A Marriage of Equals by Elizabeth Rolls

Author:Elizabeth Rolls [Rolls, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-02-01T16:44:37+00:00

* * *

Huntercombe was browsing among the books in the shop with Selbourne when Will tapped on the door. His lordship looked up and smiled, tucking a book under his arm. He said something to Selbourne, who nodded as they walked to the door.

‘Thank you for a pleasant evening, Ignatius.’ Huntercombe shook the older man’s hand. ‘Will, you might be so kind as to arrange payment for this volume since you are remaining in London.’

‘Certainly, sir.’ Will smothered a laugh. Huntercombe rarely escaped a bookshop unscathed. ‘Goodnight, Mr Selbourne. Thank you for supper.’

Selbourne snorted, holding out a hand for Will to shake. ‘Thank you. It’s good to see you recovered. Come by again. You’ll always be welcome.’

Huntercombe adjusted his muffler. ‘Don’t stand in the cold, Ignatius. The carriage will be along very shortly.’

Selbourne gripped his hand. ‘Thank you again, Hunt. I can never repay—’

‘Don’t be a damned fool. Go inside before you catch your death and I have to explain that to everyone.’

Selbourne complied, closing the door behind them.

Will cleared his throat. ‘Ah, sir. There’s something I must tell you.’

‘You’re not coming home tonight, are you, Will?’

‘I’m not—’ He stared. For pity’s sake—was the man a mind reader? And was he about to have a glove slapped in his face?

But Huntercombe’s expression did not suggest anger or sorrow. Rather, he looked worried...

‘Sir?’

‘Hunt.’

‘What?’

Huntercombe sighed. ‘You’ve been my secretary for seven years, Will. You know me as well as any man alive. I certainly consider you my friend, despite nearly twenty years between us. It’s Hunt.’

Will was speechless for a moment. ‘I... I’m not sure I can do that.’ Cambourne had said very much the same thing, but Huntercombe? That was different. He realised with a shock that he thought of Huntercombe more as a father than anything else.

‘You’ll get used to it,’ Huntercombe said drily. He sighed. ‘I certainly do not have any right to interfere with your private life, Will. Nor hers, but when I see Psyché, before I see an intelligent, beautiful woman, I see a little girl many thought Staverton ought to have quietly sent back to Jamaica.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘I see a vulnerable child for whom Staverton enlisted my protection should she ever need it and he was not there to give it. However, Psyché has made it very clear that she wishes to chart her own course. While there are certainly instances where I would step in to protect her whether she liked it or not, this is not one of them.’

‘You do not think that I am taking advantage of her?’

Huntercombe laughed. ‘She is more than capable of sending you to the rightabout should you attempt it. Besides, I know you rather better than that, Will. Your mother, though—’

‘My mother has nothing to say to this.’

‘On the contrary. She had a great deal to say.’

After a moment during which Will absorbed the fact that his mother had apparently confronted Huntercombe over Psyché, he said, ‘I beg your pardon, sir. I hope—’

‘She wished me to use my influence with you.

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