Too Hot For A Rake. Pearl Wolf

in separate chambers, she insisted upon sharing their bed. In fact, they had never slept apart since their marriage two years earlier.

      Sebastian drew his wife into his arms, for he loved the feel of her bare body against his. “What possessed Helena to come to you in the wee hours of the morning?” he asked when they were settled.

      “Darlington’s broken their betrothal.”

      “Good God! She’s loved him for an age. Why would he do such an odious thing?”

      Olivia shifted her head. “For heaven’s sake, darling, don’t plague me with your questions just now. Isn’t it enough that my sister has worn me to the bone? Allow me to snatch a bit of sleep before our son wakes and demands my attention.”

      Chapter 3

      Later That Morning…

      The duke sat at the head of the table in the breakfast room, his eyes bloodshot from too little sleep. He held the morning paper at arm’s length and pretended to read, instead steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation with Christopher Darlington, who was, at the moment, cooling his heels in the library. Things never seemed to work the way they ought with his children. Pity. Well, he had wanted a large family, hadn’t he? Now he wondered what had ever made him entertain such a foolish notion. He reached for his coffee just as his butler appeared in the doorway.

      “What is it, Dunston?”

      The Heatham butler, a tall, thin gentleman in the employ of the family as far back in his own childhood as the duke could recall, said, “Mr. Darlington wishes to know if you are ready to receive him, your grace. He is most impatient.”

      “Bloody cheek,” muttered the duke. He exchanged a look of exasperation with his butler. He put the newspaper down and drummed his fingers on the table. “Plague the man. I won’t have him interrupt my breakfast. Tell him to wait. And send for Lady Helena. I want her here with me when I see him.”

      “Very good, your grace.” Dunston attempted to bow out, but Darlington swept past him, ignoring the butler’s disapproving hauteur. The duke’s unwanted guest was groomed to meticulous perfection, yet the countenance he leveled at the duke was one of determination.

      “Forgive the interruption, your grace. I am long overdue at the home office, you see. My business with you won’t take long.”

      To convey displeasure for having entered without his permission, the duke cast him a withering glance. “This is a most unwelcome intrusion, Darlington. You might at least have allowed me to finish my breakfast.” Hoping to annoy his guest, the duke added, “Summon Lady Helena, Dunston.”

      He was right, for Darlington said hastily, “No need, your grace. Your daughter knows why I have come.”

      “You’re here far too early, Darlington. I never grant an audience before noon.” The duke proceeded to sip his coffee, his eyes trained on his newspaper.

      “Allow me to beg pardon again for interrupting your breakfast, your grace, but I am persuaded you will agree that it was necessary once you hear me out.”

      The duke sighed. “Well? What is it you wish to say?”

      “Lady Helena wishes to cry off. We are no longer betrothed.”

      The duke made as if he knew nothing. “Is this some silly quarrel between you two? I’ll ask her the same question, you know.”

      “By no means, your grace. We’ve already settled this between us. I have accepted her decision,” Darlington said as if he were negotiating a treaty. “Now we must both get on with our lives.”

      Dunston reappeared and said, “Begging your pardon, your grace, but Lady Helena is not in her chamber.”

      “Find her, then. At once.”

      At this, the duchess swept past the butler.

      “Good morning, ma’am,” said the duke cheerfully.

      She glanced at Darlington in puzzlement, ignoring his presence for the moment while she addressed her husband. “What is the meaning of all the shouting and banging of doors upstairs, your grace? You know it puts me out of humor to be woken thus.” That said, she turned to greet their guest. “Welcome home, Christopher. Does Helena know you’ve come home?” She honored him with a smile. “Are you ready to set a date for the wedding? Helena will be so pleased.”

      “It appears our daughter is nowhere to be found,” said the duke drily.

      “Oh no. I’m sure that cannot be. She must be taking more time to look her best for you, dear boy. If you haven’t eaten, do join us for breakfast. Believe me, your wedding will be the event of the Season. What day have you in mind?” The duchess kept to herself her determination to agree to a date only if it was not in conflict with her daughter Georgiana’s debut ball in June, an event the duchess had been planning for months.

      A footman entered with fresh coffee, the butler right behind him.

      “Have you located my daughter?”

      “No, your grace.”

      “Oh well,” said the duchess. “No doubt she will appear soon. Now, young man, you must allow me to take care of everything. I shall see to the announcement of the wedding day in the papers. And I beg one more favor of you. Please do not deny me the privilege of arranging all the details of your wedding breakfast to our dear daughter.”

      Darlington fixed her with a grim stare. “Do not trouble yourself, your grace. Your daughter has cried off. She no longer wishes to marry me.”

      The duchess stared at him in disbelief. “Cried off? But how can that be? Helena has wanted to marry you since she was in the schoolroom. Why on earth would she cry off now?”

      “Perhaps it is you who wishes to cry off, Darlington,” said the duke, his shrewd eyes fixed on his unwelcome guest. Time froze except for the ticking of the clock on the mantel.

      Darlington was the first to break the silence. “Lady Helena informed me of this last evening. She leaves me no choice but to accept her decision. If you’ll excuse me, I’m obliged to take my leave. Good day.” He bowed first to the duchess and then to the duke.

      Her grace cast a worried glance at her husband. “Please, Christopher. Don’t go without seeing our daughter. Helena sometimes takes a morning stroll before breakfast. I’ll just have a look in the garden.” She crossed to the French doors and threw them open.

      “No!” cried the duke when he spied their pup, but it was too late. The Great Dane leapt into the room, skidded across the floor and caught the end of the table linen, causing several dishes to tumble to the floor.

      “Prince!” the duchess screeched.

      Dunston lunged for Prince but the dog bounded toward Darlington, rose on his hind legs, planted his muddy paws on Darlington’s immaculate coat and licked his face.

      “Get this beast off me,” Darlington muttered through clenched teeth.

      “He’s just a pup, lad. You needn’t be afraid,” said the duke, stifling the urge to grin. He glanced at the hall door, where several staff members had gathered, drawn by the unaccustomed noise.

      “Don’t just stand there gawking, you lot. Somebody do something with the mutt, for heaven’s sake!”

      At their master’s command, two under maids rushed into the room and began to clean up the mess of broken dishes on the floor while several footmen moved cautiously toward the Great Dane. One of them managed to pull Prince away from Darlington, but not before the pup tore the sleeve of his coat from its mooring.

      “How dreadful. Let Dunston take your coat, Christopher. He’ll have it repaired in no time,” said the duchess, offering her apology. “We’ve only had Prince a few months. For the children, you see. I assure you, the dog meant no harm. He’s just a puppy.”

      Darlington fought