Page 69 of How to Ruin a Rake

When he entered the drawing room, he found only Mr. Cooper.

Cooper, who insisted on treating Max with a friendly air, smiled at him. “We are the most punctual of guests, aren’t we?”

Max nodded and helped himself to a glass of brandy without offering his companion one.

“How long are you intending to stay at Musgrove Hall?” Max asked. “Do you not have duties to attend to?”

“My employers don’t object to me visiting my friends, my lord, as long as I’m able to satisfactorily complete my work.”

“What exactly do you do?”

“I translate old books about mathematics from the original Arabic, I restore and repair books, and I look for new books to add to my university’s collection.”

“You’re a librarian.”

“That’s one way of describing it,” Cooper said. “As you might imagine, coming to a house like this with a whole room full of family records is something of a treat for me. Dorian was more than happy to let me advise him as to the storage and condition of such important documents.”

“Ah, so this is a paid visit.”

“No, this is a favor for a valued friend.” Cooper paused. “And yourself? How does the heir to a dukedom pass his time?”

Max shrugged. “Waiting to inherit. What else is there for me to do?”

“That’s …” Cooper hesitated. “Forgive me if I speak out of turn, but that must be quite debilitating.”

Max raised his eyebrows. “Do I look debilitated to you?”

Cooper didn’t look away. “I think all men need a purpose in life, my lord.”

Max was about to reply when he became aware that Allegra had entered the room and was staring at both of them. She wore a dress in her favorite shade of blue, which made her gray eyes shine, and her hair was elaborately curled. Max preferred it down around her shoulders, but he certainly wasn’t going to mention that.

“Good evening, Mr. Cooper, my lord.” Allegra curtsied. “I apologize that there was no one here to greet you when you came down to dinner.”

“That’s quite all right,” Cooper said. “We’ve been getting acquainted.”

Allegra glanced dubiously at Max. “That’s … nice.”

He smiled at her, and she raised her chin. Max said, “Mr. Cooper believes every gentleman should have an occupation. He was too polite to say so, but I believe he thinks I’m a lazy good-for-nothing.”

“I didn’t exactly say that—” Cooper attempted to defend himself, but Allegra spoke over him.

“You do lack an occupation, my lord. But isn’t that the fate of all the heirs to great titles?” She turned to Cooper. “One must strive for compassion for these poor creatures who have nothing to do but spend money, gamble, and whore their way through society.”

Cooper looked visibly shocked. “Lady Allegra …”

Max grinned and applauded her. “Now I’ve been put in my place, might I get you a drink, Lady Allegra? I think I can at least manage that.”

As usual, Allegra was seated beside Max and opposite Postumus at dinner. Luckily, her family kept informal manners in the countryside and no one minded if you spoke to the person sitting on the other side of the table. Max was in good form, flirting with her mother and sister and treating her father with the respect he deserved. Postumus was quieter than usual. Allegra suspected that her putdown of Max had shaken him somewhat. In truth, in her desire to outdo Max, she’d completely forgotten Postumus was there.

Postumus still hadn’t proposed to her, and she was running out of time. The duke had sent a message to her father stating he would be with them in two days, which meant she didn’t have many opportunities left. She had a sense that if she just came out and asked Postumus to propose, he wouldn’t respond very well, but what else was there to do?

And what if she asked him and he said no? Allegra couldn’t even allow herself to think about that. She jumped as Max gripped her knee under the table.

“What’s wrong?” he murmured. “You’re hardly eating.”

“I’m … fine.” Allegra offered him a bright smile.

“You are not,” Max said. “I need to speak to you.”