The Irish Duke by Virginia Henley Read Free Book Online Page A

salt.
    Across from her, Charles was a picture of innocence, so she suspected him immediately. She wondered if his friend Abercorn had been in on the prank. It was entirely possible. She swallowed without batting an eye and, smiling at her dinner partner, returned to the subject of the earlier conversation. “I think age is relative. It is maturity that reveals a man’s character. There is nothing in a male quite so unattractive as immaturity.”
    Her brother Charles immediately agreed. “However, there is nothing in a female quite as attractive as a sense of humor.”
    Louisa reached for a plum and managed to accidentally tip Charles’s glass. Red wine splashed across his white neck cloth. “You are right, Charles. We all needed a good laugh.”
    All five of his brothers suddenly found him amusing.
    Abercorn didn’t know exactly what was going on, but he knew it was a game of tit for tat and he secretly longed to be a part of this large, fun-loving family.
    After dinner everyone moved into the long gallery. Its walls were lined with comfortable sofas as well as gaming tables for cards. There was also plenty of room to play charades and games such as blind-man’s buff.
    Charles picked up a pillow and took off after young Henry. When he caught his brother, he began to pummel him. “That was a rat-faced thing to do to your sister. An apology is in order.”
    Henry held up his arms to protect his head. “I’m sorry, Lu. I won’t put salt in the sugar again.”
    Louisa stood transfixed. “Charles, you are actually sticking up for me. Will you forgive me for drenching you with wine?”
    “In the past I’ve played too many loutish tricks on you. It’s childish to pit the boys against the girls. From now on we should all be friends and look out for one another. That’s what families are for.”
    A pillow hit him square in the head and Charles charged after his brother Jack. It wasn’t long before the rest of the siblings and their friends joined in the melee. Games tables were overturned to act as barriers against flying cushions, cards, and candles.
    James, thoroughly enjoying himself, pulled Louisa behind a card table to shield her from the onslaught. “Lady Louisa, will you—”
    “You mocking swine. No, I will not marry you!” She balled up her fists and thumped him in the chest. “I gave you my answer at Carlton House and I certainly haven’t changed my mind since.”
    His dark eyes filled with amusement. “I was merely proposing that you keep your head down, not proposing marriage.” His mouth curved into a grin. “You said you didn’t remember me.”
    “I lied. And what’s more, you know I lied, you arrogant devil.” She blushed. When he threw back his head and laughed, her sense of humor deserted her. She felt humiliated and furious at both him and herself.
    Georgy, armed with a sofa pillow, flung herself at Abercorn and began to hit him across the shoulders. Instead of snatching it away and overpowering her, as she was hoping he would, James rolled to the carpet in submission. She went down on her knees before him and whispered, “Damn, I’m the one who wants to roll on the rug.”
    Louisa jumped to her feet and held up her arms. “A truce! A little more decorum, ladies and gentlemen, if you please. Why don’t we settle this with a race tomorrow?”
    James got to his feet and towered above her. “I know Woburn has its own racecourse. Will your father allow us to use it?”
    “Yes, if we ride our own mounts. We cannot use the Russell racehorses.”
    They set the event for eleven the following morning and then went about restoring the gallery so they could play cards. Lu felt disturbed by Abercorn’s presence and distanced herself from him. She played fiercely against her brothers, determined to win money from them, which she could use to wager in the horse race.
    Georgy, on the other hand, was playing for higher stakes. She gambled recklessly with her brother’s friends, Teddy Fox, George