A Rogue for Lady Peacock: a steamy Regency standalone romance (Headstrong Heroines Standalone books) by Sandra Sookoo

Author:Sandra Sookoo [Sookoo, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New Independence Books
Published: 2022-09-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

July 12, 1817

Giles drummed his fingers on a tabletop at Brooks while contemplating the contents of the brandy in his glass. He had seen Nora already four times this week—the third of their planned affair—and only two of those meetings had ended in a coupling. This bothered him more than it should, for he enjoyed every moment in her company and was coming to treasure most the time spent that had nothing to do with carnal endeavors.

And along with that enjoyment came other feelings that confused and disconcerted him.

“You look like a man who is wrestling with the cares of the world.”

He barely glanced up as Lord Masterson joined him at the table in the large main room. It wasn’t late enough in the evening to warrant a crowd, but once the midnight hour struck, men would begin trickling in from different ton events held this night.

“Not that bad.”

“I see.” Once his friend had seated himself, a footman came over and rested a bottle of red wine and a stemmed glass in front of him. “Have you tired of Lady Peacock already, then?”

“Hardly.” Giles rubbed an eye. Never in his life had he been so exhausted as he was now, but the added stimulation and friendship with Nora was also extremely rewarding. “There is something about the woman I find both compelling and fascinating. I cannot have enough.”

Masterson poured a measure of the wine into his glass. Then he sat back and stared. “Do you want to know what I think?”

“If I say no, you will tell me anyway.” What he really wanted was two moments alone so he could sort his jumbled thoughts. How could one woman occupy so much of his time but share nothing of consequence with him? Oh, she was a delightful baggage in every way, yet he hadn’t managed to crack that outer shell of protection she’d drawn around herself in order to see into her heart. On the other hand, he hadn’t exactly done the same for her.

“Of course I will, because I’m concerned about you.” His friend took a sip of the wine. “You have known her for three weeks, yes?”

“This is correct.”

“Can you not see what you have here is an unorthodox courtship?”

Giles snorted. “Such gammon. If this is a courtship, it’s a highly scandalous one.” Heat crept up the back of his neck. “If some of things we’ve done come to light…” He shook his head. “Suffice it to say, in no way is this a courtship. Society would cast us both out on the grounds of public decency alone.”

“Yet you have spent three weeks in the company of one woman. Don’t you see the precedence here?” When Giles didn’t answer, Masterson grinned. “Have you even looked at another woman let alone flirted with one when you are out in society since the advent of Lady Peacock?”

“No.” He followed the answer with a large gulp of brandy that burned in his throat all the way down. “How can I when I am obsessed with her?”

“Well, that is a problem.

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