What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(35)

Colin inhaled sharply. The very thought of a scoundrel even breathing near one of his sisters made his blood boil.

“I see you understand now.”

He gripped the back of the chair. “I would kill any man who dared to trifle with one of my sisters.”

“I sincerely hope not, since dueling is officially illegal and you are my heir. However, feel free to beat any man to a pulp who expresses even the slightest interest in the twins.”

“Father, I do not want to treat Angeline differently because of what happened to her. I imagine she’s faced too much of that already.”

The marquess clapped his hand on Colin’s shoulder. “You reaffirmed my belief in you. However, this does not mean you are off the hook.”

He frowned. “What?”

“If you want Sommerall, you must find a bride. I tire of hearing about your many lightskirts and drunken escapades. A wife will cure that. You might want to consult Margaret. She has some distant cousins.”

“After the house is in decent shape, I will make every effort to find a wife.” In a year or two.

“I’ve managed to put off the buyer, but he won’t wait forever. You will make an effort.”

Colin figured his father was bluffing. He would manage to put it off as long as possible.



“There you are,” Margaret said. “I was beginning to worry.”

“It is my fault,” Colin said. “I insisted upon discussing the renovations and delayed our return.”

The marquess shrugged. “He is determined.”

“You missed the news,” the duchess said. “Angeline received a letter from her friend Charlotte. She did not realize Angeline had returned home. Soon my daughter will be able to renew her acquaintances after a long absence.”

Angeline’s smile looked frozen.

“We are making plans for the spring season,” Margaret said. “I believe a Venetian breakfast would be just the thing.”

He saw the duke pouring a drink at the sideboard and joined him. Wycoff downed the brandy and poured another. His grim expression looked foreboding. Colin poured a finger and swirled the liquor. “Thank you for allowing Angeline to assist me. She’s quite knowledgeable.”

“They are making too much of that letter,” he said under his breath.

Colin was at a loss to reply. He sipped his brandy and grew increasingly uncomfortable when Wycoff poured an exceeding amount of brandy. If he kept this up, he’d be foxed in no time.

Angeline approached. “Papa, will you play chess with me? It has been ages since you last trounced me.”

“Not tonight,” he said gruffly.

She winced.

“Excuse me.” He set his glass down and quit the drawing room.

The devil. The man might feel guilty, but he ought to be kinder to her. Colin set his own glass aside. “Come, play backgammon with me.”

She looked a bit shaken. “I fear I will have trouble concentrating.”

“We will make it appear we are playing. It will give us a chance to talk.”

“I can’t,” she said.

“You would do me a great favor. Otherwise, I will be called upon to turn the pages at the pianoforte, and you will have to listen to their plans.”

She nodded. “Very well.”

He seated her at the game table and sat across from her. “I will set the pieces out, and we will throw the dice and make our moves while we talk. Now, tell me what is awry.”

“Everything, but that is hardly new.”

“Angeline, your father said the ladies were making too much of the letter.” He paused and handed her the dice. “Throw them to make it appear we’re really playing.”

She threw the dice and moved one of the backgammon stones. “I lied about Charlotte’s letter.”

He threw the dice and moved a stone. “Why?”

She picked up the dice and dropped them. “I didn’t want Penny to hear. She knows nothing about the scandal.”

“She knows something is wrong.”

Angeline made her move. “I mean to keep it from her as long as possible.”

He suspected Penny knew more than she let on, but he said nothing of that to Angeline. “Did your friend mention Brentmoor in her letter?”

She met his gaze. “He has returned and is married to the widowed Lady Cunningham.”

“I see. She will regret it when he spends her entire fortune. Is she a friend?”

She listlessly dropped the dice. “No, a distant acquaintance.”

“It’s understandable that the news would discompose you, but you are well rid of him.”

She met his gaze. “She is the one I found in bed with Brentmoor.”

He winced. “I’d no idea.”

“Adultery is hardly news in the ton.”

She rolled and moved the stones. “Foolishly, I assumed he would never return because of his creditors. I did not count on him marrying an heiress.”

Colin scooped up the dice and rolled, but her pale complexion worried him. “He is likely to spend himself into debt again. Men like him are their own worst enemies.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Help me understand.”

She rolled the dice. “I thought if he was gone forever, that others would forget. I foolishly held out hope that with time, I could repair my reputation. Now that he has returned, I must face the truth. I will always be a pariah.”