A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel (The Doomsday Books, #2)

by K.J. Charles

“It must have been a damned nuisance doing this in the dark.” “It was.” Luke left that there for a few moments then added, almost reluctantly, “And trying to avoid making noise.” Rufus shoved a chest full of gently decaying dresses to one side with a loud scrape. “You must have infinite patience. If we simply burned the place down, would we find the guineas in the ashes?” “That’s the third time you’ve suggested setting fire to your ancestral home.” “Only the third? I’m amazed. Everyone thinks Baldwin had rats in the attic, but I quite understand wanting to pull this place down and build something new.” Luke sat back on his heels. “Are you thinking of doing that?” “The family would murder me. Well, my grandfather estranged himself from his own son and heir over the proposal. I don’t know what a child of mine would have to do for me to treat them like that, but it would be more than architectural preferences. Or an ill-thought-out marriage, even.” He got another chest open. “I don’t understand it. They were his sons: how would he not have sought reconciliation? Granted he cared about the name, and the bloodline, and this damn fool heap of stones, but would he not want to forgive his sons?” “Aunt Sybil forgave my father whatever he did, including what he did to my mother,” Luke remarked with that appalling matter-of-factness he had for dreadful statements. “She always had excuses for him. She was angry when he cut me, but I dare say she’d have forgiven that in time. She broug...