“Areyou sure the gossip hasn’t spread?”Rowanasked.
“Restassured thatSliceandIknow because we, like you, have informants and underground sources.Iwouldn’t be concerned about it getting out to theton.”
“Oneof our informants told us about the duel,”Slicesaid. “Itwas of concern at the time.It’snot every day that anAustriandiplomat challenges anEnglishmajor onFrenchsoil.Itcould have led to something far more serious had the authorities not intervened.”
“Damn.IknewAugustahad a volatile temper, butIhad no idea she’d actually throw her affair in her husband’s face,”Rowansaid.Fora man whose career depended on being able to come and go unnoticed, news of a duel could have caused significant international problems, not to mention ruined his name and reputation—especially a duel with the cuckolded husband of a married woman thatRowanhad taken to his bed. “Iappreciate your not-so-subtle warnings, my friends, andIwill heed them.”Hewas done with dalliances for the time being, especially with temperamental married ladies who were bored with their husbands.
Thefour men lifted their glasses in a silent toast.
“Andhow is married life treating you,Latham?”Rowanasked, changing the subject.
“FrankieandIare very happy.We’reexpecting our third child inMay.She’sa wonder, andIstill can’t believe how luckyIam to have her and our children.Anddear littleMaggieis loving her role as a big sister.”
“Speakingof marriage, allow me to congratulate you,Slice, on your recent nuptials.Yousnared the beautifulLadyKatieLatham.”
“Thankyou,”Slicesaid, smiling. “Ithink she rather snared me.She’smost captivating—and can wield a foil better than most men.Inever thoughtI’denjoy being leg-shackled, butIhighly recommend it.There’ssomething to be said about married life,”Slicesaid with a grin.
“Everyday is an adventure with her, andIam loving every moment.”
“LittleKatieLatham.Well,IhopeLathamhere hasn’t given you a hard time.”Rowanchuckled.
“SliceknowsI’mhappy for them,”Lathamsaid. “Mysister went through a lot in the past few years, andIcouldn’t ask for a better brother-in-law.”
“Isuppose we’re the only hold-outs left,”Rowansaid toNelson. “Unlessyou have something to report?”
“Hardly,” he snorted. “Iprefer my bachelorhood, thank you very much.”
“Isthat why you’re always arguing withMissGowanswhen you’re in the same room?”
Nelsonmuttered a curse under his breath as he took a sip of brandy.
“MissGowansisKatie’scousin, isn’t she?”Rowanasked innocently.
“Youknow very well that she is,”Nelsonreplied.
“Prettygirl, with the loveliest wavy, auburn hair and the deepest green eyesI’veseen in a long time time.
“She’snot a girl anymore,”Nelsonsaid.
“Really?Dotell,”Slicequipped.
“Stubbleit will you,Slice.WhatImean is she’s a strong-willed woman with a temper to go with it.Besides, she’s told me to my face, that she quite hates me.Whichis why we always seem to end up in an argument whenever we’re in the same room,”Nelsonmuttered.
“Asthe saying goes,there’s a fine line between love and hatemy friend,”Lathamsaid.
“Well,I’dsayPaulais firmly on the hate side of that line,”Nelsonsaid.
Rowanpuffed on his cigar, pondering the comments of his friends.EvenNelson, who’d always been a confirmed bachelor, seemed very much engaged in his volatile relationship withMissPaulaGowans.Alot had changed duringRowan’stime away.He’dalways enjoyed his bachelorhood.Heknew his looks attracted ladies from all walks of life; he’d used that to his advantage in his work as an agent.Hismother had always told him his debonair charm would get him into trouble one day.Hesupposed she had been right.
Rowanhad never thought about marriage, never considered entering the marriage mart and having simpering air-headed debutantes being thrown at him from every matchmaking mama in theton.Thenagain,LathamandSlicehadn’t married simpering young women.MissPaulaGowanswasn’t one either.Butfrom his experience, those women were few and far between.Whichwas why he’d always enjoyed the freedom of his brief liaisons.Hisparamours were under no illusion that the affair would last long—a few weeks at best, which was why he was generally attracted to wanton widows and married women craving a thrill.
Ofcourse, given his new circumstances, he would have to rethink his philosophy about marriage.Butnot right away.Definitelynot.Hehad too much to do.Whilehe enjoyed dallying with a lovely lady as much as the next rake, it was never at the expense of his duties.Besides, it was time for a change.Andhe was up to the challenge of refurbishing his estates.
“Iunderstand your late great-uncle spent most of his time here inLondon,”Nelsonsaid, bringing them back to a more comfortable topic.
“Thatappears to be the case,”Rowansaid. “I’mfinding out more about him every day.Thelast timeIremembered seeing my great-uncle was whenIwas ten years of age.Hewas passing throughKent, where we lived, and stopped to visit.”
Rowan’simpression of his great-uncle had been memorable, to say the least.Scarboroughhad been a rather frugal sort before his marriage, one who’d kept his purse closed unless it was very important.Buthe was not unkind. “Lookafter the pennies, son, and the pounds will look after themselves,”his great-uncle would say.Hewas an intelligent man with a head for commerce.Theman had once givenRowana half-crown for helping carry his trunk to his room when visitingRowan’sparents’ home.Scarboroughhad carried one handle and had askedRowanto carry the other, eschewing the assistance of a footman.Perhapsthat hands-on attitude had been one of the reasons he’d been a shrewd businessman.Marriagehad eventually softenedScarborough.Butif his properties were like the one inSussex,Rowanwould have a considerable undertaking on his hands in restoring them—and making them profitable.
