Gabriel's Torment (Regency Club Venus 2) by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer [Mortimer, Carole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-910597-82-8
Publisher: Carole Mortimer

* * *

“You seem a little morose this evening, Your Grace.”

Gabriel looked up from behind the desk in his office at Club Venus to see Evesham leaning against the doorframe. “I attended a funeral this afternoon,” he said to excuse his dour mood.

Because it was an excuse. He had felt sad for Victory today, of course, but it had been her dismissal of him after the funeral, along with the way she and Jimmy had happily gone off together, which now accounted for his taciturn mood.

“Oh dear.” Evesham stepped farther into the room. “Anyone I know?”

Gabriel smiled slightly. “I doubt it.” He determinedly shook off his despondency. “And please do away with the formality and call me Gabriel.”

The other man nodded. “Peregrine.”

“Do not take offence at the question, Peregrine, but I was wondering, when you were thinking of moving back to Evesham House?” Gabriel knew that the younger man preferred to live in his own London residence rather than Newnham House, the official residence of his father, the long-absent-from-London Earl of Newnham. “To my knowledge, you have barely left the four walls of Club Venus this past week.”

Evesham grinned. “No offense taken,” he assured. “And the answer is, what single gentleman in his right mind would have given any thought as to when he was going to leave here?” He perched a lean hip against Gabriel’s desk. “I have everything I could possibly want: amiable ladies, a good brandy, warmth, and congenial male company.” He gave Gabriel an acknowledging nod of his head on the last statement.

Gabriel could still see the lingering discoloration of the bruising Evesham had received during the beating the previous week. Nor could he exactly blame the younger man for his reluctance to leave here. Outside of Club Venus were the dangerous London streets and, for Evesham, only an empty house to look forward to.

Gabriel’s own house was no longer empty, but the temptation waiting for him there was more dire than his previous loneliness.

“You are welcome to stay here for as long as you wish,” Gabriel invited, knowing that the ladies were as partial to Evesham’s company as he was to theirs. But there had been no further bothersome incidents these past few days, and Evesham had a life outside of this club. “I was merely asking because, grateful as I am for your assistance these past three nights, I did not wish to keep you from your own responsibilities.”

The younger man raised fair brows. “What kept you away so long?”

“I believe I am to blame for that.”

Gabriel stood abruptly at the sound of Victory’s voice, a dark scowl creasing his brow when he saw her standing in the still-open doorway of his office. The green cloak was wrapped around her, but Gabriel could clearly see the man’s white linen shirt and pantaloons she wore beneath it. She wore no bonnet, but the dark curls surrounding her face announced her femininity, despite the male attire.

He crossed the room quickly. “What the hell are you doing here, and dressed like that?” he demanded as she stepped into the room.

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