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“It’s French porcelain Kathleen says we’re supposed to pinch the handle between the thuer”
“What’s wrong with adult-sized cups?”
Unfortunately, the diversionary tactic didn’t budge Devon froinal subject “I wasn’t the only one to notice the attraction between you and Lady Clare”
“At the moment,” West said, “I’d be attracted to any available wo season hasn’t yet finished, and every creature on this estate has been happily fornicating for weeks ExceptI wake up in a state of medical crisis”
“I should think an attractive young ould be able to help with that,” Devon said, resu his seat
“You ht There’s no possibility a woman like Lady Clare would take a serious interest in me Nor would I want her to”
Devon gave hilance “You think her too far above you?”
Fiddling with the teacup handle, West accidentally caught a fingertip in it “I don’t think it She is too far above me—morally, financially, socially, and any other ‘ly’ you can think of Besides, as I’ve saidkind”
“If you’re trying to hang on to your carefree bachelor’s existence,” Devon said, “it died approxiht as well accept that and settle down”
“I would show you the appropriate finger,” West ed at his i the teacup’s porcelain loop
“If a wohtest interest in you, you don’t slink away You fall to your knees in gratitude”
“For the first half of our lives,” West retorted, “you and I were at everyone’s mercy Pushed, pulled, and manipulated by relations who s I won’t live like that again”
He would never forget those years of being desperately poor and powerless He and Devon had been outsiders at boarding school, where the other boys had all seeht places, and made jokes he hadn’t understood, and he’d envied their ease with the different, always out of place Devon had quickly learned how to adjust to his circury, aard, and chubby His only defense had been to turn into a crass, sneering bully
In time, West’s resentes with hue, a small but tidy annuity from a trust left by his parents had enabled him, finally, to live well, dress well But the sense of not quite belonging was never far froate between the worlds of aristocrats, poor tenant farmers, servants, tradesmen, bankers, cobblers, and herdsmen As an outsider, he could see their proble nowhere was al everywhere It had its limitations, however, especially when it came to women like Phoebe, Lady Clare
“Taking a rich wifea duke’s daughterthere would be strings Golden chains It would all have to be her way Her decision would always be the last” West tugged irritably at his trapped finger “I’ll be damned if I dance to her tune, or her father’s”
“We all have to dance to someone’s tune The best you can hope for is to like the music”
West scowled “You never sound likewise and pithy”
“I’er stuck in a teacup,” Devon pointed out “Is there any other reason you won’t pursue her, besides the s hollow”
It wasn’t just the money But West was too tired and surly to try to iven up all masculine pride,” he muttered, “doesn’t mean I have to do the same”
“Do you knohat kind of men are able to keep their masculine pride?” Devon asked “Celibate ones The rest of us don’t , if itto sleep alone”