How to Choose the Most Eligible Bachelor: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Sally Forbes

Author:Sally Forbes [Forbes, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Later that day, Owen and Thomas were seated opposite each other in the latter's favourite club, which seemed to Owen to be even darker and more dismal than usual. He would have much preferred to go to the one where he was a member. It was in a much better part of the city, but Thomas had insisted that this was by far the best choice.

Owen had relented when he remembered what his cousin had told him a few weeks ago while he was exceedingly drunk. He had confessed that he felt unable to relax when surrounded by men of much higher social standing than himself. Owen could understand that, given the way some gentlemen behaved, but equally, he didn't feel too comfortable in his present surroundings. Apart from its other faults, the place wasn't overly clean. The table was greasy and still had spilled liquor on it from the previous occupants.

With the benefit of hindsight, he supposed he could have taken Thomas to the club of his choice. He would be expected to pay for the evening anyway despite being there at his cousin's invitation. Nevertheless, he didn't want to seem churlish. This was probably all Thomas could afford on the wages the Duke of Rosingdale paid him.

Owen frowned. There wasn't any way in the world he wanted to hurt anyone else's feelings, especially not Tom's. But the truth of the matter was that it wouldn't have made a lot of difference wherever they went, for he couldn't stop seeing the image of Jane in his thoughts—an image where she had her arm linked with the Duke of Epsin’s. It suggested a relationship between the pair contrary to the one he had believed existed after what passed between him and Jane at Vauxhall Gardens the previous night. Had been completely wrong? Had she not felt the same at all? The thought was painful. Thankfully, it was soon interrupted by the waiter arriving with fresh drinks.

"You seem a little preoccupied, Cuz," Thomas said, hoping to begin wheedling the information he wanted from Owen. "Why is that?"

"I have a lot on my mind, Tom. That's all. I am glad you persuaded me to go for a ride earlier, and to join you tonight. I needed to break the monotony of work," he said, drinking from his glass of beer after toasting his cousin's good health and fortune.

Thomas grinned. He could easily empathise with that sentiment, although it was unusual for Owen to say so. Something must be wrong for him to be spending time away from the warehouse, and his father's eagle eye. Before he could respond to the comment, Owen asked, “What do you know about the Duke of Epsin? Anything in the scandal sheets?”

Ah, thought Tom. So that’s what he wants to hear! Well, this is the place where he might find out a grain of truth about the man, which he wouldn't do otherwise. Sadly, Thomas couldn't add much to what was already common knowledge about the young duke.

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