The Trouble With Titles: A Regency mystery romance (Inconvenient Scandals #4) by Jarrett Nina

Author:Jarrett, Nina
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rogue Press
Published: 2024-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

“A gentle reed whispered to Psyche, 'Wait until the sheep are resting in the shade, and then collect the wool caught on the branches of the trees.”

Lucius Apuleius, Metamorphoses

“You should wed Olivia Boyle.”

John’s declaration was met by the loud ticking of the mahogany clock on the shelf. Tick, tick, tick, it said while Simon considered how best to respond to his older brother’s absurd recommendation.

Simon pondered the possibility that he was still abed, dreaming this bizarre conversation in the comfort of his sheets. He would much rather dream about Madeline, tucking her soft body to his as they slipped into slumber together. But perhaps the lamb from dinner the night before had been tainted to bring on such odd proclamations. He tapped the arm of his chair with drumming fingertips just to confirm it was daytime, and he had indeed dressed with the help of his valet just an hour earlier. The leather-clad padding was solid enough to the touch. He must be awake, then.

“Why on earth would I do that?” It was a serious question. Simon could not think of a solitary reason he would want to do such a thing. “Her father is making arrangements for her to marry Lord Clutterbuck.”

“It would elevate the Blackwood legacy to align with such an ancient family, and Clutterbuck is old enough to be her grandfather. You would be doing the featherbrained chit a service.”

Simon did not often drink, and when he did, it made his head feel muddled. Not unlike how he was feeling at this very moment. Did John have a legitimate reason to suggest such folly, or was this more of the legacy foolishness that had held Simon fast all these years while his real life slipped away?

“I do not wish to wed Miss Boyle. She is a ridiculous flibbertigibbet who would eventually drive me stark, raving mad. She and Lord Clutterbuck are suited in every aspect other than age.”

One of the privileges of not being the heir to the Blackwood title was that Simon was no longer beholden to his father or his older brother. He could do what he wished, and as soon as he worked out what that was, he would begin. First, however, he needed to find some method of proving he had not murdered a peer, which he would be doing if John had not sidled in to take a seat at Simon’s desk. After Simon had quickly vacated his seat to make way for his brother.

Simon wondered if he should look into moving into one of his clubs. The minor irritations of playing second to first his father, and now his brother, were growing into significant annoyances with the news that he was to seek his own fortune. Not least of those aggravations was, despite all the work he had done these past years to oversee the Blackwood holdings, he still had to spring to his feet like a private secretary each time the baron visited the study.

He did not mind paying his respects, but it was he who did all the work, while John signed documents with barely a glance.

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