Page 17 of The Devil's Accidental Duchess
She patted her suddenly warm cheeks. Oh, this would not do. This would not do at all.
Just then, a light rap wrenched her from her thoughts.
Who could it be this time?
“I came as soon as I heard.”
When he heard his friend’s familiar voice, Philip set out another glass and poured some whiskey into it. He pretended to ignore the look of concern and confusion that marred Zachary’s brow when he handed it to him.
His friend shook his head. “I thought the old feud had died with your father. What the devil possessed old Barlow to come banging on your door?”
Philip shrugged and tossed back his drink. “Nothing really. Just some mischief that some ladies were up to.”
He was making assumptions, but they were not baseless.
“Some mischief that must have been, to demand such retribution from the old Duke.” Zachary looked at Philip over his glass and raised his eyebrow. “Does this mischief involve you dishonoring his daughter in some way?”
“Of course not. You know that I am a man of honor.”
“I had not known you to make jokes after just one glass of whiskey, old boy.”
Philip chuckled. “It is nothing serious, really. Lizzy once mentioned this particular book club that sends scandalous letters to young ladies who have come out into society. I do not know why they do so, but Barlow discovered one sent to his daughter and promptly lost his mind.”
“Scandalous letters?” Zachary choked out. “What kind of scandalous letters?”
“From their supposed ideal matches, though not written by the said matches. Have a look at it yourself.” Philip tossed the letter to his friend, who quickly scanned its contents. He watched as his friend’s expression turned rather grave, and he poured himself another glass.
“This looks like you really could have written it.”
“Yes, if I had lost half my wits.” Philip rolled his eyes. “It was meant as ajoke. A prank. Barlow, though, would hear none of it and demanded satisfaction unless I married the girl.”
Zachary shuddered and tossed the letter back to him. “Thank God,mydaughter has not heard of this book club, or she would have them sendmea letter.”
“You could use some help, old friend.”
“Like you did?” Zachary smirked at him.
No, he most assuredly didnot.
The last thing Philip cared for—up until Barlow began shouting up his window—was abride. He was even just dissuading his grandmother from the notion of his “duty” when chaos erupted.
“Yes, well, I did not particularly care for murdering the man in front of his children.” He shrugged.
“So, you did not shoot the fellow.” His friend frowned. “However did you manage to keep him from shootingyou?”
“He could not figure out his pistol, and I graciously withdrew before he could embarrass himself any further,” Philip replied. “I could not let him murder his own authority in front of his children.”
Zachary chuckled. “Was it truly so bad?”
“I have seen farmers’ boys who have never wielded a weapon before aim with greater accuracy,” Philip snorted. “Anyway, myproposal to his daughter put an end to it. He accepted rather more eagerly than I would have expected from a man who openly despises me.”
“Aren’t you suspicious of his intentions?”
Philip shrugged again. “Not really.”
“And you’re actually going to marry her?”
“Seems that way.”
