Page 65 of The Rogue’s Offer

Chapter 15

Mathias glared at Charles seated across from him in the carriage. His brother simply arched an eyebrow in amused disgust. With a quiet sound of irritation, Mathias looked out the carriage window. He should have known better last night than to be lulled into thinking he had a winning hand. Charles was renowned for his skill at cards, and like a fool, he’d played right into his brother’s hands.

Certain of the cards he held, Mathias hadn’t hesitated to wager his agreement to accompany Charles to dinner tonight. He’d lost the hand, and it wasn’t until his brother informed him where they were going this evening that Mathias realized what a fool he’d been. He’d allowed himself to be placed in a situation where he’d be forced to watch Ophelia and Chelmsford together.

“Scowl all you want, Mathias. It won’t change the fact that you lost the hand.” The exasperation in his brother’s voice made Mathias jerk his gaze back to his brother.

“And it doesn’t change the fact that you knew I would never have agreed to the wager if I’d known we’d be attending a dinner party with the Rockwoods this evening.”

“You make it sound as if I’d condemned you to hell.”

“There will come a time Charles, when you’ll try to win Beatrice back, and you’ll be condemned into this hell with me. When that happens, I’ll remind you of this moment,” he snarled viciously.

Charles didn’t answer him, but his brother’s features had become a stony façade that indicated Mathias had struck a nerve. The regret he experienced at taunting his brother evaporated as the carriage rolled to a halt in front of Melton House. His brother had interfered in his life again, despite Mathias’s warning. As the vehicle’s door opened, Charles didn’t move. Instead he gestured toward the open door.

“After you.”

“Afraid I might not honor our wager, brother?” Mathias said sardonically.

“Shall we just say the thought had crossed my mind?”

Mathias muttered an oath and quickly stepped down onto the sidewalk. Not bothering to wait on Charles, he strode up the steps to the front door of Melton House. Before he could knock, the door swung open as Madison, the earl’s butler, greeted him and Charles.

“Good evening, Mr. Gilchrist. Lord Thornbury.”

Mathias silently acknowledged the older man’s greeting with a jerk of his head as he handed the butler his hat. The quiet hum of conversation flowing out of the main salon into the foyer made his muscles tighten as Percy emerged from the salon with a broad smile on his face.

“Charles. Mathias. Welcome.”

“Percy.” Mathias bit out his greeting as he shook hands with his friend. As he watched Percy shake Charles’s hand, the two men exchanged a look that made Mathias realize his brother might have had help ensuring he was in attendance tonight. He narrowed his gaze at Charles who arched his eyebrows in an arrogant manner. Percy turned back to Mathias and frowned.

“Christ Jesus, man. You look as though you’ve just been given a prison sentence.”

“Do I?” Mathias said with a heavy dose of sarcasm, his jaw taut with tension.

“I’ve considered throwing him out of Thornbury Place,” Charles released a quiet noise of unsympathetic brotherly disgust. “He’s been snarling like a wounded lion for the past month.”

Mathias knew better than to refute his brother’s observation. It would be a lie to do so. He knew he’d been far from pleasant since the Meacham affair. When he’d confronted Charles about his role in sending Ophelia to the library, his brother had reluctantly confessed to arranging the meeting.

His reaction had surprised both of them when Charles had landed on the floor from a strong right-hand punch to the jaw. Mathias hadn’t bothered to apologize or help his brother to his feet. Instead he’d coldly ordered Charles not to interfere in his affairs again. It was beginning to look as if his brother had disregarded the warning. A strong hand patted his shoulder, and he met Percy’s sympathetic gaze.

“She’s not here, Mathias.”

The quiet words made him jerk slightly with relief followed by a disappointment that was as sharp as it was bitter. He immediately berated himself for feeling anything for Ophelia at all. In the next instant, he grasped the fact that Percy’s words were an open confession he’d conspired with Charles to ensure he came tonight.

The sudden urge to drop his brother to the floor again made him turn sharply toward Charles. His brother took a quick step back, but didn’t bother to hide his complicit behavior. An irritable frown settled on his brother’s features.

“Can you blame me? Your ill-temper has wreaked havoc with the staff, and I don’t enjoy being your punching bag. Something I’m certain you wish I were at this exact moment.”

“What are the three of you doing out here?”

Louisa stood in the salon doorway eyeing them with an innocent expression on her face that he knew wasn’t innocent at all. Christ Jesus, was there no one in the Rockwood family who hadn’t aided his brother in this hellish conspiracy? Louisa had either been privy to, if not the mastermind of, the plot to drag him here tonight. With a final glare at his brother and Percy, he stepped forward to kiss Louisa’s cheek.

“We just arrived a moment ago,” Mathias said with a grim smile as the youngest Rockwood hugged him tight for a brief moment. If he’d wanted confirmation of her involvement in the conspiracy her warm greeting confirmed it.

“Well, come join everyone else. We’ll be dining shortly, and I have two ladies who’ll need an escort into dinner.” Louisa tucked her arm in Mathias’s and pulled him toward the salon.

As Mathias walked into the drawing room with Louisa, he instinctively searched the room for Ophelia. Although Percy had said she wasn’t here, it was impossible not to look for her as much as he hated himself for doing so. The moment his gaze fell on the Earl of Chelmsford he grew rigid. Almost as if Louisa could read his mind, she touched his arm.