Charlotte Louise Dolan by Three Lords for Lady Anne Read Free Book Online

you never married, Leatham? Excuse me, that was rude of me. You need not answer.”
    “On the contrary, I will be happy to answer. You know I travel a lot.”
    “And a woman would not wish to be exposed to the dangers you encounter.”
    “No, that is not precisely the case. My father was also a great one for exploring strange parts of the world, and he married. To be sure, he was not home often. But with me it is really quite simple. I have been to exotic lands, seen wondrous sights, matched wits with truly ingenious barbarians—and in all my travels I have never found a woman who was the least bit entertaining except when she was in bed. To make matters worse, compared to some of the innovative foreign beauties I have dallied with, the average Englishwoman is too much a lady even to hold my interest when she is between the sheets. In short, the idea of being leg-shackled does not interest me in the least.”
    Beside him Demetrius smiled ruefully. “And I thought there was something wrong with me. It is not that I do not love Diana ... or at least, I have always felt a strong affection for her, which is the most one can hope for. But until this spring I had never before been in her company for more than an occasional evening.”
    A heavy lorry rumbled by, forcing them to pause in their conversation until it had passed.
    “And now?” Bronson asked.
    “Now I have discovered that Diana is thoroughly accustomed to being the center of her parents’ attention.”
    “Spoiled, in a word.”
    Demetrius gave a short laugh, which contained very little in the way of good humor. “Beyond belief. I am expected to devote my every waking moment to her entertainment. She apparently feels my whole reason for being on this earth is to keep her from languishing in boredom. My greatest delight should be in helping her decide the color of a ribbon or the tilt of a bonnet. I tell you, Leatham, you would not believe the tears, the pouts, and the sulks if I do not compliment her every hour. And she takes to her bed if I so much as hint that I might wish to engage in any activity she is not also interested in.”
    Bronson looked around. “And yet I do not see the fair Diana now.”
    “I have been granted an unexpected furlough for one day only. Quite extraordinary, really. ‘Tis the first time I have had to myself in over two months. And more than likely the last hours of freedom I shall have during this lifetime.”
    “Surely it will not be so bad once you are married. She will not wish to sit in your pocket forever. I cannot picture her following you about in the stables like a puppy dog, for example.”
    “That was my most serious blunder. By coming to London at the height of the foaling season, I have apparently ‘proved’ that Lawrence can run the stud without me, and I am therefore to consider myself free to spend the entire year escorting Diana around the countryside from one house party to the next, only dropping in at Thorverton Hall for a day or two from time to time.”
    “Good God. Can you not... no, I suppose you cannot simply call off the wedding.”
    “No.” There was a long pause. Finally Demetrius sighed. “Honor is sometimes a heavy burden, is it not? There are times when I think I would prefer to be a complete cad.”
    * * * *
    “You are a complete cad.” Rosemary Pierce-Smythe leaned back against her pillows and made no effort to hide her displeasure behind dimples and fluttering eyelashes. Creighton Trussell was bought and paid for, body and soul, although he appeared not to be fully cognizant of the fact. “I am perfectly willing to frank your losses at the table and on the turf, but I am strangely unwilling to support your mistress.”
    “But I have no mistress. Only you, my dearest darling, and I have never thought of you in such crude terms. You are the only love of my life, and—”
    “I am not the fool you seem to think I am.” She cut his excuses short. “I have had you followed, my good sir, so