Indiscretions by Madelynne Ellis Page B

bait.
    “Nowhere special,” he replied. “I fell in with the Darleston twins and went on with them. You and Vaughan clearly needed time to work on your differences.”
    “We worked on something, but I’m not sure it was that,” she laughed. After a moment she clapped her hands. “You do know that we’re due at Darleston House tonight for dinner.”
    “Are we? Maybe we could stay home for a change.” Last thing he needed was for her to go questioning the twins about his whereabouts the previous night.
    “Stay home!” She perched upon his knee and threw her arms around his neck. “Is that actually allowed?” Their gazes met in the dressing table mirror.
    “It is if you wish it.”
    “I wish it.” She mussed his hair.
    Vaughan would know his reason for staying home and might choose to make an issue of it, so Lucerne would just have to work on ensuring his silence over the matter. They had never sworn any sort of exclusivity to one another, but he saw no point in provoking Bella’s ire needlessly. He was not about to repeat the offence. He had only wanted them to understand that he was not a plaything to be squabbled over. Also, that he longed for simple affection, rather than being the centre point of a perpetual war.
    Last night he had simply had to be free of their squabbling. Now he felt calmer. Bella and Vaughan had each showed that they’d missed him in their own way, and had hopefully settled whatever issues they had with one another.
    That was the major flaw in both of them. They each enjoyed provoking the other too much to simply surrender to the beauty of what the three of them shared. They were like two spiteful, snarling cats in that respect. They had to show their claws and hiss, lest anyone be fooled into thinking they shared a genuine bond of affection.
    He knew they did. And wondered what they’d said to one another while he’d been absent.
    Lucerne lifted Bella into his arms as he stood. “That settles it then. Although I do think that if we’re going to plead indisposition, we really ought to work on making that exhaustion real.” He picked her up in his arms and carried her towards the bed.
    Bella laughed. “You’ll never even begin to exhaust me. Not alone.”
    That was likely true. He wondered if it was also a hint. Bella attempting a subtle prod, so that they’d all make up and make merry. “Should I call for reinforcements then?”
    He knew from the bright sparkle in her eyes that he’d hit on exactly what she wanted. His only doubt was over whether Vaughan would come if he called.
    Maybe calling wasn’t the way to go about it.
    ”We could seek him out,” Bella suggested, seeming to know his thoughts. “Pin him down. Tie him up. He won’t expect that.”
    “No, he wouldn’t,” Lucerne had to agree. Vaughan was simply there, a part of his and Bella’s relationship whether he was invited or not. He joined in and left as he chose, and while individually he and Bella sometimes sought him out, they’d never sought his affections as a pair. “Let’s do it.” Maybe it was the key to making things right between them all. Triangles were supposed to be strong. A genuine trinity, that’s what they needed to form, so that he could stop feeling as though he sat at the mid-point on a see-saw with Bella and Vaughan bobbing up and down either side of him constantly throwing him off balance.
    * * * * *
     
    Vaughan stood the moment Lucerne and Bella entered the library. He set aside the book he’d been browsing and waited statue-like for them to approach. That they’d arrived together put him on alert, told him that there was a purpose to their presence beyond whatever explanation might be offered upfront.
    “We’re not disturbing you?” Lucerne asked. Now properly attired, Lucerne looked every inch the dandy he was. Tight breeches smoothed over well-muscled thighs and his form-fitting coat perfectly accentuated his strong shoulders and narrow waist. More importantly, Lucerne