Lucien Tregellas by Margaret McPhee Page A

her best interest. And the Wicked Earl is, after all, expected to execute such things.’ But the blunt words did not prevent the stab of guilt at the thought of his betraying Miss Langley’s trust.
    â€˜Then old Dutton’s reference to abducting Miss Langley from beneath her mama’s nose was even more applicable than we thought,’ laughed Guy.
    â€˜I did not abduct her,’ said Lucien. ‘She came most willingly once I had explained the situation.’
    â€˜And why not? I do not think there was much chance of her turning down your offer, Lucien. Half the women in London would give their right arm to become Lady Tregellas, no matter what they might say to the contrary. Little Miss Langley has done rather nicely out of your arrangement. Her mama could not have done half so well. Discarded a baron and came up with an earl.’
    â€˜Guy,’ Lucien argued, ‘it isn’t like that.’
    â€˜Why did you marry her? Like you said, you could have just kept her here for the night. That alone would have been enough to make Farquharson discard her and call you out. Then Farquharson would have been dead, Miss Langley safe, and you in a position to choose a more suitable bride.’
    â€˜Miss Langley’s reputation would have been ruined. For what that counts for in this town, she might as well be dead, as be carved up by the tabbies. What kind of man do you take me for?’
    Guy rolled his eyes and gave a cynical sigh. ‘To hear you speak, one might be pardoned for thinking they were talking to a bloody saint! Have you forgotten what you’ve spent the last five years doing, big brother? A one-man crusade to deliver vengeance on Farquharson.’
    â€˜That’s irrelevant. I’m trying to protect her, not ruin her life.’
    â€˜Oh, come, Lucien. Face facts. This isn’t really about the girl at all. It’s about appeasing your conscience and killing Farquharson.’
    Lucien refilled their glasses. ‘Have a care that you don’t go too far, Guy,’ he warned.
    â€˜Not far enough and not soon enough,’ said Guy. ‘Hell knows why I agreed to help you in the first place.’
    â€˜Then why did you?’
    In one swig Guy downed the remainder of his brandy. ‘Because you’re my brother, and I’m a fool, and…like you, I would not see Farquharson do to Miss Langley what he did to Sarah.’ He sighed. ‘It’s just that marriage seems rather drastic. If you think there’s not going to be any repercussions over this, you’re sadly mistaken, Lucien. When it comes to an heir, the Langleys aren’t exactly the best of breeding stock.’
    â€˜You need not worry, Guy. I’ve told you already, as far as I’m concerned, you’re my heir. This marriage doesn’t alter that.’
    Guy faced his brother with growing exasperation. ‘Unless you mean to leave the marriage unconsummated, then I don’t see how you can be so…’ His eyes narrowed and focused harder on Lucien. ‘That’s exactly what you’re planning, isn’t it?’
    Lucien tipped some more brandy down his throat. ‘As you said, little brother, although I might not have chosen to put it quite so bluntly, this marriage satisfies my need to protect an innocent woman and lure Farquharson to a duel, nothing else. I’ll see that Miss Langley is safe and has everything that she wants. But that’s as far as it goes. Our lives will resume as normal.’ He raked a hand through his ebony ruffle of hair. ‘All aspects of it.’
    â€˜I think you may have underestimated the effects of married life.’ Guy replaced his empty glass upon the drum table.
    â€˜And I think we’d better ready ourselves for a visit from Farquharson and Mr Langley.’
    Guy waited until his brother reached the door before saying, ‘By the way, if Farquharson finds out that you haven’t bedded the