Despite their apparent differences of opinion, the young lady had left an imprint on his heart. If he was honest with himself, he was in love with Emma, but it appeared that she did not feel the same way about him.
Or perhaps she did and was expressing it by declining his offer?
Perhaps she had taken it upon herself to protect him, rather than accept his help? She had, in fact, made it perfectly clear that she did not require a man’s assistance to save her. She was more than able to rescue herself, and he had no doubt in his mind that she could.
The only problem was that William did not wish her to.
“Are you well, my lord?” a voice from across the room called.
William was sitting in a crowded gentlemen’s club, with his brother, James.
It had been a tradition for William and James to spend an evening once weekly at the club as a means to converse with the other lords and dukes in complete privacy while they enjoyed dark whiskey, bourbon and the finest cigars in the country.
William glanced up at Lord Steeple, the marquess from whom he usually kept his distance ever since the detestable jackanape nearly ruined him a few years ago.
Lord Steeple was the kind of man with whom no female should ever be alone. He had a manner with words, and his overflowing charm made him an infamous smooth-talker. Of course, most women considered him charming and decadent, but after knowing him for only a short while, it was said they quickly discovered Lord Steeple’s true manner, which was rather deplorable.
William cleared his throat and brought his whiskey tumbler closer to his lips. “I am perfectly fine,” he answered before sipping the contents of his glass.
The whiskey burned as it slid down his throat, but he showed no sign of weakness.
Lord Steeple nodded nonchalantly and turned to James. “And how are you finding marriage, Your Grace?? Does the duchess already annoy you enough to run retreat from your home?
Will clenched his teeth together at hearing the arrogant words.
But James was more pleasant, simply shaking his head. “No, not in the least. The duchess is truly lovely, and I could not have chosen a better or lovelier young woman with whom to spend the rest of my life.”
“In all honesty, Your Grace, I wish not to offend, but I was well under the impression you would never marry, or at least had no plans to in the near future,” Lord Steeple said with a grin.
“Nor did I, to be frank, but life has a strange manner to it. One moment I was adamant that I would never marry, and the next, I had fallen head over feet in love with a beautiful woman,” James explained. “It happened so suddenly I did not even see it coming.”
William glanced at his brother. That was precisely how it had happened with Emma.
He had never imagined he would fall in love with a woman such as her or even fall in love at all. for that matter.
Emma’s beauty was unrivaled, but there was something more about her that had led to him falling for her. Perhaps it had been her courage to stand firm in her convictions and principles? She was also not afraid to be true to herself, which William found rather daunting.
He had always behaved according to others’ expectations. He was handsome and charming, and when he spoke the right words to the right person, they were enchanted by him.
He was able to easily woo any woman he wished, and even the most powerful men took notice of him when he spoke. William had inherited that trait from his father, who could simply step into a crowded room and command the attention of all its occupants. The man was a pillar of society, earning everyone’s respect and authority.
William had spent his entire life trying to please his father by trying to be just like him, often mimicking him to the smallest detail.
Thanks to that, he was indeed considered a well-respected man, despite his rakish reputation. That only seemed to make him even more highly esteemed at the gentlemen’s club.
Perhaps Emma was right. That men and women were treated very different and unfairly so. Because it seemed as though the more notches he collected on his bedpost, the better, which made little to no sense.
“Whether you saw it coming or not, you are a very lucky man, Your Grace,” Lord Steeple said.
“Indeed, I am,” James chuckled.
“Perhaps now that your brother has settled down, you would consider it as well, my lord.” Lord Steeple smiled and turned to William. “Although you seem to enjoy the company of more than one woman too much to consider marriage.”
William glared at Lord Steeple and his jaw clenched.
The other man waved a hand dismissively. “I mean no offense. But we are all aware of your standing with women. They flock to your side by the dozens, but they are only worth one night. Why is that?”
“My private affairs are not to be discussed,” William answered, his fingers tightening into fists.
“Perhaps not, but they are discussed,” Lord Steeple pointed out. “Tell us, my lord. How do you do it?”
“Do what, precisely?” he asked.
“Have those women not despise you after one night with you. You discard them the very next day. Surely they should be bitter. Or is it due to whatever my lord is hiding in those trousers that keeps them happy?”
“This is not a suitable conversation,” James interjected.
“I am not even going to dignify it with a response,” William confirmed.
“Perhaps you can respond to the rumors floating around about you and Lady Emma, my lord” Lord Steeple suggested, his dark eyes sparkling with malice and sadism.
William froze and steadied his anger. “What of it?”
“Are the rumors true?”
The moment William
