The Dangers of Doing Good (Arrangements, Book 4) by Connolly Rebecca

Author:Connolly, Rebecca [Connolly, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Phase Publishing LLC
Published: 2016-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“Really, Duncan, if you are going to come over to fence this often, I am going to need to find you an additional partner. I cannot take anymore sessions like this.”

Duncan wiped his sweat-drenched brow with a sleeve and glanced over at the also heavily perspiring Colin. “I thought you enjoyed physical activity.”

Colin glared at him as his chest still heaved with his panting. “I do. I don’t even mind the perspiration. I do very much mind four fencing sessions in a week when there are other things I would rather do. And when a man of my stature fences, or does anything for that matter, with a man of your stature, four times in a week is rather like twelve, and I am quite done for.”

Duncan grunted as he sheathed his foil and handed it to a servant. “Fine. I will find someone else, then, and take my tiresome exertions elsewhere.”

“That is not what I meant,” Colin scolded as he did the same, then sat on the floor and leaned against a stone pillar. “What is going on?”

“I don’t know what you…”

“I am many things, Duncan,” he interrupted, “but an idiot is not one of them. What is troubling you?”

Duncan looked at his oldest friend, then sat next to him against the pillar. “My house is overrun with females.”

“And the problem is…?”

He shook his head. Colin was still Colin even when he was trying to be serious. “It’s Moira, Kate, Mary, and Tibby helping Annalise to become a lady.”

Colin winced and shuddered. “That would get me out of the house, too.” Suddenly his friend gave him a surprised look. “Wait, Annalise?”

Duncan felt his cheeks heat. “That’s her real name. It suits her better, don’t you think?”

“It certainly does. Very pretty.”

Duncan swallowed, not feeling the need to be reminded of that.

Colin seemed to mull over the change, then asked “And where is Marianne in all this?”

Duncan shrugged his massive shoulders. “She keeps to herself and her friends these days. She doesn’t want any part of it. She doesn’t approve of Annalise reaching for such heights in Society. It brings her to Marianne’s level.”

“Spoiled brat,” Colin spat, kicking his boot a bit.

Duncan raised a brow at him in surprise.

“Sorry,” his friend muttered grumpily, “but you know she is.”

“I know.” He sighed and leaned his head back. “I told her so. I told her the rumors about her were going to ruin us faster than anything about Annie could, and with her behavior…”

“We can quell those,” Colin soothed. “Between the set of us, we can stamp it all out.”

“Not if your brother is around. That only makes things worse.”

Now it was Colin who groaned. “Blast it, Kit…”

“Do you know anything about…?”

“No.”

Duncan was not sure he believed his friend, but the finality in his voice told Duncan not to ask.

Colin cleared his throat. “So, how is Annalise?”

“She is well,” Duncan sighed, “but she is so eager to please everyone she is being run ragged. I thought she was perfect as she was, but apparently the women did not agree.

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