“Perhaps you can have her after thewedding? I’m not sure a husband in the picture presents much problem if awoman is willing. I still remember Lord Ranson shooting off histoe.” A deep belly laugh erupted from Nicholas. The chair shook.
Across the room, a group of gentlemen satdiscussing politics or something equally dull. The men turned towardsNicholas in unison, frowning in disapproval. One man, overdressed in a hideousdark plum jacket, put his pudgy fingers to his lips and made ashushingnoise. The man turned back to his friends, nodding as if to say he’dtaken care of the issue. He shot Nicholas a self-satisfied smile.
Nicholas bared his teeth andgrowled.
A portly man sitting next to Mr. HideousPlum Coat mouthed the words ‘Devil of Dunbar’and attempted to pointdiscreetly at Nicholas.
The men nervously looked away fromNicholas and Cam. After a moment, the men scattered like a flock offrightened geese.
“You see, Cam, I can clear a room in no time.”Nicholas attempted to sound flippant. Sometimes it washardto beone of the damned.
His friend took a deep breath. Hisforehead creased. Worry stamped every line of his handsome features.“Archie is back, Nick. He is here, in London. That bitch my fatherhad the bad sense to marry neglected to inform the family. The newssent Grandmother to bed for two days.”
“A terrible pity that bastard didn’t dieabroad. It would have saved you the eventual trouble of killinghim. Shame your father spared his life. What is he up to, do yousuppose? Does Elizabeth –?”
“No. She remembers nothing, thankGod.” Cam’s brow furrowed again. “At least, we don’t think shedoes.”
“I would be happy to dispose of him,should you wish it. Consider it a favor.” Deadly serious, Nicholas sippedat his whiskey. He was quite good at killing men. A usefulskill if one was already destined for hell.
“No. I will do..do..do itmyself. When the time comes,” Cam stuttered.
Nicholas thought the time likelynear. The hourglass measuring Archie’s life had started to run out themoment he returned to London. Nicholas did not think it coincidence thatArchie returned just as the attempts on Cam’s life multiplied. “What doesArchie have to do with your Miss Dunforth?”
“She’s…she’s…inclined to wed him.”Cam looked incredibly sad. Bereft even.
Shocked, Nicholas took a deep draught ofthe whiskey. Not sure what to think ofthatpiece of information.“What would youwantwith a woman that is inclined to marryRunyon?” He pretended to pick a spot of lint off his coat.
“She is abadger. Badgersare not like other women. She is only marrying him because of theAbbess.”
“She is marrying him because some papistnun is forcing her?”
“No. Jush lishen to me.”Cam’s head rolled around. “Abbey. I meant Abbey. HelmsbyAbbey. It’s a place where all badgers wish to be.”
That didn’t make a bit of sense toNicholas. The only thing that did make sense was Cam’s obviousinfatuation with this Alexandra. Unless Archie Runyon had changeddrastically after receiving a beating from Sutton’s father, which Nicholasfound doubtful, Nicholas could not fathom a woman who would wish to marryArchie unless…. He decided to broach a difficult topic.
“Are you sure, Cam, there is no possibilitythat this Alexandra justprefersRunyon to you? He promised her anestate she covets, and possibly they share common….interests.” He knew somewomen shared the same depravities as Archie, and enjoyed the sexual games heand his cohorts played. “Women are shallow, vapid creatures as well youknow. I personally have dozens throwing themselves at me regardless of myfaults.” Nicholas waved a large hand across his frame. “The Dunbarfortune and the possibility of being a Duchess is enough to entice any woman ofthetonto spread her legs. Even if she is afraid of me. PerhapsAlexandra is no different, though possibly you wish her to be.” Nicholaswatched as his friend’s face contorted into rage.
“I shall beat you to a bloody pulpfor that remark. She is abadger!” Cam turned and swallowed theentire contents of his glass, gesturing to the attentive Cobbs for more.
Nicholas wondered what Alexandra had incommon with a large rodent. Certainly the lady in question could not findit flattering.
“I want her.” Cam saidstubbornly.
Nicholas was sure it was more thanwanting. He’d bet his life on it. He attempted to twist himselfinto a more comfortable position. Impossible. The chair was simplytoo small. Damn. Wasn’t it enough to be cursed with his freakisheyes? Must he also look as if he’d descended from giants?
A curious sense of déjà vu floated overNicholas as he finally threw one leg over the arm of the chair. In hismind’s eye, he saw three young men, misfits of theton, tormented relentlesslyby the other youths at Eton. The gypsy. She’d made a prophecyfor each of them. A sense of unease filled Nicholas as he remembered whatthe old woman foretold for Cam. It was a coincidence, nothing more.Nicholas snorted, thinking of the prediction the hag had made for him.
“You want her, so have her.Cuckolding Runyon certainly could not cause you to lose sleep, besides you’relikely to make her a widow soon at any rate, if I’m not mistaken.”
“But she is innocent. She is abadger.”Cam spilled whiskey onto the dark leather of his chair. Cobbsrushed forward like an industrious mouse to mop it up.
“But yet, your paragon is willing tomarry Runyon?”
Cam nodded, looking very despondent.
Nicholas wondered how long Cam had sat atWhite’s nursing his whiskey and his illusions.
“Cobbs? How long and how many?”
