Godric’s temper was legendary, and his townhouse was full of priceless antiques, including a few Ming dynasty vases.
Godric would never hurt an innocent man or woman. He had a good heart and was known to be kind. But when someone crossed him—particularly when someone knowingly did him wrong—there would be hell to pay.
“I’m quite sure the entire half mile surrounding his townhouse heard of his irritation with Parr. I’ll be deaf for the next week from all that bellowing.”
“Poor Ash,” Charles snickered.
“Yes, poor Ash,” Ashton growled. “None of you have ever tried to rein that man in when his temper starts up.”
Lucien puffed his cigar again, smirking. “That is because we know better.”
“Well, enough of Godric for now. Cedric, how are your racers?” Charles asked.
Cedric leaned back in his chair. Any topic that included hunting or other outdoor activities put him right at ease. He always proclaimed himself a horse-and-hound man, and it was no exaggeration. He was one of the few men who had the devil’s own luck at the races and never had any gambling debts. His estate near Brighton was populated with some of the finest foxhounds and the best English Thoroughbreds.
“I’ve a mind to start breeding racers. I purchased two elegant broodmares, but I’m having difficulty securing a stallion for breeding. I had hoped to woo Lord Chessley’s daughter, and thus convince her father to sell me breeding rights for my mares with his best studs.”
“Are you sure it is the horses you mean to secure breeding rights for and not the lady?” Lucien’s eyes glinted with mischief. The art of seduction was Lucien’s forte. He knew all the eligible ladies each Season and had tasted most of them at some point.
“Are you suggesting my intentions toward Miss Chessley are less than honorable?”
This was twice that Cedric had had his honor impugned. Normally he quite enjoyed the challenge of seducing a lady of quality. He kept few mistresses and preferred instead brief but fiery encounters with his conquests. But Anne Chessley was different than the others, not that Cedric could say how exactly. If he decided to seduce her, that was his business and his alone. Besides, his little sisters, Audrey and Horatia, absolutely adored Anne. He couldn’t do something that would upset either of them. Ever since he’d lost his parents, he’d been protecting his sisters from the world and from all its dark dangers.
“Methinks Cedric doth protest too much,” Lucien quipped.
Cedric’s face flushed, and before he could respond, the door to their private room burst open. A dark figure stood in the doorway, and his mood was fit to kill.
Godric had spent the entire day planning his revenge on Albert Parr. But until he acted, his fury would continue to build inside him. He viciously dragged a hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes. He swept his gaze across the room. His friends stared at him, unmoving, and he choked down a laugh at their startled faces. He must look quite the terror at the moment.
“Brandy. Now,” he snapped as he removed his cloak and threw it over the back of a chair.
Charles nodded at Godric’s cloak. “You know they have lads at the front door who collect those, don’t you?”
Godric ignored him and went to the window overlooking the street below. Dusk was beginning to appear at the edges of the horizon.
Ashton left his seat and poured Godric a brandy. “I’m assuming by your demeanor that you’ve decided what to do about Albert Parr? I was explaining your situation to the others.”
Godric sighed and turned back to his friends. Lucien stole Ashton’s seat and collected the scattered cards. He shuffled them for a new game as Ashton handed Godric a glass.
“I have. But I doubt you will like it, Ash,” Godric said after a long drink.
“So, it’s to be retribution on the field of honor, then?”
Duels, despite their morbid results, were still an easy and final way to settle things between gentlemen. And while Godric knew he was a rogue, he still had some gentlemanly honor left in him.
“Yes, I believe I must—”
“Wait a moment,” Lucien interjected. “Godric, there may be an alternative solution to the Parr problem.” He set a copy of the Quizzing Glass Gazette on the card table, covering the cards he’d intended to play with, and opened it to the society pages.
Godric and Ashton leaned in. The article there was in bold typeface, and Godric could see what Lucien had in mind by way of revenge.
Charles glanced around at him and the others, his brows raised. “What? This bit about cravats on sale at Mme. Borbon’s? I love a good neckcloth as much as any man, but what does that have to do with Parr?”
Godric sighed and pointed to a news item a few inches above the advertisement.
“Miss Emily Parr, presented to society last night, is the daughter of Robert and Clara Parr, both deceased, and is currently living under the guardianship of her uncle, Albert Parr. Tonight she is to make her second appearance at the annual September ball at Lord Chessely’s manor,” Godric read aloud.
“Parr has a niece? Is she attractive?” Cedric asked.
“I would assume so,” Lucien said. “Though, I would have heard of her by now if she was a real beauty.”
“I’d say she’s quite attractive,” Godric mused.
“You’ve seen her?”
“Only for a brief moment, when I met Parr at his house. She was in the gardens. We weren’t introduced.”
Lucien smirked. “So, do you see the opportunity?”
“I do.” Godric couldn’t help but grin back. He was feeling much better with this new plan in mind. “Anyone interested in an abduction?”
Charles nearly knocked his chair over as he leapt up, thrusting his hand in the air.
“Absolutely! I’ve never abducted anyone before.” Charles was nearly bouncing on his feet like an overeager schoolboy.
“Abduction, eh?” Ashton smiled, the expression full of amusement. “I conducted a few of those in my youth.”
“So we abduct Parr’s niece. But why?” Charles asked. “I mean, other than for sport.” He clearly hadn’t grasped the significance of the plan yet.
“Blackmail, of course,” Ashton explained.
“Exactly. If word were to get out that the young girl was my guest, and if certain parties were to spread the word that she had rather enjoyed her time alone with me, she would never find a suitable match. Parr will either have to find a way to pay me back before I expose her ruination, or he will suffer being saddled with a girl he’ll never be able to marry off.”
Godric had no intention of compromising the girl, at least not physically. Holding her captive at his estate would be more than enough to ruin her reputation if anyone ever found out. Emily Parr would be completely safe in his hands, which, given who he was, was quite ironic.
“But if you threaten her reputation, Parr might demand that you marry the girl to salvage her reputation,” Cedric said in concern. “He would be well within his rights.”
“What could an untitled gentleman do to force me to marry the little chit? Not a bloody thing, and I know he won’t demand satisfaction either.” Godric had power and influence on his side, as well as royal relations.