Now,Rowanhad more money than he had ever imagined having the whole of his life.Hefelt a bit sorry for the old man, having died alone…without a family.Wasthat to be his own future?Hepushed that morose thought aside.Itwasn’t that he would never consider marriage and children, but he didn’t need any more complications in his life.He’dbarely escaped one entanglement inFrance; he certainly didn’t want to go looking for trouble now that he was back inEngland.
“Asyou know, the entailed seat of his peerage is inKent, and there were several other properties he purchased—inSussex,Edinburgh,Tintagel, andBaththatIknow of thus far.Ihave a meeting scheduled with my great-uncle’s man of business tomorrow and am hoping to gain more clarity on the other properties beforeIdive in.Fornow,I’mstaying at theMayfairtownhouse.”
“Youwill be busy,”Slicesaid.
Rowannodded with a grimace.Heshuddered to think in what condition he’d find those properties.Hehad decided to focus on theScotlandproperty first and then the entailed one.Itwould give his mother and sisters a chance to get one property tended to as they enjoyedScotland.FortheSussexproperty, he planned to hire a skeleton staff and have it cleaned up, which would allow him to see what repairs or renovations would be necessary.WithLathamso close, the estate inSussexwould be the property he would enjoy the most, and he wanted a hand in making it fit his needs.
“I’mglad we’ll be neighbors, inSussexat least,”Lathamsaid.
“Yes,I’llbe able to stop by and borrow a cup of sugar whenIneed to.”Helaughed.Itwas good to see his friends again.Thatwas the best part about coming home.Home.Hehadn’t had a real home since his boyhood.Butwas he ready to start his own family and take his place inSocietyasLathamandSlicehave done?Definitelynot.Hehad much to keep him busy.Thefuture could wait a little while longer.
“Ha!Thatreminds me.WhileIhave the three of you here, there’s somethingIneed to ask,”Lathamsaid. “FrankieandIare having a small holiday house party next month atLathamManor.It’llbe for close friends and family.Nelson,Slice, andKatieare invited,MissPaulaGowanshas already accepted.”
Nelsonarched a brow. “Ofcourse she did.”
“And, of course, you’re invited as well,Garrison.Frankiethinks you gentlemen will round the party out nicely.Andyou know how muchFrankieloves to entertain,”Lathamsaid.
ViscountessFrankieLathamhad a reputation as one of theton’s most enchanting hostesses.Shehad a way with people—she didn’t gossip and cared deeply about her friends.Whenhe married her,Lathamhad not only gained a beautiful wife but a daughter—Frankie’ssweet little girl,Maggie.
“Itake it you need a bachelor to round out the numbers?”Rowanasked, arching a brow.
“Well, funny you should mention that, butIdo believe at least one widow is attending,”Lathamsaid, tapping his chin.
“Areyou sure you want me around a widow?”Rowansaid in a wry tone.
“Givenyour recent exploits,I’msure you’ll be on your best behavior,”Slicesaid with a wink atThomas.
Rowancaught the conspiratorial exchange between his friends.Somethingwas definitely afoot. “Pleasetell your lovely wives not to get any ideas about matchmaking.Mystance on the issue remains the same—Ihave no intention of marrying for the foreseeable future,” he said, looking into the feigned, shocked faces of his three closest friends.
“What?”Lathamsaid. “Thereare no plans.It’sjust a relaxing house party.Foxhunting, cards, dinner, dancing, charades—that sort of thing.Justclose friends and family.Butyou three have made me a happy man becauseFrankiewill be thrilled you accepted.”
Rowanfinished his brandy.Thehouse party would be a welcome diversion for the holidays.Providedhis friends didn’t get any ideas about introducing him to any dewy-eyed debutantes.
CHAPTER ONE
DECEMBER 1, 1826 ~ MAYFAIR, LONDON
“Well, it’s official.I’ma virginanda widow,”LadyLucyJeffriesTenetsaid in a wry tone to her friends,KatieSorenandPaulaGowans, as she read the latest issue ofTheTonTattlerover tea.Accordingto the gossip rag, thetonwas again discussing her, even though the entire fiasco of her wedding and the aftermath had taken place over a year ago.Despiteher attempts at keeping the whole sordid story quiet, somehow, it had leaked out and had become fodder for theton. “IsupposeI’llalways beUnluckyLucyin the eyes ofSociety,” she said, trying to keep her voice from trembling.Sheglanced at her friends. “I’mat a loss as to how to fix this.It’sas ifIhave an albatross around my neck.”
“Youhave nothing of the sort around your neck,”Paulasaid.
“Youare the loveliest and sweetest woman we know, with the most loving heart,”Katiesaid.
“Andwe’re here to help in any way we can,”Paulasaid, laying her hand overLucy’s.
PaulaandKatiewere cousins, but the trio had become close friends over the years.
“You’reright,Iam lucky to have friends like you,”Lucysaid, blinking back tears. “AndI’msorry to sound likeI’mfeeling sorry for myself.Itwas selfish of me.”
Lucymay have had her problems, but her friendKatiehad truly suffered a tragic and shocking loss in the past few years.First, from the death of her fiancé,WendelColborne, who’d been stabbed to death beforeKatie’svery eyes as they were leaving a play two years ago.Katiehad been so broken by the horror of it that she’d become a recluse, afraid of going out intoSocietyand carrying a terrible burden of guilt on her shoulders.ThenKatie’slife had been in danger from the very men who’d murderedWendel.Shewas lucky to have metLordSebastian“Slice”Soren, the younger son of a duke, who used to be a captain in the military.WithLordSoren,Katie’slife completely changed.Now, she was happily married and had finally moved beyond her grief.
“Don’tpay attention to the gossips or that silly nickname,”Paulasaid, nibbling on a lemon biscuit. “They’rejust harpies.Icertainly don’t bother with them, andI’mpractically on the shelf myself.Ijust spend my days sketching and painting, andI’mperfectly fine.”
LucyandKatieexchanged a look.Paulawas a talented artist who kept herself busy with family, friends, and charitable work.Nevertheless, they could tell she kept her feelings locked up inside.
Lucywondered ifPaulahad unacknowledged feelings forSirJonathanNelson, who was good friends withKatie’shusband,LordSoren, and her brother,ViscountThomasLatham.Shefound it odd that they usually broke into an argument whenever they were in the same room, no matter the event.Butwho was she to ponderPaula’scurious animosity towardsNelson?Shehad no inkling of being able to fathom a man’s mind either.
Lucyheaved a deep sigh.Herbackground was riddled with mishaps.Shewas tired of the reputation that had followed her for several years.Areputation that had stuck to her like glue ever since her come-out.Andwhat a come-out it had been.She’dbeen so nervous at her very first ball three years ago that she’d indulged in too much champagne, and then while dancing, herone and onlydance of the evening, she’d become so dizzy that she’d cast up her accounts all over the ballroom floor.
