The Beloved One

by Danelle Harmon

  "Ah, Andrew. There you are. We were wondering what became of you," murmured Lucien, taking the seat opposite him and pulling off his gloves. "Too much excitement for one evening?"

  Nerissa bounced into the seat beside Andrew. "You really should have stayed. Lady Brookhampton's dog jumped onto the refreshments table when no one was looking and managed to eat the whole cake. It was hilariously funny!"

  "Yes, especially when the poor beast got sick all over Bonkley's shoe," Lucien observed dryly. "Rather put an end to things, I daresay." He rapped once on the roof of the vehicle, signalling the driver to move on, then turned his enigmatic black stare on Andrew. "Pray tell, why did you leave?"

  Andrew set his jaw and stared out the window. "Because," he bit out.

  Silence.

  If Andrew weren't gazing out into the night, he might have seen the quickly veiled look of concern in his brother's eyes.

  He might have seen the ache in Nerissa's suddenly sympathetic gaze.

  Instead, all he saw was the tall, pointed, dark tops of the conifers swaying gently against the stars.

  "Ah," said the duke, softly. "Another episode, I take it?"

  Andrew's silence was affirmation enough.

  Nerissa and Lucien exchanged glances. "And here I thought it was Lady Celsiana who might have caused your hasty departure," Lucien mused.

  That got Andrew's attention. He turned angrily on his brother. "Yes, speaking of that belligerent little witch, why did you set her loose on me like that?"

  Lucien raised his brows with feigned innocence. "My dear Andrew, I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."

  "The devil you don't. You deliberately told her I was experimenting on animals, and the next thing I knew she was tearing me apart, limb from limb!"

  "Oh. You mean you minded?"

  "Of course I minded! It was damned embarrassing."

  Lucien sighed heavily, affecting an air of long-suffering patience. "And here I thought I was doing you a favor."

  "Doing me a favor?"

  "Really, Andrew, how many times have you told me you have no wish to get married? That you are sick to death of pesky females buzzing around you at every social event you deign to attend? That you want nothing more than to get on with your science? The girl seemed to be quite interested in you, you know. Asking me rather personal . . . questions. I merely said what I did to put her off."

  "What?"

  Lucien crossed his arms and gave a sigh of satisfied boredom. "You ought to be thanking me for my assistance, not condemning it. She did leave you alone afterwards, didn't she?"

  Andrew met Lucien's blankly innocent stare. Why did he have the feeling his brother was up to something? "I suppose she did," he murmured, frowning.

  "So there. I was only acting in your best interest." The duke sighed and closing his eyes, leaned his head back against the seat as the coach left Rosebriar behind. In the darkness of the carriage, nobody could see that he was smiling. "Besides," he added, "I highly doubt that you will see her again."

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