Free A Gentleman and a Scoundrel (The Regency Gentlemen Series) by Norma Darcy Page B

even have my brother’s purse with which to bribe your father.”
    “What are we to do?”
    “What can we do?” he asked disconsolately. “There’s nothing for it, I shall have to go to India as my brother did to make my fortune.”
    “ India ?” Louisa clapped her hands to her cheeks. “Oh no!”
    “I daresay I shall be gone these ten years or more.”
    “ Ten years?” she whispered.
    “It would not be so very bad. I should write often. Would you wait for me, love?”
    She swallowed. “Ten years. But I shall be one and thirty and quite…quite an old maid. Oh I cannot even think it. Are you certain it would have to be ten years? Would five not suffice?”
    “Seven at the earliest.” He laughed and took her into his arms once more. “There now, don’t look so forlorn, I am not going to India. I have little appetite for sweltering heat and none at all for business.”
    Louisa was relieved. “What shall you do then?”
    “I might work for the foreign office―I have a friend who might be able to put in a good word for me,” he suggested, contemplating a distant patch of daisies.
    “To be sure I would like it if you were happy, but it does sound a trifle dull.”
    “Well, yes, I own that is not precisely what I would like. But a second son, you know, has few options. I might become a curate…now don’t laugh. What pray is so funny about that?”
    “ You making sermons. Of all the most nonsensical notions,” she said, giggling.
    He grinned. “Are you implying that I am so dissolute that I have no moral compass?” he asked, pretending to be offended.
    “No, but you must own that it would be a trifle odd to have you prosing on to your parishioners about living a good Christian life while you were yourself gambling in to the small hours. I do not think you would make a very convincing curate, Nicky.”
    “Well of all the shabby things to say! I am quite offended.”
    She dimpled. “I think you would look just the thing in a red coat.”
    His eyes shone. “Do you think so? Or the Hussars perhaps?”
    “Very handsome.”
    “I will speak to my brother directly, if you wish it. The uniform would certainly cut a dash… Although if I were to get posted abroad, which I very likely would be, I should be away from you a good deal. And then there is the unavoidable issue of getting shot at. And that, my love, is not agreeable at all. It would make a terrible mess of the uniform and me.”
    They both fell silent for a moment, contemplating this gloomy picture.
    “Well, we do not need to decide now. There is plenty of time. We shall be secretly betrothed in a very romantic way until I can figure out what is best to be done.”
    “But we don’t have any time at all,” cried Louisa. “Malvern is coming tomorrow. And I can’t face him. I won’t!”
    “Malvern? Here? Good God, what for?”
    “Your brother invited him to stay with him at Stoneacre and he is to dine with us.”
    Nicholas swore under his breath. “What in God’s name is Marcus playing at? He promised me―oh but never mind about that now. There is nothing for it; we shall have to run away together.”
    Louisa laughed incredulously. “You are not serious?”
    “Why not?”
    “You want me to deliberately ruin myself? Papa would never forgive me.”
    “What other choice do we have? Would you rather elope to Gretna Green?”
    Louisa pulled away from him, paling at the thought. “Then I really would be ruined. I could not do that to my family. Pray don’t ask it of me.”
    “Then I shall speak with my brother this minute. Meet me here tomorrow. Tell no-one and come alone.”
    Louisa nodded as he kissed her swiftly on the lips and took himself off. She put her fingers to her mouth savouring the memory of his kiss.
     
    * * *
     
    Mr Ashworth was in shirtsleeves, engaged in dressing for dinner, when his brother sauntered into his bedchamber at his home at Stoneacre and threw himself down upon the bed.
    “Where the devil have you been?”