Edmund swaggered towards lord Spencer, who was conversing with another man. A handsome young man. Being a nobleman himself, he had the advantage of identifying them when he saw one, which was why, with just a glance at the stranger's well-fitted tailcoat and vest, he was able to tell.
"Duke Edmund!" Lord Spencer's lips pulled up into a smile as soon as he spotted Edmund swaggering towards them. "I knew you would come. How kind of you to join us."
"Good morning, Lord Spencer. 'Us'?" One of Edmund's brows shot up as he sized up the stranger.
"Yes. Let me introduce you two. Duke Edmund, this is my late friend's son, William. Viscount William." Lord Spencer's stretch on the name didn't go unnoticed by Edmund as he nodded, briefly remembering he had mentioned the name to him last night. He already hated the handsome lad. He could already picture the man and the vixen together. What a perfect match it would be!
The corners of William's lips pulled up into a pompous smile, "Duke Edmund Leighton? The infamous Duke Edmund?"
"Infamous? What did you hear about me?" Up went another Edmund's brow.
"A lot,"
Maintaining eye contact, Edmund added, "People gossip a lot."
"Yes, I second that. But as they say, there is no smoke without fire. All the gossip must have stemmed from somewhere, right?" Asked William, his sweet smile still in place.
"Lord William, you seem to love gossip a lot." Edmund hoped the man would take the hint and end the conversation.
William let out a hearty laugh, but anyone could tell it was fake. He had taken offence. He didn't like to be called names. He believed gossiping was exclusively for women, and he wasn't one. "Of course, I don't. The stories were far too interesting to ignore."
"Were they?"
"Yes! My favourite was the one you challenged the husband of the woman you were having an affair with to a duel."
"Is that so?" Edmund wasn't surprised at all. It was an old story.
"So, was it a rumour? You never had an affair with Lady Maggie?—"Just one look from Edmund was enough to shut his mouth.
"I can see you are a man with a lot of time on your hands and no work to do. As a viscount, don't you have masters to attend to?"
Lord Spencer, who noticed the two men glaring at each other, interjected, "William dear, it is not everything you hear you take to heart. People like to talk, especially about other people even if it means making up stories about others."
With the smile returning, William added, "So you trust Duke Edmund enough to know those stories were just rumours?"
"Duke Edmund is an old acquaintance."
"Just an acquaintance?" Asked William.
"Probably. We might be more than acquaintances. I do like Duke Edmund. He is a very bright young man."
"Am I?" Edmund asked as his brows pinched together in displeasure and confusion. He was confused because he didn't understand why the old hag was trying to defend him in front of his friend's spoilt brat, who was not familiar with the act of keeping his thoughts and tongue to himself. He was displeased because he didn't plan on such small talk. All he had come to do was help him with the horses he had yet to see.
Lord Spencer laughed, finding humour in the question. "Yes, you are."
Edmund, who didn't plan on humouring the old hag asked, "Where are the horses?"
"In the next town. I hope you don't mind the short trip?" Lord Spencer asked with a pleasant smile.
"Not at all."
"I see you brought your horse."
"Yes."
"It's a beaut."
"I am sure it knows."
Lord Spencer laughed again, "We should start heading out. The weather isn't as promising as I had hoped for it to be."
"In that case," William began, "I should head inside."
"Yes. Yes, you should."
"Is he not coming with us?" Asked Edmund with brows pinched together.
"Oh, no. Viscount William is here to see Sussie."
"Why?!" Edmund almost asked but was able to hold back and settle for just a nod.
The corners of William's lips pulled up again in a not-so-warm smile. "Duke Edmund, it's a pleasure meeting you." He even stuck his hand out for a handshake.
"I can't say the same, Viscount William." Replied Edmund as he glared at the man. He should be a few years older than the lad. He took the protruding hand into his meaty ones for a brief handshake. Without uttering another word, he strode towards the stable to retrieve his horse, but not before making eye contact with the vixen who had been watching him through a window. The action surprisingly brought a smile to his face.
Susan smiled and nodded gracefully at William's words as he continued talking about his investments somewhere in Africa— an investment he expected to yield a good fortune that could last him and his generations to come.
"This investment, how legit is it, Lord William?" Susan asked,
"Oh, it is very legit. It was a good friend of mine who introduced me to the business.
"A good friend of yours? You trust him that much to sell half of your fortune to invest in a business you know nothing about?"
"Ye, I do. Trust is crucial in business."
"I second that, Lord William. But—"
"If it makes you feel better, some of my friends also invested in the business."
Susan refrained from smashing the man's head on the nearest wall because that was exactly what the man needed. A hard hit on the head that would reset his thinking faculty. How can a man be so gullible?!
"So you invested in the business because your friends did?"
"Not really. It was worth giving a try. I have always wanted to join the business world."
Susan subtly raised one of her brows. She did not care how unladylike it appeared to be to the Lord, "You have never done this before, have you?" She watched in astonishment as the man's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "I know someone who can help you," She stated firmly.
William's brows pinched together, "Someone who can help me? With what exactly?"
"He is a guru when it comes to business and investments. If you tell him your situation, he might be able to tell you how good the investment is or tell you how to retrieve your money if it is bad."
His lips curled up as he tried to hide his disapproval of the way she was questioning him. Other women would have easily fallen into his laps, begging him to marry them upon hearing about business and investments. She was too logical, which to him, was unladylike. That notwithstanding, she has everything he needs. "Who is this person you are highly recommending?" William asked in genuine curiosity.
"The man you met earlier, Eddie—I mean, Duke Edmund. He is quite very familiar with such things."
William went silent as he stared blankly at Susan, who stared back at him, waiting for his response. "You trust him that much? More than you trust me?"
"Lord Edmund is an old acquaintance." She declared as colour rushed to her cheeks.
"An old acquaintance that you speak so high of?"
"I heard he is trustworthy."
"Thank you for the offer, but I must decline."
"Why? Is it because of that little banter you shared a few hours ago?"
"No, not because of that. It's just that..." He gives me the wrong vibe.
Susan was quick to jump in, saying, "Lord Edmund is a good man. I am sure he would help you if you ask."
William's brows pinched together before he shook his head when suddenly, his lips pulled up into a dazzling smile that would have melted her heart if she hadn't given it to that bloody blackguard, "I think I understand your fears, m'lady,"
"My fears? Pray tell what you mean, Lord William,"
"Yes. I know you are worried that I won't be able to provide you with good things in life when we finally marry."
Susan's heart skipped a beat. No, not in a good way. What she was scared of hearing had finally come out. Marriage. Of course, he wants to marry her. What was she thinking? Viscount William was also eligible bachelor of the town, who like her, was also looking forward to starting his own family. "Lord William, That was certainly not my intent—"
"Shh. It's fine. I understand. I would do the same if I were in your shoes. But I promise that would never be the case. I have other sources of income that can also last us and our children for many years to come."
"Oh," Sussie was genuinely surprised, wondering what gave the man the impression that she would marry him. She couldn't remember saying yes to him, men and their stupid way of thinking.
She would have loved nothing more than to laugh in the man's face for his stupid assumptions. She wanted to tell him she belonged to another man, but she kept it all to herself, with many what-ifs running through her mind. She didn't know what to do with herself if the black devil rejected her— again. Besides, William seemed like a nice man, but the only problem was that his pride was much more than he could chew. He had blatantly refused her help because he was too proud to face his fears. Too scared to acknowledge the fact he was about to lose everything.
Children? Yes, she wanted children of her own, but she also wanted them to be from a particular handsome devil.
"I promise to make your life beautiful." William was about to reach for her hand when Madeline, her maid, interrupted them.