Read Regency: Rakes & Reputations (Mills & Boon M&B) for Free Online

to keep his company. He…he…
saw
me.” Indeed, he was a reminder of all she had endured. Of all she had lost. And that was what she’d been at a loss to explain to him mere moments ago.
    Bella gave her a wise older-sister smile. “Perhaps that is why he is so drawn to you. ‘Tis almost painful to watch him when you are in the same room. He cannot tear his eyes from you.”
    “Because he imagines me naked! It…it is lasciviousness, Bella, and nothing more.”
    “Truly?” But Bella looked doubtful. “He looked genuinely distraught when Mama announced she was taking you home to Ireland.”
    Because he would have liked to waltz with her? She caught her breath at the sudden pain in her chest at the realization that, had things been different, had that night never occurred, she would have liked to waltz with him, too.
    That night at the Crown and Bear tavern, Jamie Hunter rolled his eyes in disgust. “Good Lord, Charlie, you haven’t had that much to drink. Focus, man!”
    Charlie grinned, a canny look on his face. “I’m not far gone, Jamie. I’m thinking of something else.”
    “Some
one
else, more likely. Who is it this time?”
    “The sweet little thing you just cast off. Suzette.”
    “That was two months ago.” Jamie leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. “But Suzette can make the blood boil, can she not? Alas, what will she do when you move on to another demirep? She’s damned near made a career of the Hunter brothers. You’re the lone holdout, Charlie.”
    “Well, I am not holding out any longer. Suzette was saving the best for last. She is fond of the tall, dark and handsome sort.” He waggled his eyebrows at Jamie and chuckled. “I’ve seen the
congé
she has acquired from Lockwood, Drew and you. I’d be willing to wager she could retire if she sold those jewels.”
    “Why would she retire when she has yet another Hunter brother to fleece? “
    “I daresay you all got your money’s worth. I know I shall.”
    Jamie shrugged. He couldn’t say why he’d tired of Suzette Lamont, only that he had. Though, when he thought about it, he’d reached that decision very soon after his family had become involved with the O’Rourkes.
    He suppressed a shiver and came back to the conversation. “Just be a gentleman when you leave, Charlie. Suzette deserves that much.”
    “Aye, she was so devastated when
you
left that she took up with a German not a week later. Ah, but she’s done with him now, and ‘tis my turn.”
    “Made a pauper of him, more likely. Watch your purse strings, brother.”
    “Jealous?”
    Was he? Perhaps just a touch. Suzette was skilled and had taught him much about pleasing a woman. And he was beginning to feel the effects of prolonged celibacy. The fleeting thought that perhaps he needed a woman to take the edge off his lust for Eugenia made him shake his head in disgust. He downed his whiskey in a single gulp.
    This eschewing of mistresses was what came of being around his older brothers. They’d become domesticated so quickly that he could scarce believe it. Lockwood had taken to marriage like a duck to water. Andrew, a libertine to rivalthe worst, was now a happy house cat, curling by his fire with his favorite new toy—Bella.
    Ah, yes, and here came the latest in a long line of newly domesticated tomcats. Devlin Farrell. A man whose slightest twitch had roused terror in seasoned criminals was now a well-contented newlywed who literally worshipped his wife.
    “Gents,” he greeted them. “I see you started without me.”
    Charlie laughed. “I have no doubt you’ll catch up, Farrell.”
    Devlin signaled the barkeeper and a tankard of ale magically appeared. “I have no intention of catching up. Lilly is waiting at home. Wouldn’t want to disappoint her.”
    Jamie snorted. He very much doubted Lilly would be disappointed tonight, or any other night if he was any judge at all. If there was no saint like a reformed sinner, Devlin Farrell would