Free The Abduction of Julia by Karen Hawkins

as many.”
    Alec groaned.
    “Perhaps you would have been better off with the lovely Therese,” Lucien said, a distinct challenge in his voice.
    “Perhaps you would be better off in your own lodgings,” Alec retorted.
    Lucien grinned. “This marriage will either make you or break you, my friend. Care to wager which it will be?”
    Alec didn’t answer. With as much dignity as he could muster, he stood and crossed to the door, closing it behind him with a bang.
    Lucien regarded the door thoughtfully. Alec was the one person he counted as friend. Life had dealt them both unfair hands, yet neither one had bowed. He only wished there was some way he could prevent Alec from making the same mistakes he had made—mistakes that had ruined more lives than his own. Lucien sighed and shook his head. While he knew the old duke’s determination to bring Alec to heel sprang from sincere concern, he had to deplore such heavy-handed methods.
    “It’ll never work,” said Edmund into the silence. “If he doesn’t come out strong and do the thing right, he’ll be in the suds in no time.”
    Lucien pulled his attention to the younger man. ‘Tell me, halfling, have you ever spoken with the Frant Dragon ?“
    “No. Have you?”
    “Once. She was seated beside me at the Melroses’ dinner party last month. I spent three hours with her, and frankly, I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a conversation more. If she has a failing, it is that she is honest to a fault.”
    Edmund brightened. “Perhaps it won’t be so hard for Alec, after all. I mean, if she’s as charming as that—”
    “Oh, I think he’ll have his hands full. Julia Frant is a woman of great fortitude.”
    Edmund grimaced. “No wonder Alec looked so ill at ease.”
    “He is in for a perilous journey. He may have married by the deadline, but he still has a long year ahead.”
    “He will need our assistance. God knows he’s helped me out of more scrapes than I can count.” Edmund leaned forward eagerly. “What can we do?”
    Lucien flipped his cheroot into the fireplace. “We have to help the lovely Julia become society’s most dashing matron. It’s the only way to counteract whatever evil Therese and Nick cook up.”
    A doubtful expression crossed the chubby face. “What do we know about married women?”
    The duke lifted a brow. “Pray tell, did you not just leave the warm bed of the buxom Lady Chowerton?”
    A dull red flush burned its way across Edmund’s cheeks. “Yes, but-—”
    “And isn’t there a Lord Chowerton lurking somewhere in the distance?”
    “Tare and hounds, Luce!” Edmund exclaimed in a strangled tone. “Fanny is another matter altogether. Chowerton is twice her age and more. Besides, I shouldn’t think Alec would want us to teach Julia about… well, I mean, dash it, we couldn’t teach her how to—”
    “Don’t be a gudgeon, Edmund. Of course we couldn’t. Now listen to me, stripling, for I will say this but once: we know the dressing, eating, and personal habits of at least half of the married women in the
ton
. All we need to do is teach those habits to Alec’s young wife. That, along with Lady Birlington’s sponsorship, will get our Julia in the door.”
    Edmund bit his lip. “If Maddie’ll do it. I ain’t saying she won’t, mind you, for you never know what sort of an idea she might take to.” He shook his head. “I still can’t help but wonder if the women we know are the types Alec’d want his wife to emulate.”
    Lucien rubbed his temple and wondered why he had adopted this young cub. Actually, it was more the other way around. One never invited Edmund; he just appeared. Impervious to snubs, the lad wormed his way into their company so often, Lucien had actually missed the silly youth when Edmund had escorted his long-suffering mother to the country.
    Sighing, Lucien said patiently, “Edmund, where is Lady Chowerton this morning?”
    Edmund’s brow furrowed in thought. “Visiting Lady Cowper. Then, she’s