1816, St Claire House, London
âI have no immediate plans to marry, Hawk. Least of all some chit barely out of the schoolroom that you have deigned to pick out for for me!â
Hawk St Claire, the tenth Duke of Stourbridge, viewed his youngest brotherâs angrily flushed face across the width of the leather-topped desk that dominated the library in the St Claire townhouse, his mouth twisting slightly as he noted the glitter of rebellion in Sebastianâs dark brown gaze. âI was merely suggesting that it is past time you thought of taking a wife.â
Lord Sebastian St Claire felt the flush deepen in his cheeks under the steely gaze of his eldest brother. But this awareness of Hawkâs displeasure in no way lessened his own determination not to be coerced into a marriage he neither sought nor wanted.
Although it was a little difficult to maintain that stand, Sebastian acknowledged inwardly, in the face of his brotherâs piercingly intense gaze. A chilling gaze from eyes the colour of gold and ringed by a much darker brown, and one that had been known to almost reduce the Dukeâs valet to tears on occasion, and to cause lesser peers of the realm to quake in their highly polished boots when Hawk took his place in the House.
âDo not take that insufferably condescending tone with me, Hawk, because it wonât wash!â Sebastian threw himself into the carved chair, facing his brother across the desk. âOr is it only that you have decided to turn your attentions to me because Arabella failed to secure a suitable match during her first Season?â he added slyly, knowing that his eighteen-year-old sibling had stubbornly resisted accepting any of the marriage proposals she had received in the last few months.
He was also completely aware that Hawk had hated his role as occasional escort for their younger sister. It had resulted in the marriage-minded debutantes and their ambitious mamas seeing the unusual occurrence of the Duke of Stourbridgeâs presence at balls and parties as an open invitation to pursue him!
Until, that was, Hawk had made it known, in his chillingly high-handed manner, that none of those young women met the exacting standards he set for his future Duchess!
Hawkâs mouth tightened. âWe were not discussing a match for Arabella.â
âThen perhaps we should have been. Or possibly Lucian?â Sebastian mentioned their brother. âAlthough it really should be you, Hawk,â he continued tauntingly. âAfter all, you are the Duke, and of the four of us surely the one most in need of an heir?â
At one and thirty, and over six feet tall, his brother Hawk had powerful shoulders and an athletic body that was the pride and joy of his tailor. Today he wore a black jacket which fit snugly across wide shoulders, a pale grey waistcoat and paler grey breeches above highly polished Hessians. His thick dark hair, streaked with gold, was styled with casual elegance, and beneath a wide, intelligent brow were intense golden eyes, the straight slash of a nose between high cheekbones, and a thin, uncompromising mouth above a square jaw. All spoke of his arrogant and determined character.
Even without his title, Hawk was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. As the powerful Duke of Stourbridge he was formidable.
Hawk looked completely bored by this particular argument. âI believe I have made it more than plain these last months that I have yet to meet any woman who is up to the arduous task of becoming the Duchess of Stourbridge. Besides,â he continued, as Sebastian would have argued further, âI already have two obvious heirs in my younger brothers. Although, going on your more recent behaviour, I would not be happy to see either you or Lucian becoming the next Duke of Stourbridge.â He gave Sebastian a silencing glower.
A glance Sebastian totally ignored. âIf either Lucian or I were to become the next Duke of Stourbridge, you can depend on it that you would not be around to see it, Hawk!â
âVery amusing, Sebastian.âThe Dukeâs dismissal was absolute. âBut following theâ¦events of last month, I realise I have been somewhat remiss in not settling your own and Lucianâs future.â
âLast month? What did Lucian and I do last month that was so different fromâ? Ah.â The light finally dawned. âCan you possibly be referring to the delectable and recently widowed Countess of Morefield?â he challenged unabashedly.