An Indecent Invitation by Laura Trentham

Author:Laura Trentham
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: spy, masquerade, revenge, regency, ton, brother’s best friend
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2015-08-25T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

After a several hours of much needed sleep, Gray was back, staring at the black front door of the Drummond townhouse. Had it only been a few weeks since his first visit to see Lily? For eight years, she’d barely crossed his mind, and now she’d become integral to his future…to his happiness.

With forethought, he’d dressed more formally than he normally would when calling on Rafe. He’d even tied on a cravat, although now he wondered if the length of cloth might be trying to strangle him. His stomach turned and his palms sweated.

Bloody hell, could he be nervous? Sneaking into houses, extracting information from unwitting victims or being outnumbered during a battle generally incited a strange sort of excitement. Never nerves. He couldn’t afford nerves.

This was definitely nerves. The mere foreignness convinced him.

He rapped with the head of his cane. Higgins answered the door, and as if Gray hadn’t been a constant fixture the past many days, the butler intoned, “How may I help you, sir?”

“Is Lord Drummond available?” Gray barely refrained from an eye roll.

“I’ll see if his lordship is at home, sir.” Higgins’s soundless gait must be something they passed from one generation of butlers to the next. The man returned and gestured him to the study. “His lordship will receive you.”

Gray lifted feet that felt heavier and clumsier than normal. Rafe sat behind his desk, making notations in a ledger with economical movements of his quill. Gray closed the study door and waited, rocking on his feet and smoothing his hair.

Rafe glanced up and then set the quill down for a more thorough inspection. “What has you all dandied up? A cravat before luncheon?” His chuckle did nothing to settle Gray’s nerves.

“Actually, I’m here on business. That is, there’s something of import I need to discuss with you.” Wincing, he ran a finger around the edge of the offending cravat and wandered to the nearest bookshelf. Not only was he too restless to sit, he wanted to keep the door close—in case a swift exit would be deemed necessary.

Rafe leaned back in his chair and laced hands over his stomach. Amusement gleamed from his crinkled eyes. “I’m intrigued. What has you acting so shifty?”

Gray cleared his throat. “I’m here to ask for Lily’s hand. To formally pay my addresses.” His voice echoed too loudly in his ears, and a long, heavy silence settled.

Shock and confusion played over Rafe’s face and body. He sat forward and laid his hands flat on the desk as if seeking a stable force. “My sister? Lily?”

“Do you have another?” Gray asked wryly.

“I thought she annoyed you, drove you queer. You’ll have to excuse my confoundment. I’m somewhat at a loss.” Rafe stood and leaned onto his hands, his face to the desk. “You and Lily?”

“She turned into an amazing woman. What can I say? I took notice.”

“My best friend and my sister,” Rafe whispered seemingly to himself. “This is utterly—last night she was spitting like a cat at you.”

Like attempting to cross an alligator-infested river on a handful of stones, Gray began a tricky traverse.

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