Free Gayle Buck by The Demon Rake Page A

making up hot toddies for the ladies when they come.”
    “We may need more than warm beds and hot toddies, Mrs. Lummington,” said Victoria. “I overheard Master Evelyn express concern for his wife because she is in the family way.”
    Mrs. Lummington blew out her cheeks thoughtfully. “I catch your meaning, my lady. I will see that a man is sent for the physician directly we know if he is needed.”
    “You might as well send for the sawbones now, Mrs. Lummington.” The two women turned at Sir Aubrey’s harsh voice. He leaned on his cane in the dining-room doorway. “Think, woman. In this infernal weather it will take the man a good two hours at best to reach Chatworth.”
    “Aye, Sir Aubrey. You may rely on me, sir. I will attend to the matter immediately,” said Mrs. Lummington, curtsying.
    “See that you do,” said Sir Aubrey. When the housekeeper had left, he turned hard eyes on Victoria. “We’ve time on our hands, Lady Victoria. Indulge me in a rubber or two of whist. You do play, of course?”
    At Victoria’s nod, he ordered tapers to be brought to the sitting room. While he was engaged in shuffling the cards, Lady Hortense came in with her embroidery basket and settled herself on the settee. “I can never resist bright light,” she said humorously as she began plying her needle.
    Victoria laughed, and as she admired the brightly colored altar cloth Lady Hortense was working on, she said, “It is beautiful, ma’am. I myself am but a tolerable needlewoman and I envy those with more talented fingers.”
    “Thank you, my dear.” Lady Hortense glanced over at her brother-in-law. “Aubrey, Mrs. Lummington informs me that dear Doro is in the family way. Why ever did you not tell me?”
    “Evelyn does not confide in me, Hortense,” said Sir Aubrey harshly. “Come, Lady Victoria. I am done with the cards.” As Lady Hortense shook her head, Victoria took her place at the card table.
    Nearly an hour passed while Sir Aubrey satisfied himself that Victoria was a worthy opponent. “You have played whist often, I see,” he commented finally, watching as Victoria expertly shuffled.
    “Charles loved gaming and I thus gained more than a passing familiarity with the pasteboards,” said Victoria. “He was forever betting on something and won more often than not.”
    Sir Aubrey smiled. “He became a hardened gamester, did he? I had always a taste for the gaming hells myself. Charles was a scapegrace, but I understood him. He was more like my own son than his cousin Evelyn could ever hope to be.” There was an old bitterness in his voice that Victoria was quick to detect. Beyond them, Lady Hortense firmly pressed her lips together, determined not to involve herself.
    “I expect Master Evelyn will be grateful for your forethought in sending for the doctor. Sir Aubrey,” said Victoria.
    Sir Aubrey cracked a laugh. “That’s rich, ‘pon my word! My son would as lief spit me on his sword than admit a drop of gratitude to me, my lady. He does not easily forget that he is descended from the wrong side of the blanket.”
    “Now that is quite enough, Aubrey,” said Lady Hortense firmly. “You do not need to rake up the buried past.”
    “Do I not? She should know about the family she is allied with.” Sir Aubrey threw an unreadable glance at Victoria from beneath half-hooded eyes. “I am the bastard of the St. Claire clan, Lady Victoria. Lord Damion’s father, the Viscount St. Claire, was my half-brother. The viscount’s mother was Lady Amelia. Mine was the blacksmith’s daughter.”
    He stared at her fiercely and Victoria finally felt compelled to comment. “I did not know,” she said lamely.
    “Then Charles had less brains than I gave him credit for. He should have prepared you for the worst, my dear.” Sir Aubrey’s smile was a shade malicious. “By nature passions run deep in the March and St. Claire clans. Lord Robert’s will shall undoubtedly act as a catalyst of sorts. The title goes to