what has driven me to this pass.”
“Then let me tell you what I do know.” She glared at him . Her eyes shot brown fire. “I cannot abide posturing males. Both of you can go to the devil for all I care. You especially, Felix. Don’t assume I haven’t figured out exactly what you’re attempting here.” She spun around and bolted for the nearest doorway.
“It would seem Clarice was not impressed with your alleged prowess, Lord Swandon.” Smug satisfaction rang in the Frenchman’s voice. “Better luck next time.” Seconds later Guy followed her with a smirk on his face.
Stuff and bother. Felix glanced around the immediate area as he buttoned his waistcoat. It didn’t appear anyone had noticed the incident, which was a small miracle in itself. Just as he began to relax, his mother sailed over to him. Charlotte trailed behind.
“Have you lost your mind?” Though Roberta kept her voice low, there was no mistaking the indignation in her question. “Put your tailcoat on right this second.”
“Perhaps I have.” Felix retrieved his coat from the floor then accepted Charlotte’s help in donning it. “I apologize. There is no excuse for my horrid behavior.”
“Oh, there’s an excuse, all right, but it doesn’t reflect well on you , and you’re certainly not thinking with your head.” With barely an inclination of her chin, she demanded he follow her as she exited the drawing room through a different door than Clarice had taken. The soft whisper of Charlotte’s slippers assured she followed them. Once in a deserted ante-chamber, his mother turned on him. “You have better things to do than contemplate a dalliance with an unworthy woman. Think of your duty to your title and your family, Felix. Everyone expects better than that from you.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” He brushed dust from his jacket. “All my life I’ve done everything anyone expected of me. What would it hurt to finally do something for me?” Shock ricocheted through his chest. “I told you before, if I find a woman who interests me, don’t be surprised if I pursue her.”
“Except at this crossroad, interest and duty collide.” Roberta shook her head. “You are the oldest son. You have certain responsibilities. Don’t disappoint me or your father’s memory. First, you marry—someone suitable and preferably titled. After that, feel free to tup whomever you wish, but not until then.”
“Good God.” He looked from his mother to his sister. Did they both think so poorly of him and his needs? Then his lips curved with a grin. Clarice was titled. Was now the time to that particular bug in his mother’s ear?
“Forget about the chit, Felix.” Her expression softened. “I nearly lost your father’s regard to someone much like Miss Delacroix.”
Oh, but there was no one like his Clarice, and certainly not a comte’s granddaughter. “You never told me that. What happened?” As much as he tried, he couldn’t imagine his traditional, rule following father keeping a mistress or even contemplating having one.
“I gave him an ultimatum. He could keep a lady-bird , but he’d lose me. In the end, he made the right choice and chose to honor his title and our marriage bond.”
Ah.” Though his parents had truly loved each other, did his father ever regret the decision? Was the woman who’d turned his head his one grand passion he’d been fated to walk away from? “No wonder Father was so adamantly opposed to seeing his children wed at early ages.” In fact, his father had encouraged all of them to experience the world before they settled down.
“Indeed. Your father was a wise man once he finally got his heart and his head aligned.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Come, Charlotte. Let’s see if we can salvage what’s happened and spin it in our favor.” The clip of her heels rang on the floor. “Your brother is fatigued just now and prone to rash decisions. That’s what we’ll say if anyone
“Then let me tell you what I do know.” She glared at him . Her eyes shot brown fire. “I cannot abide posturing males. Both of you can go to the devil for all I care. You especially, Felix. Don’t assume I haven’t figured out exactly what you’re attempting here.” She spun around and bolted for the nearest doorway.
“It would seem Clarice was not impressed with your alleged prowess, Lord Swandon.” Smug satisfaction rang in the Frenchman’s voice. “Better luck next time.” Seconds later Guy followed her with a smirk on his face.
Stuff and bother. Felix glanced around the immediate area as he buttoned his waistcoat. It didn’t appear anyone had noticed the incident, which was a small miracle in itself. Just as he began to relax, his mother sailed over to him. Charlotte trailed behind.
“Have you lost your mind?” Though Roberta kept her voice low, there was no mistaking the indignation in her question. “Put your tailcoat on right this second.”
“Perhaps I have.” Felix retrieved his coat from the floor then accepted Charlotte’s help in donning it. “I apologize. There is no excuse for my horrid behavior.”
“Oh, there’s an excuse, all right, but it doesn’t reflect well on you , and you’re certainly not thinking with your head.” With barely an inclination of her chin, she demanded he follow her as she exited the drawing room through a different door than Clarice had taken. The soft whisper of Charlotte’s slippers assured she followed them. Once in a deserted ante-chamber, his mother turned on him. “You have better things to do than contemplate a dalliance with an unworthy woman. Think of your duty to your title and your family, Felix. Everyone expects better than that from you.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” He brushed dust from his jacket. “All my life I’ve done everything anyone expected of me. What would it hurt to finally do something for me?” Shock ricocheted through his chest. “I told you before, if I find a woman who interests me, don’t be surprised if I pursue her.”
“Except at this crossroad, interest and duty collide.” Roberta shook her head. “You are the oldest son. You have certain responsibilities. Don’t disappoint me or your father’s memory. First, you marry—someone suitable and preferably titled. After that, feel free to tup whomever you wish, but not until then.”
“Good God.” He looked from his mother to his sister. Did they both think so poorly of him and his needs? Then his lips curved with a grin. Clarice was titled. Was now the time to that particular bug in his mother’s ear?
“Forget about the chit, Felix.” Her expression softened. “I nearly lost your father’s regard to someone much like Miss Delacroix.”
Oh, but there was no one like his Clarice, and certainly not a comte’s granddaughter. “You never told me that. What happened?” As much as he tried, he couldn’t imagine his traditional, rule following father keeping a mistress or even contemplating having one.
“I gave him an ultimatum. He could keep a lady-bird , but he’d lose me. In the end, he made the right choice and chose to honor his title and our marriage bond.”
Ah.” Though his parents had truly loved each other, did his father ever regret the decision? Was the woman who’d turned his head his one grand passion he’d been fated to walk away from? “No wonder Father was so adamantly opposed to seeing his children wed at early ages.” In fact, his father had encouraged all of them to experience the world before they settled down.
“Indeed. Your father was a wise man once he finally got his heart and his head aligned.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Come, Charlotte. Let’s see if we can salvage what’s happened and spin it in our favor.” The clip of her heels rang on the floor. “Your brother is fatigued just now and prone to rash decisions. That’s what we’ll say if anyone
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