Never Courted, Suddenly Wed (Scandalous Seasons #2)(20)

“Uh-I…if you’ll excuse me.” She managed one more curtsy for Christopher and the marquess and hurried from the room.





Lady Ackerly’s Tattle Sheet





Miss S.W. was reminded why young ladies should not tilt back on the legs of their chairs after she upended herself at the Marchioness of K’s music recital.


6

“Do you know what hour it is?”

Seated in the Duke of Mallen’s leather winged-back chair, Christopher glanced across Mallen’s office to the ormolu clock. “Five o’clock.”

Mallen stifled a yawn with the back of his hand. “Five o’clock in the morning. The morning,” he said as though speaking to a small child. “And, isn’t it a bit early for brandy?”

Christopher found his friend to be taking this conversation rather well, considering the favor he’d just put to him. He sipped from his glass of brandy. “I need your help, Mallen,” he pressed.

Following last evening’s dinner party at Redbrooke’s, he’d thought about his conversation with Sophie as they’d strolled around the Red Parlor. She’d spoken with a refreshing degree of candor that really shouldn’t surprise him considering her lively personality. Right before he’d fallen asleep, an idea had come to him—an idea that very well might help him thwart his father’s plans for him and Phi. Said plan, however, involved leniency on the part of his close friend, Mallen.

Mallen opened his mouth to speak. No words came out. Instead, he went and poured himself a brandy. He took a long swallow. “You would like me to court Sophie Winters?” He reclaimed the chair behind his desk. “Sophie. Emmaline’s dearest friend. The rather plump young lady…”

Christopher shifted in his seat. “Ohhh, would we call her plump?” For some reason, Mallen’s insult grated on his very last nerve. Of course he should be incensed. He’d known the young lady since she’d been in the nursery.

Mallen scratched his brow. “I didn’t intend it as an insult. I would call the lady more voluptuous than anything else. She has—”

“Will you help me?” Christopher bit out. He’d heard quite enough from Mallen on Sophie’s attributes. He liked Mallen’s detailed description of Phi even less than the earlier perceived insults. He told himself the odd churning in his gut was merely a brotherly sense of affection for the young woman.

Mallen tapped his fingertips along the rim of his glass. “I’d like to make sure I understand you clearly.”

Christopher’s hand slashed through the air. “A ride in Hyde Park, an ice at Gunter’s. Nothing more than that.” He imagined those gestures alone should deter Redbrooke’s interest in pairing Christopher and Sophie.

Mallen raised a brow. “If you were this romantic in your attempt to woo my sister, it is no wonder I ended up with Drake as a brother-in-law.”

“I’m not trying to woo Miss Winters,” Christopher pointed out. The Duke of Mallen represented a means to an end of any foolish attempt by Christopher’s father to see him married to the vixen.

A ducal frown formed on Mallen’s lips. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the young lady will be gravely wounded should your plan be discovered.”

“Bah, she won’t discover anything, Mallen. Only you and I will know the truth.”

“Dare I even ask what has fueled such a mad scheme on your part?”

Christopher managed a half-grin. “Miss Winters herself said the only thing that would thwart her mother and brother’s efforts were if she secured the affection of a duke.”

Mallen sighed and took another swallow of his brandy. “Any duke will do, eh?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right.” That wasn’t altogether true. Sophie had specifically mentioned the Duke of Mallen. Christopher’s gaze wandered past Mallen’s shoulder, to the full-length window. Outside, the sun and moon warred for dominance in the morning sky. Burnt hues of orange and red painted the horizon.

Why didn’t he want to admit to Mallen that Sophie had in fact dangled his specific ducal title?

The actuality of it was that Christopher didn’t particularly care for Sophie’s mention of Mallen. He didn’t know why. Nor did he care to analyze such irrational sentiments overly long. He blamed it on fatigue. “Will you help me?” Christopher pressed.

Mallen dragged a hand across his eyes. “I do not want to risk endangering the young lady’s affections.”

“I’m sure she’ll just welcome your attention,” Christopher hurried to assure him. “She merely wants to avoid a match with me.”

Mallen’s lips twitched with what was surely amusement. “You’re a fool if you believe that. No young lady desires anything less than marriage.”

Christopher drummed his fingertips along the edge of his chair. Yes, Mallen had him there. The goal of all young ladies was a respectable match. “Sophie’s different,” he said. And she was. Unlike any other young lady of his acquaintance. She had a penchant for getting herself into scrapes that resulted in her name appearing in the scandal sheets. She spoke her mind with remarkable freeness.

Mallen’s next statement pulled him back to the moment. “Miss Winters might seem different to you but remember you have a remarkably poor record with young ladies. First my sister, now, Miss Winters.”