His Wicked Seduction novel Chapter 47

Jane let out a horrified gasp but Avery ignored her.

"How the devil do you know where I was?" Lawrence asked.

Avery continued to smile. "Do you recall the woman in the silver gown and mask Lucien was so interested in?"

"Of course," Lawrence answered. "She was quite beautiful. There was a charming naiveté about her that-oh God."

Avery's smile deepened. "Yes, that woman was Horatia. She paid Madame Chanson to send her to Lucien that evening."

Jane gave a little cry and half-fainted into a chair. She peeped up at her son from beneath her lashes. None of them were paying attention to her. Instead they were more interested in Avery's source of information. Did they not even realize what their wild, reckless behavior was doing to her nerves? Well, if they were going to act like devils, then by God, she'd make them use their devilish talents to suit her ends.

Lawrence felt ready to toss his accounts. He remembered every detail of that night and his jealousy when Lucien had offered to let the woman, Horatia, choose him over his brother. Lawrence had all but shoved his own woman off his lap, in the hopes of taking Lucien's prize. A woman he'd never once thought of romantically. It was hard to accept.

"Are you telling me that the woman I practically begged to steal from my brother that night, the one he shamelessly seduced in front of me was..."

"Indeed," Avery said. "But I must return us to the point of this revelation. Lucien knew it was her the entire night. He was very clear in declaring his desire for her and she for him."

His mother had roused herself to sit up from her theatrical swoon and was once more engaged in the conversation. "Did he...did they... Horatia told me they hadn't..."

"No, not at all," Avery reassured her. "Well, not fully." He then made twiddling motions with his fingers.

Linus got up and held out his arms, expecting their mother to faint for real this time.

His mother screeched. "Dear Lord, I've raised a pack of libertines and hedonists! Indulging in passion is one thing, but this?"

Lawrence ignored his mother's exclamations regarding the damnation of her sons' souls and focused instead on his younger brother.

"Avery, how did you come by this knowledge? You weren't at the Garden that night."

"I have my sources," Avery replied cryptically. It wasn't even the first time he'd made that comment to them.

"You and your bloody sources. One of these days you will get yourself into trouble," Lawrence warned him. "The war is over. Don't you think your line of work ought to end too?"

"Wars never end," said Avery. "Only the battlefields and objectives change."

Avery's missions to the continent were a well-kept family secret, highlighted by the fact that they knew so little of it. It was dangerous work, and he didn't want Avery bringing danger and trouble to the family's front door.

"Lucien and Horatia must marry," his mother said. "At this point my conscience won't allow otherwise. 'Not fully' indeed..."

"What? You expect me to play ignorant of such things? I gave birth to five children, and I assure you that I did not do that all on my own. Your father played a significant role in bringing your miserable existences about. There's that little book from India I believe you all own? The one with all the illustrations. Don't pretend you don't know it, because I've read it as well."

"Mother! For God's sake!" Lawrence begged, cutting his mother off.

Jane allowed a smile to curve her lips.

"It isn't as much fun when you are on the other end of unpleasant thoughts now, is it?" She clapped her hands together. "Now then, off to the ballroom. And remember, do what I charged you or you will beg for mercy, and I shall have none to give. I brought you into this world, and should you displease me, I shall happily remove you from it." She made the threat in such a sweet tone that all three of her sons shuddered.

The moment Avery, Lawrence and Linus entered the ballroom, Lawrence turned to his brothers, speaking so he could not be overheard.

"What do you say we try the shell game?"

"Who will be the main player?" Avery asked in a low whisper.

Lawrence spoke up. "I will. You both remember what to do?"

The shell game was something the three of them had done together many times. No matter the form the game took, each knew his role. Linus and Avery nodded and the three of them separated. Linus went straight towards their unsuspecting prey, while Avery and Lawrence broke off opposite directions.