Gravenhurst had already started down the corridor. Grey caught him on the stairs. “I can’t allow her to go to my aunt’s apartments, wait for me, and then I never show up. I’ve got to give her some explanation before we leave.”
“No time.” Gravenhurst didn’t pause in his descent. “Pearson has just arrived, and if you haven’t figured it out already here is how the chain of command goes—the king commands us all.”
“You’re enlightening as usual.”
Gravenhurst flashed a smug smile. “The king has commanded Pearson to test you in two hours at the Merry Tavern. It’s my job to ensure you pass the test. From here to the tavern I’m going to tell you every trick of our trade I know for getting information out of someone.”
Grey was mad as hell. He had to excel to make his father proud. To be the best, he needed to know important information in advance. He had to be able to rely on Gravenhurst. “You’re just now teaching me this? Did it not cross your mind to impart some of this information sooner?”
Gravenhurst shrugged. “You’re a fast learner, and as you so rightly pointed out, you’re already rather deceptive.”
He pressed his lips together. He couldn’t argue with his own words. “What am I supposed to do?”
“You’re to get information out of Constance.”
“The chambermaid you’ve been bedding?”
“I only bedded her once. I found out she’s bedding some scar-faced blacksmith from the village who pays handsomely for her favors, and the thought of plundering a woman who just dallied with another man doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Your standards are impressive.”
“Much the same as yours were not long ago.”
Grey didn’t like that Gravenhurst saw that he wanted to change for Madelaine. It didn’t matter that it was true. Nor did it matter he would have eventually told his friend. He needed time. Having Gravenhurst recognize his turnaround made Grey feel weak and vulnerable, much the same as he had before he’d decided he didn’t need his father’s love. “I never paid a woman for favors.” Old habits of self-preservation were hard to quit. He was an ass.
“You should have. No doubt you would have encountered a lot less problems if you had. When a woman is paid for services rendered, she understands perfectly not to expect anything from you but her money.”
Grey could’ve pointed out that the women he had bedded understood not to expect anything more from him than pleasure, but Gravenhurst would argue the point and he’d been an ass enough for one night. Hell, maybe two. The conversation could go on all night. “Let’s forget it.”
Gravenhurst nodded. “Done.”
“Isn’t it rather risky to involve a chambermaid or any outsider in our training?”
“There’s no risk at all. Constance thinks she’s trying to win a bet with me. She has no idea you’re attempting to get information from her or about anything else.”
The amusement in Gravenhurst’s voice didn’t sit well with Grey. He trusted his friend with his life, but Gravenhurst had a sense of humor that had led Grey to more trouble than he cared to remember. “Just what sort of bet have you made?”
“I bet her she couldn’t seduce you.”
“You bloody jackanapes.” Grey itched to punch Gravenhurst in the jaw.
“What?”
“I can’t let some woman try to seduce me in a public tavern. What if it somehow got back to Madelaine?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not as if Lady Madelaine is going to have a conversation with the chambermaid.”
That was true enough, but it wasn’t the damned point. “I no longer welcome another woman’s touch.”
Gravenhurst scowled. “What’s your bloody point?”
“I don’t want Lady Madelaine to think I’ve lied to her or that I won’t be loyal.” His ears burned with exposing himself.
“There’s no choice.”
Bloody, blasted hell. Gravenhurst was right. Grey clenched his jaw. “If it gets back to Lady Madelaine I’m telling her you were trying to seduce Constance.”
“Fine.”
