The Decadent Duke by Virginia Henley

themselves and were eager to try them out in Woburn’s park. Their uncle directed the grooms to bring the horses from their stalls, but the brothers saddled up themselves.
    Johnny was stroking a stable cat. “Don’t you have any ponies, Uncle Francis?”
    â€œI’m afraid not. Let’s find you a suitable colt.”
    Johnny glanced at his father uncertainly.
    John experienced a moment of doubt. What of Elizabeth’s dark premonition? My father did lose his life
    when he was thrown from a horse. John ruthlessly thrust aside his fear for his son. Life involved risks every day. “I’m sure Francis has a palfrey you can handle. How about Grey Lady over there?”
    VA most mannerly creature. Let’s get her saddled up, and you can give her a trot round the park. If you can handle her, we’ll all go for a hunt tomorrow. Woburn has three thousand acres.”
    â€œNo promises,” John said firmly. “First things first.”
    As it turned out, Johnny was able to handle the docile Grey Lady with confidence, and his father was proud of him. After some persistent persuasion from his sons, John finally agreed to a hunt the following afternoon.
    The three brothers spent the rest of the day happily mucking about with the farm animals. Woburn had cattle, oxen, sheep, pigs, goats, geese, game birds, and a herd of domesticated deer. Its large kennels had foxhounds for hunting and some greyhounds.
    That night, after his sons went to bed, John and Francis sat sipping brandy before the fire in the large, comfortable Woburn library. “I want to thank you for giving the lads such a happy day. Because of their mother’s melancholy condition, their holidays haven’t been much fun so far.”
    â€œBoys their age need freedom to laugh, and shout, and fight, and generally horse about, like you and I did.”
    â€œWe went to a cricket match at Lord’s last week. Charles Lennox was playing, and he invited us to spend a day at Marylebone Manor with his family. Their eldest son is close to Johnny’s age. In fact, that’s where I bought the horse for young Francis.”
    â€œLennox married Lady Charlotte Gordon. By God, there’s a family for you! The Duchess of Gordon is nicknamed ’the whipper in.’ She’s absolutely shameless in the pursuit of ducal husbands for her daughters. She was after me for Louisa, but caught Charlie Cornwallis instead. I recently attended their wedding.”
    â€œYou managed to escape the Gordon knot.”
    VMind you, the youngest daughter, Lady Georgina, is a vivacious beauty. I’ve got my eye on that one . . . tempting as bloody sin!”
    A picture of Georgina appeared full blown in John’s mind. He was shocked at his brother’s words. Francis had always been attracted to older, experienced women, like Lizzie Melbourne. John had often thought it was because he sought out mother figures. “I have met the lady. She is extremely young .” His tone was forbidding.
    â€œShe’s a little saucebox. At the wedding I asked Huntly for an introduction to the lovely goddess he was keeping to himself. He told me she was his sister and strictly off-limits to me, and wasn’t even out yet. Georgina gave me a teasing smile and promised: When I do come out, I shall be delighted to make your acquaintance. She was obviously attracted to me.”
    John’s imagination allowed him to hear her saucy words clearly. “She’s extremely young,” he repeated.
    â€œYoung or not, she won’t be off-limits once she comes out. A hundred guineas says I’ll bed the little hellcat.”
    â€œDamn you, Francis, I won’t wager with you about bedding a virgin. Whatever gives you the remotest idea that you can accomplish such a shameful thing?”
    â€œI managed to bed Louisa Gordon,” he said with a leer. “Next on the agenda is Lady Georgina. She’s got a delicious pair of