tried to ignore the thought that perhaps it would simply end.
Chapter 7
“A nd I want you to be her lover.”
“You want me to what?” Harry stared at his twin. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” Robert plucked a cigar from the marble and bronze smoking stand on his desk, neatly trimmed the end, and handed it to his brother.
Harry looked at it skeptically. “If this is a bribe, it’s not enough.”
“This might well be the best idea I have ever had.” Robert selected a cigar for himself, clipped it, then took a match from the stand. He struck it, lit the cigar, then leaned back in the chair behind his desk. “I tell you, it was like a bolt from the blue. A stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.”
“Genius?” Harry lit his cigar. “There’s a fine line between genius and idiocy.”
“Perhaps, but this was brilliant. I thought of it atonce, you know.” He puffed on his cigar and blew a wobbly smoke ring. “Brilliant ideas do tend to strike with blinding speed. At the very moment I offered to help her find a lover, I realized you were the perfect choice.”
“Me?”
“You’re repeating yourself Harry, but yes, you. As I said, you’re perfect.”
“Dare I ask why?” Harry said with a feeble smile.
“I should think that would be obvious. You’re experienced in such matters. You’re charming, clever—”
“Not to mention handsome,” Harry muttered.
Robert laughed. “I was going to mention handsome. From my observations, women are usually eager to fall into your arms.”
“I’m not sure I would use the word eager but I have had a certain success with the fairer sex.” Harry blew a smoke ring somewhat less wobbly than his brother’s.
“All of which makes you the perfect candidate.”
“See here, Robert, I don’t think—”
“Fortunately, I have done the thinking for us both. Indeed, I have done a great deal of thinking in recent days.”
“Too much thinking has always gotten us into a great deal of trouble.” Harry puffed his cigar. “So what is the result of all this thought?”
“If I were to present Amelia with a man who was less than charming, clever, and handsome, she would know at once that I never intended to help her find a lover. You, however”—Robert grinned—“are well known for your amorous adventures. God knows your reputation does not preclude a liaison of this sort. As I said, you’re the perfect choice.”
“Even so, there are some limits to my disreputable character. Prime among them, avoiding the seduction of my brother’s wife, which I am certain I have mentioned before.”
Robert chuckled. “You don’t think I intend for you to actually seduce her, do you?”
Harry stared at his brother. It was obvious that was exactly what he had thought. “No?”
“Of course not. I intend for you to do exactly what you usually do to get a woman into your bed without actually taking that final step. And by doing so, keep my wife too busy to seek a real lover. In the meantime, I shall be doing my best to regain her affections.” Robert met his brother’s gaze firmly. “Once again I need your help, Harry. There is no one else I can trust with this.”
“I am not the least bit trustworthy.” Harry groaned. “What have I ever done to give any of you the impression otherwise?”
“Nonsense, you’re my brother. I trust you completely. I can depend on you just as you can depend on me.”
Harry stared at him for a long moment, then shook his head slowly. “In most matters, indeed, you can depend on me, but I am sorry, Robert, I won’t do this. It’s a mistake to become embroiled in affairs between a husband and a wife. I want no further involvement in any of it.”
“I daresay you’ve been involved in a lot worse,” Robert said mildly and considered his twin. He wasn’t surprised at Harry’s refusal. In fact, he had expected it. But he knew his brother. And refusing to help him in one respect always made Harry more agreeable to helping in another.
Chapter 7
“A nd I want you to be her lover.”
“You want me to what?” Harry stared at his twin. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” Robert plucked a cigar from the marble and bronze smoking stand on his desk, neatly trimmed the end, and handed it to his brother.
Harry looked at it skeptically. “If this is a bribe, it’s not enough.”
“This might well be the best idea I have ever had.” Robert selected a cigar for himself, clipped it, then took a match from the stand. He struck it, lit the cigar, then leaned back in the chair behind his desk. “I tell you, it was like a bolt from the blue. A stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.”
“Genius?” Harry lit his cigar. “There’s a fine line between genius and idiocy.”
“Perhaps, but this was brilliant. I thought of it atonce, you know.” He puffed on his cigar and blew a wobbly smoke ring. “Brilliant ideas do tend to strike with blinding speed. At the very moment I offered to help her find a lover, I realized you were the perfect choice.”
“Me?”
“You’re repeating yourself Harry, but yes, you. As I said, you’re perfect.”
“Dare I ask why?” Harry said with a feeble smile.
“I should think that would be obvious. You’re experienced in such matters. You’re charming, clever—”
“Not to mention handsome,” Harry muttered.
Robert laughed. “I was going to mention handsome. From my observations, women are usually eager to fall into your arms.”
“I’m not sure I would use the word eager but I have had a certain success with the fairer sex.” Harry blew a smoke ring somewhat less wobbly than his brother’s.
“All of which makes you the perfect candidate.”
“See here, Robert, I don’t think—”
“Fortunately, I have done the thinking for us both. Indeed, I have done a great deal of thinking in recent days.”
“Too much thinking has always gotten us into a great deal of trouble.” Harry puffed his cigar. “So what is the result of all this thought?”
“If I were to present Amelia with a man who was less than charming, clever, and handsome, she would know at once that I never intended to help her find a lover. You, however”—Robert grinned—“are well known for your amorous adventures. God knows your reputation does not preclude a liaison of this sort. As I said, you’re the perfect choice.”
“Even so, there are some limits to my disreputable character. Prime among them, avoiding the seduction of my brother’s wife, which I am certain I have mentioned before.”
Robert chuckled. “You don’t think I intend for you to actually seduce her, do you?”
Harry stared at his brother. It was obvious that was exactly what he had thought. “No?”
“Of course not. I intend for you to do exactly what you usually do to get a woman into your bed without actually taking that final step. And by doing so, keep my wife too busy to seek a real lover. In the meantime, I shall be doing my best to regain her affections.” Robert met his brother’s gaze firmly. “Once again I need your help, Harry. There is no one else I can trust with this.”
“I am not the least bit trustworthy.” Harry groaned. “What have I ever done to give any of you the impression otherwise?”
“Nonsense, you’re my brother. I trust you completely. I can depend on you just as you can depend on me.”
Harry stared at him for a long moment, then shook his head slowly. “In most matters, indeed, you can depend on me, but I am sorry, Robert, I won’t do this. It’s a mistake to become embroiled in affairs between a husband and a wife. I want no further involvement in any of it.”
“I daresay you’ve been involved in a lot worse,” Robert said mildly and considered his twin. He wasn’t surprised at Harry’s refusal. In fact, he had expected it. But he knew his brother. And refusing to help him in one respect always made Harry more agreeable to helping in another.
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