An Unsuitable Match by Sasha Cottman Page A

forget that my room is next to yours. Many times when I have been sitting up late, I have heard you cry out in your sleep. Since you keep your bedroom door locked I haven’t been able to come to your aid.’
    â€˜They are just silly dreams,’ Clarice replied.
    â€˜Ones that leave you looking as if you haven’t slept in weeks. I wish you would let me help you, my dear. But since you are a young woman now, I cannot force you to confide in me. Just remember, if you need me I am here to do whatever I can for you.’
    A smile found its way to Clarice’s lips.
    â€˜That’s better. Now come, my dear; once I have rested this devilishly annoying leg, you shall have to tell me all the wicked things you have done since last we met.’

CHAPTER FIVE
    David gave a quick rap on the half-opened door of his father’s study. The Duke of Strathmore did not like closing himself away from the rest of the house, even when he was at work. The only door he ever closed was that to the ducal suite, which he shared with his wife.
    â€˜Good morning,’ David said, as his father raised his head and gave him a welcoming smile.
    â€˜And a good morning to you too, my boy,’ Ewan replied. He came out from behind his desk and father and son exchanged a hug.
    â€˜You are looking very bright for such an early hour; I expected you to arrive in your evening clothes.’
    David ignored his father’s half-hearted jest. One, because he was in a very bright mood, and two, because more often than he cared to admit, he
had
arrived for his weekly meeting with Ewan still in his evening attire.
    â€˜Actually, I didn’t venture out last night. I had a quiet evening at home reading a book. I had a couple of glasses of wine at dinner, and a whisky during the evening, and turned in early,’ he replied.
    His father’s eyebrows lifted. It was most unlike David to stay at home while the season was in full swing.
    â€˜Not coming down with something, are you?’ Ewan replied.
    David chuckled. ‘I suppose it is a little out of character for me to hold back on the usual evening entertainment, but no, I am fine, I just didn’t feel the need to imbibe or make merry. I have other matters on my mind.’
    Father and son walked over to where a pair of leather couches faced one another. David threw himself on to his favourite couch by the window, while Ewan took a seat on the one opposite.
    â€˜It wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with Lady Clarice Langham, would it now?’
    David gave his father a sly grin, but said nothing.
    â€˜Or your sister’s sudden delicate head at the ball the other night?’
    â€˜I have told Lucy not to bother with playing matchmaker, but she has a tendency to ignore me when it suits her. Not that her clumsy attempt to throw Clarice and me together at the ball met with much success.’
    Ewan sighed and then fell silent. He looked at David and held his gaze.
    â€˜Langham came to see me a few days before Alex and Millie’s wedding. Rumours of an incident at a garden party out at Richmond had reached my ears, and I wanted to give him the opportunity to deny them. I tell you this, David: if he had not come at my summons, I fully intended to track Langham down and give him the thrashing of his life. Old family friend or not.’
    David felt the blood drain from his face.
    Oh God.
    â€˜What happened?’ he replied.
    â€˜He was surprisingly calm about the whole thing. He told me that he sent some of his lads to rough Alex up because of what had happened with Clarice. That poor girl was led to believe that Alex wanted to marry her, before suffering the indignity of being told it was all a terrible misunderstanding. To tell you the truth, by the time he left I was ready to go over and give your brother a clip behind the ear myself. It was a sobering experience to realise that I would have done exactly the same thing if it had been one of your