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“Are you trying to get rid of htly
“Never” Devon’s gaze arm and steady For years, all they’d had was each other—their bond was unbreakable “But it occurs to me that you may want your own life someday The privacy of your own house A wife and children”
“As ift of your tax liability” West began dryly
‘I’ll assume the tax burden until you start to turn a profit Even after you hire an assistant er to undertake your work here, you would continue earning a percentage of gross incoeht as you can spare—”
“Devon You don’t owe me that”
“I owe you my life, in the“I want your life to be no less full than mine You should have your own family”
West shook his head “The day I decide to ”
“What about Lady Clare?”
“I ht have an affair with her in five or ten years,” West said, “after her next husband starts to bore her For noever, she’s not seasoned enough for my taste”
“Every ti”
West felt his color heighten “Bugger off”
Devon wore an expression of concern blended with a touch of exasperation It was the saiven West whenever he’d had been caught bullying or cheating back in their school days “For our entire lives, West, I’ve always taken your side You’ve nothing to lose by telling me the truth”
Folding his arlowered at the bookshelves “I think I’m in love with her Either that, or I have a sto But there’s no doubt about one thing: I have no business ed to rise above our upbringing You’re a good husband, and by so to follow suit”
“What’s stopping you? The fact that you used to be a rake?”
“You were a rake I was a wreck Two years of moderately decent behavior doesn’t wipe away an entire personal history”
“It doesn’t matter now”
“It will I another boy whose family was ruined because I once had an affair with his mother Or when someone tells him about a forht Or the char fact that I was booted out of Oxford because I set fire to ine the mo day for bullying hi school”
“If his ave you, don’t you think he’ll be able to?”
“Forgiveness be dao away”
“I think you’re iveness”
Lifting his head, West said bleakly, “We have to stop talking about this; Phoebe will be here soon to look at the far her It had been a stupid impulse
Sighing, Devon stood “Before I leave, let me share a piece of hard-isdom about women”
“God, must you?”
“It’s not all about what you want It’s also about what she wants No matter what your intentions, most women don’t like it when you make their decisions for them”
Phoebe came to the door of the study, which had been left partially ajar, and knocked on the doorjamb It reminded her of when she’d walked into West’s bedroo of nerves
“Lady Clare” West appeared at the threshold, looking polished and handsome in a dark suit of clothes and a conservative striped necktie His hair was neatly brushed back and his face close-shaven One would never suspect as beneath all those civilized layers, Phoebe thought, and blushed because she knew there were stitches above his left hip, and a bruise left by a sheep’s hoof on his right forearm, and a tan line below the waist, and a hairy chest that intrigued her ht about it
After welco her into the study, West seated her at a table pilled with books
“What a refreshing change to see you fully dressed,” Phoebe said lightly
West turned and leaned back against the table, s?”
“I wasn’t flirting”