subsided, glowering. "No," Justin continued, "I think that she had not the least idea in the world of marrying Reginald until you put the notion into her head by kicking up such a dust. Really Alfred, you must admit, you have behaved rather foolishly over the entire affair. But the lady has no more taste than I do for being ordered about. I don't blame her in the least for wishing us all at the devil."
57
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
The earl, who had been rocking back and forth on his toes in an agony of impatience burst forth, "But what am I to do?
She will make the lad miserable!"
Justin could not fail to note the desperation in his brother's tone, nor was he unmoved by the genuine concern he detected in his worried frown. "What can you do? Why, nothing."
"Nothing?" The earl's voice rose to what almost might have been called a shriek. "I cannot just sit by and do nothing while my son ruins his life."
"Relax, Alfred," Justin laid a placating hand on his brother's sleeve. "Reginald will not ruin himself. He will soon discover that she is not the lady for him. He will select a biddable and, one hopes, a suitably dowered young miss from the Season's crop of eager young ladies, and live happily ever after."
"I wish I shared your optimism," the earl muttered gloomily. "But you haven't heard him speak of her. Faugh, the lad talks of nothing else. I tell you, Justin, something must be done. If we can't appeal to her honor, then we must appeal to her baser instincts."
"I thought she had already spurned your filthy lucre."
"Not those baser instincts, the other kind."
"Other kind?" Justin's lips twitched in amusement.
"Don't be so obtuse, Justin, you know what I mean. They say no woman can resist you. Frankly, I can't see it, but..."
"It's my tailor, Alfred. He absolutely refuses to let me wear brown. Women detest brown."
58
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
"Really, if that isn't just like you! Never a serious thought in your head. Amelia says..."
"That is unkind in you, Alfred. I give a great deal of serious thought to my appearance. And what does Amelia say? I am willing to wager that she doesn't care for brown above half either."
Alfred restrained himself with an effort. "Amelia likes all my clothes. Besides, my wife is above such things." His brother remained unconvinced. "Have you asked her?"
"No, but..."
"Well, perhaps you should."
"Never mind that, just say you will." Justin looked blank, "Will what?"
"Seduce the wench, of course. That's the only way she'll leave Reginald alone."
"Seduce her? But what will I do with her?" Justin wondered, his eyes dancing with suppressed laughter.
"Lord, how should I know? Whatever you do with all of the others."
"You forget, dear brother, she wishes to have nothing to do with the rest of the family, including me."
"Surely such paltry objections never weighed with you before," the earl replied sarcastically. His brother grinned. "How true."
"Then I fail to see why they should do so now."
"Especially when my familial duty stands so clear before me, eh, Alfred?"
"Just so." Failing entirely to catch his brother's ironic undertone, the earl looked to be relieved. Justin was a rare 59
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
trial. To be sure, he would have his bit of fun, but he always did come through in the end when the situation warranted it, and for his part, Alfred could not imagine a more serious state of affairs than those now facing the future of the Winterbourne inheritance.
"Almost you tempt me," Justin pretended to hesitate while cynically observing the variety of emotions that flitted over his elder brother's florid countenance. "Oh, very well," he relented. "I never was one to resist a challenge, especially where a pretty woman is concerned. But now, pray excuse me as I have a pressing appointment with another pretty woman, and I must change into something more suitable."
"Opera dancers," Alfred snorted in disgust. Justin held up one
57
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
The earl, who had been rocking back and forth on his toes in an agony of impatience burst forth, "But what am I to do?
She will make the lad miserable!"
Justin could not fail to note the desperation in his brother's tone, nor was he unmoved by the genuine concern he detected in his worried frown. "What can you do? Why, nothing."
"Nothing?" The earl's voice rose to what almost might have been called a shriek. "I cannot just sit by and do nothing while my son ruins his life."
"Relax, Alfred," Justin laid a placating hand on his brother's sleeve. "Reginald will not ruin himself. He will soon discover that she is not the lady for him. He will select a biddable and, one hopes, a suitably dowered young miss from the Season's crop of eager young ladies, and live happily ever after."
"I wish I shared your optimism," the earl muttered gloomily. "But you haven't heard him speak of her. Faugh, the lad talks of nothing else. I tell you, Justin, something must be done. If we can't appeal to her honor, then we must appeal to her baser instincts."
"I thought she had already spurned your filthy lucre."
"Not those baser instincts, the other kind."
"Other kind?" Justin's lips twitched in amusement.
"Don't be so obtuse, Justin, you know what I mean. They say no woman can resist you. Frankly, I can't see it, but..."
"It's my tailor, Alfred. He absolutely refuses to let me wear brown. Women detest brown."
58
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
"Really, if that isn't just like you! Never a serious thought in your head. Amelia says..."
"That is unkind in you, Alfred. I give a great deal of serious thought to my appearance. And what does Amelia say? I am willing to wager that she doesn't care for brown above half either."
Alfred restrained himself with an effort. "Amelia likes all my clothes. Besides, my wife is above such things." His brother remained unconvinced. "Have you asked her?"
"No, but..."
"Well, perhaps you should."
"Never mind that, just say you will." Justin looked blank, "Will what?"
"Seduce the wench, of course. That's the only way she'll leave Reginald alone."
"Seduce her? But what will I do with her?" Justin wondered, his eyes dancing with suppressed laughter.
"Lord, how should I know? Whatever you do with all of the others."
"You forget, dear brother, she wishes to have nothing to do with the rest of the family, including me."
"Surely such paltry objections never weighed with you before," the earl replied sarcastically. His brother grinned. "How true."
"Then I fail to see why they should do so now."
"Especially when my familial duty stands so clear before me, eh, Alfred?"
"Just so." Failing entirely to catch his brother's ironic undertone, the earl looked to be relieved. Justin was a rare 59
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
trial. To be sure, he would have his bit of fun, but he always did come through in the end when the situation warranted it, and for his part, Alfred could not imagine a more serious state of affairs than those now facing the future of the Winterbourne inheritance.
"Almost you tempt me," Justin pretended to hesitate while cynically observing the variety of emotions that flitted over his elder brother's florid countenance. "Oh, very well," he relented. "I never was one to resist a challenge, especially where a pretty woman is concerned. But now, pray excuse me as I have a pressing appointment with another pretty woman, and I must change into something more suitable."
"Opera dancers," Alfred snorted in disgust. Justin held up one
Similar Books
