Good God, but you are annoying.” William shook his head. “And yes, I suppose, in the vulgar vernacular, this is what has occurred. However, I’m not anxious to audition mistresses. There is a far more real reason I let the last one go.”
“And that would be what?”
He blew out a breath. “She wrote a damned book about our sexual couplings. Well, from what I understand, mine and two other protectors she had before me.” What the hell sort of woman put pen to paper and wrote about such private things?
“I beg your pardon, but did you say your mistress wrote a book about your sexual escapades?” The duke stared at him as if he’d grown a second head.
“Yes, exactly. She showed me the manuscript, perhaps three months ago, when she threatened me, said she intended to find a publisher. Said if I couldn’t find a way to keep her, she’d tell all my secrets and then some.” Damn, but he’d been enraged when that had happened.
“Ah.” Scarborough frowned as he kept his gaze on William. “And you refused to be blackmailed.”
“Of course I did. My family might be full of bad luck, but I didn’t work my whole life to build a fortune only to have a fortune hunter like her bankrupt me. That isn’t how it will go, and I refuse to be destitute so a mistress can swim in luxury.”
“Understandable, but did she publish the book?”
He shrugged. “I’m not terribly certain. I haven’t come across such a volume, and a legitimate company wouldn’t publish it with names intact, especially not when written by a woman.
” Another sigh left his throat. “Trust me, I have spent the past few months combing through book shops and auctions searching for such a volume. Even lending libraries, but if such a book exists, it hasn’t come into circulation in the usual places. ”
“Perhaps your luck has changed, then.”
“Let us hope so.”
“If the book does come out, do you believe she actually named names, or has she merely hinted at things?”
“According to the manuscript I saw, she definitely used my name and title. Now, whether a publisher would advise her to change that and just hint at the facts? I couldn’t say.”
“Well, it certainly can’t damage your reputation any more than you already have by yourself. Truth to tell, you don’t make your private life a secret.”
That prompted a chuckle on his part. “Thank you for that.” Since he hadn’t heard from the mistress, he assumed all was well.
And part of him hoped to keep it that way.
Though he prided himself on his skills in the bedroom he’d rather not have that bandied about in public forums or picked apart by gossips at every breakfast table in Town.
“At least when I was done with my mistress for the evening, I could come home and engage in the activities I’m truly interested in, above and beyond the sexual. ”
Of which there were many. At least he wasn’t dull.
“How surprising that you have interests beyond making a woman fly,” the duke said with a grin.
Another round of heat crept up the back of William’s neck.
“Of course I do. They are many and varied, such as botany, stargazing, and beekeeping if you can believe that. It’s one of the reasons I wish to return to Kent this summer.
I’d like to check on the hives for myself.
” In recent years, he discovered all these interests gave him a greater sense of satisfaction than having a woman in his bed, and no one was as surprised about that than him.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Scarborough stood, and William quickly followed.
“Listen, come to my townhouse and share dinner with my wife and I in a few days. I’m sure she knows a couple of eligible ladies we can introduce you to.
” He chuckled as he dropped a good-natured hand on William’s shoulder.
“Not to push you toward, just to see if you might have something in common with one of them.”
Which had, no doubt, been the purpose of this afternoon visit. Yet William flashed his friend a grin. “Must I?”
“I rather think you should.” The duke’s expression reflected nothing but honesty. “I’m not meddling; I just want you to be as happy as I am.”
This time he did point his gaze to the ceiling before settling it on the duke once more. “Fine. You’ll badger me about it until I consent.”
“I will.” Scarborough winked. “Also, ask you valet to make you clean shaven.”
“Why?” Shock went through his chest as he felt quite affronted by the request. Even went so far as to scratch the fingers of one hand through his close-cropped beard.
“Because society demands it. No one except perhaps dock workers sport facial hair.”
“Fuck off, Scarborough.” William shook his head.
“Society can go hang. I enjoy the whiskers, and so they shall remain.” It was the last thing about himself he had that was his own, a simple way of not conforming to a society that wished to ensure everyone looked exactly the same.
He’d be damned if he’d change merely to attract a woman he didn’t want in the first place.
“I’ll consent to your dinner, but my appearance is not up for discussion. ”
“If that is the only way I’ll gain you at a seat around my table, so be it.
” The duke strode toward the open drawing room doors.
“I look forward to seeing if my wife can match you. Catherine has many talents, as I’m finding out as time goes on, and frankly, I want you to find your own Catherine.
It will make such a difference in your life. ”
“I’ll have to take your word for that, Scarborough.
The woman in question will need to be a cut above all the rest in order for me to take notice beyond the surface.
” Once the duke left, William returned to his post at the windows.
As he observed the man climbing into his open carriage, he heaved a sigh.
Marriage. Bah. That simply wasn’t a state he wished to find himself in, for a variety of reasons. Far too messy, indeed.