Happily Bedded Bliss: The Rakes of Cavendish Square Read Online Free Page B

business?”
    The butler shook his head. “No, but they are—” He paused and visibly gulped. “One of them is the Duke of Clybourne. The others are his brothers and his brother-in-law, Lord Gresham.”
    They were men of whom he had heard but whom he had never met. Actually, the only members of the Byron family with whom he was acquainted were Lords Leopold and Lawrence, who were his neighbors in London. He knew that Braebourne, the great country estate of the Byrons, abutted Cray’s lands, but since he wasn’t here to socialize, he hadn’t bothered to pay calls on any of the local aristocrats or gentry. Given his dreadful reputation, most of them likely wouldn’t have welcomed a visit from him anyway.
    So why the late-night call? He couldn’t fathom a reason. Unless they were here to carouse, but that seemed as unlikely, given the circumstances, as the visit itself.
    He set his book aside. “Very well, show them in.”
    “That won’t be necessary,” said a voice deep andrich with natural authority. “We decided to let ourselves in.” The dark-haired man, who Gabriel presumed must be the Duke of Clybourne, flicked a glance toward the hapless butler. “You may go.”
    The servant bobbed his head and fled.
    One of the other men shut the door. Gabriel began counting Byrons—there were seven, or rather six, if you didn’t include the brother-in-law. They were all tall and powerfully built, and they were all wearing hard, angry expressions, even the twins, who were usually grinning or making some humorous jest over their latest scheme.
    No, this was definitely not a social visit.
    Gabriel gave no outward sign of concern as he rose slowly to his feet, his own great height putting him an inch above even the tallest of them. “Good evening, gentlemen. Lawrence. Leopold. Perhaps one of you might be so good as to do the introductions. I presume these are your brothers.”
    A muscle ticked in Leo’s jaw—at least Gabriel thought it was Leo, since it wasn’t always easy to tell the twins apart; the two men looked so much alike.
    Lawrence’s eyes narrowed and for a minute Gabriel thought he might refuse. “Lords Cade, Drake and Jack Byron,” Lawrence said, gesturing toward each one in turn. “Edward, Duke of Clybourne, and our brother-in-law, Adam, Lord Gresham.”
    Gabriel inclined his head. “I would offer all of you refreshments but I have the feeling you are here on more important business. So, what may I do for you?”
    Leo’s eyes flashed and he took a step forward as though Gabriel’s words had unleashed some self-imposed restraint. “You smug bastard. How dare you act like you have no idea why we’ve come. Or are you going to claim next that you didn’t have any idea it was her?”
    “Her? Her who? Obviously this has to do with a woman.” He folded his arms. “You’ll have to enlighten me further, since I know a great many hers and sometimes it’s difficult to recall one from another.”
    “Why you—” And suddenly Leo leapt the distance between them, his fist connecting with Gabriel’s jaw before he even knew the blow was coming.
    His head snapped back as he absorbed the punishing blow. His own fists instinctively came up, deflecting a second punch, which would have landed in the center of his gut. He shifted stealthily out of the way and readied himself for more.
    He’d heard about Leopold’s boxing prowess but had never been on the receiving end of it before. Now he knew why even formidable men thought twice about crossing Leopold Byron.
    Before the fight could escalate further, two of his brothers, Jack and Drake, caught Leo around the chest and arms and wrestled him back.
    Leo struggled. “Leave off. I’m not finished with him yet.”
    “You can pummel him to bits later,” Jack said, “and it will be our pleasure to join in, won’t it, Drake?”
    “Indubitably,” Drake agreed.
    “But only after we’re done talking to him,” Jack said.
    “What’s there to talk about?”