Bad Boys Ahoy!

Hugh La Coeur was renowned for a great many things in addition to his propensity for hedonism. He was a beautiful male specimen, with golden hair and dark, heavy-lidded eyes.

He'd emerged victorious from two duels, and was considered to be an expert marksman and swordsman. If only he'd focus that level of intensity on making money, they could climb out of the financial mire they were in now.

'Jules, what the devil are you doing here?' he cried.

'What do you think, Hugh?' Her voice rose with anger. 'You irresponsible, self-centered-'

He clamped a tobacco-scented hand over her mouth and tugged her down the hall. Opening a closed door, he pushed her into a dimly lit parlor. 'If Fontaine heard word of your presence in this house, it would be a disaster!'

Julienne pulled her arm from his grip. 'And then he might not be inclined to offer for me, and you would be ruined in debt. I can well collect your concern.'

Hugh had the decency to flush. 'You would be ruined as well,' he pointed out gruffly.

'At this point, Hugh, I would find the loss of my reputation to be worth it if you would learn your lesson.' She slashed her hand through the air. 'Your rakehell days are over. I've come to like Lord Fontaine. It troubles me to think of his money being used to pay for your selfish indulgences. I will not allow him to support you forever. You must do your duty to the title. You need to maintain the estates, make the tenants happy, and find someone you can trust to make some investments for you.'

Hugh gaped. 'Hell's teeth! I will not engage in trade!'

'Swallow your pride,' she snapped. 'You have squandered centuries of Le Coeur heritage in less than a decade. Now you must find a way to rebuild it.' She crossed her arms and lifted her chin. 'And you will start doing so immediately. You no longer have the luxury of parties such as these. You should be home, sleeping, in preparation for the day's hard work on the morrow.'

'Damnation.' His hands went to his hips. 'I will not be dictated to!'

'And you will not whore me out to pay for your lifestyle!'

Hugh was shocked into silence. He was still young enough that his hard living had not yet etched its passing on his handsome face, but that wouldn't last long. If he continued on his present course of endless indulgences, he would age before his time. But Julienne would fight tooth and nail before she allowed that to happen.

He lowered his head. 'Ah hell, Jules. You are correct, as usual. I'm dreadfully sorry for having gotten us into this morass.' He ran a hand through his hair and looked at her with suddenly weary eyes. 'I'm not suited to being Montrose. I never have been. You have no idea how often I wish Father and Mother were still alive. I miss them, and I had so much yet to learn…'

'I understand, Hugh, truly. But you are the only one who can do this,' she said with a sigh. 'We all have responsibilities in life. This is your burden to bear. I will assist you as best I can and help you find your footing, but you will have to do what is necessary to keep yourself there.'

He began to pace. 'Have you discussed our situation with Fontaine?'

'Not yet.'

'But Jules,' Hugh cried, 'you have to tell him.'

Julienne narrowed her eyes. 'Exactly how much trouble are we in?'

He flushed, and her gut clenched.

'Cut to the heart of it,' she ordered. 'I don't have the stomach to listen to an accounting of every shilling.'

Hugh quit pacing and faced her squarely. 'It's mostly gambling debts.'

'I'm aware of that. How much, Hugh?' She rubbed the space between her brows, fighting off a headache.

'Well, I owe White's twenty thousand pounds and-'

'Twenty thousand?' she screeched.

'Hush, Jules!' He winced and shot a glance at the door. 'Perhaps you should sit.'

'Good heavens,' she muttered, her eyes widening. Julienne began to tap her foot in a rapid staccato on the Aubusson rug. 'Tell me that is your largest creditor.'

'Now, Julienne, I realize-'

'Out with it. We don't have all night.'

'We should discuss this at home.'

'Oh, no. Right here will be sufficient.' She arched a brow. 'Who is your largest creditor, and how much do you owe them?'

Hugh's shoulders slumped. 'Remington's. I owe one hundred thousand pounds.'

Julienne swayed on her feet. 'One hundred thousand?' she breathed as the blood drained from her face. 'To Lucien Remington?'

He reached out to steady her. 'Don't faint, Jules,' he pleaded. 'I'm sorry about all of this, but that bastard Remington kept my accounts open. White's cut me off at twenty thousand, but-'

'No more!' she snapped, pushing him away. 'Don't blame Lucien Remington for your weakness. I will not have you disparaging him in any way. Do you understand? In any way. He has made something of himself, built an empire. You have done this to us. You alone are responsible.'

Hugh recoiled from her sharp tone, one she'd never used with him before. 'He could ruin us!'

'And who gave him that power?' she countered.

He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off with an upraised hand. 'I'm exhausted, and I don't wish to discuss your problems anymore this evening. Fetch your cloak. We're leaving.'

As the door to the parlor closed, the two intertwined figures on the settee separated, and one sat up.

'Fascinating,' Amanda murmured, as she straightened her bodice.

Magnus, Duke of Glasser, brushed aside her dark hair to nuzzle her neck. 'Not as fascinating as what I have right here,' he murmured wickedly.

'Glass, for heaven's sake. Don't you realize we've just met our future daughter-in-law?' She brushed his roving hands away.

The duke heaved a long-suffering sigh and sat up beside her. 'We didn't meet anyone. We eavesdropped. And it sounded like the chit has her claws in Fontaine. Why would she want Charles?'

'Charles?' She rolled her eyes. 'For heaven's sake, Glass, pay attention. I'm talking about Lucien.'

'Lucien?' he queried, obviously confused. 'She's an earl's daughter. And from the sound of it, she's well on her way to being a marchioness. What would she want with Lucien?'

'What woman wouldn't want Lucien? He's the spitting image of you, handsome devil that you are.' She smiled seductively. 'And didn't you hear Lady Julienne defend him? There's something afoot there. She likes him.'

'Lots of women like Lucien,' Magnus pointed out with a good dollop of fatherly pride. 'Doesn't mean he wants to marry them. Who knows if he's even met the gel before?'

Amanda attempted to restore some order to her hair. 'Trust me, darling. A woman knows these things. Lady Julienne took a personal offense to Montrose's comments. I can assure you, they've met. You'll see I'm right.'

She squealed as she was tackled back onto the settee.

'I've got something to show you,' the duke growled. 'Right here.'

'You look awful.'

Lucien scowled as he paced the empty hazard room of Remington's. 'To hell with you, too, Marchant.'

His man-of-affairs laughed. 'It's unusually early for you to be here.'

'You're here,' Lucien retorted.

'I'm always here at this time.' Marchant sighed at Lucien's skeptical glance. 'You truly have no idea what you pay me for, do you?'

Lucien paused in his pacing and glared. 'I'm certain I don't pay you to harass and insult me, so be on your way.'

'I have something to discuss with you, Lucien.'