Eloisa James - Duchess by Night by Duchess By Night Read Free Book Online Page B

byword, Vil iers, but Il thank you to pack him up and send him home to his mother.
    Vil ierss eyes narrowed dangerously, but Jem had never backed down to any dukes desires, and he wouldnt now. Especial y to one of the few men in England whom he thought of as being of his own weight intel ectual y.
    I dislike the idea that my house is being treated as some sort of proving ground for innocents.
    There was a thread of angerand an odd strain of amusementin Vil ierss voice. Al right, hes not a rakehel . Far from it. But he is twenty-two. And hes got as much right as anyone else to a ful life. Surely youd be the first to say that?
    What do you mean? Whats his life been up til now?
    His mother is eccentric, Vil iers said. She lives in the country and has kept him close by her side.
    Jem glanced over at Cope. He was standing with the duchess as they examined the intertwined bodies of Venus and Mars.
    The marble cleverly blended into one piece during the crucial encounter. The corner of his mouth quirked as he saw Mr. Cope point to the relevant spot.
    Vil iers fol owed his gaze. Hes a wil ing learner.
    Did you rescue him?
    Something of the sort. I promised him a look at life that wouldnt hurt him. Hes twenty-two, andI hardly need to say ita virgin. I could have taken him to a brothel in London, but I didnt want that dewy look of his dashed when he had to hand over coins to the lass of his choice.
    Jem didnt like the reasoning. Yet he couldnt deny but that it made sense. If he had a son, he wouldnt want him in a brothel either.
    The same diseases are to be found here as elsewhere, he said, a warning in his voice.
    Then Il trust you to steer him the right direction, Strange. Vil iers made a sour face. The trip took more out of me than I expected. My Scottish devil of a doctor told me not to travel, but I overruled him. And now I think he was likely right.
    Vil ierss face was a pal id white, with deep bruises under his eyes. Jem jerked his head at Povy. Youl stay in bed, he said, and Il watch over your fledgling. And what of that duchess? Or should I say, half-duchess? Am I to watch over her as wel ?
    Vil iers gave him a faint smile. You might want to warn your guests shes in the house.
    A wild one?
    Jemma had a Twelfth Night partydo you know the Duchess of Beaumont?
    I met her once. Dared her to come visit, but she didnt have the backbone.
    Or perhaps the desire, Vil iers said mildly. Not everyone thinks that an invitation to your house is a ticket to Paradise, you know.
    Im glad you succumbed. And he meant it.
    The duchess had al the married men at Jemmas party running in little circles around her. It was like a trained dog act.
    Jem snorted. You werent one of them?
    Not in the cards at the moment, Vil iers said. I didnt even make it to the bal room, just languished in a side room waiting for visitors.
    There was a note of self-mockery in his voice. He didnt want sympathy. You deserved every moment, playing the fool with a rapier. Were too old for that.
    Im not al owed to play chess, Vil iers said, sounding as if he were announcing a ritual castration.
    Says who?

    Dr. Treglown, the Scottish devil who saved my life. I was in and out of a fever for months, and apparently I did a lot of raving about chess. He says I have to take a break and rest my brain.
    Ah, so a visit to the house of tarnished angels is a perfect convalescence. Though I stil dont quite understand why you dragged along those two, Il take care of them for you.
    Put them in adjoining chambers, Vil iers said.
    What?
    Vil iers looked at him. I thought it was impossible to shock you, he observed. Im off to bed, if you please.
    Povy ushered him away and Jem stood for a moment, staring at the odd couple stil looking at the statue. They were no longer examining the salacious point at which female marble blended into male. Instead, Mr. Cope was running his finger down the arch of Venuss neck.
    It was one of Jems favorite aspects of the statue. Venus had her head thrown back, her