Chapter 5

"What can you tell me about a man named James McFunnugh?" Dominic sat back in the leather chair set in the corner of the billiards room at White's. He'd asked his friend to meet him there for a very specific reason.

Christopher Wyre was his oldest friend and the only member of the parliament that he trusted enough to keep a secret. If there was anyone who knew anything about a landlord in London, then it was Christopher.

"Hmmm, are we talking about the Scottish gentleman who owns a slew of buildings on the less wealthy side of London?" Christopher ran his hand over the blonde stubble that had begun to form on his cheeks. He was quite a tall man, not as well built as Dominic yet just as wealthy.

"I wouldn't exactly call him a gentleman," Dominic grumbled and clenched his jaw. There were a few choice words he could think of to call the man, but ‘gentleman' was not among them.

Christopher frowned and placed one leg over the other as he clasped his hands in his lap. "Have you run into a spot of trouble with him? I didn't think that you would be looking for property on that side of London. I know he does own a few buildings on one of the main streets, but it's still not anything that I thought you would be interested in."

"I don't rent any of his properties, and I don't wish to do business with him. I was more interested to find out what kind of man he was. Does he pay his taxes? Does he have any debts? Has he gotten into any trouble with the law?" Dominic decided to cast a wide net in the hopes of coming up with anything he could use against the man if he decided to harass Marie.

The room filled with chatter as the two men who had been playing billiards ended their game with a clattering of the balls. The room was usually quiet, other than the occasional game or two, making it perfect for private meetings.

Running his fingers through his sandy-blonde hair, Christopher chewed the inside of his cheek thoughtfully.

"I can't say that I've heard anything terrible about the bloke. He does seem to have a reputation for drinking more than is good for him, but, other than that and the occasional scrap in bars, we haven't had too much trouble from the man. Of course, people do say that he's a bit of a harsh landlord, but I can't think of a tenant in any part of London that doesn't complain about having to pay rent." He chuckled casually and signaled for a passing footman to bring them another round of drinks.

"He isn't opposed to harassing his female tenants, either," Dominic said darkly, and set his jaw before he could stop himself. He had hoped to keep the ordeal with Marie under wraps until he'd figured out a way to help her.

Marie.

Dominic felt the heat rising in his body again. He'd lain awake all night thinking of her, and when he had finally fallen asleep, he had dreamed of her smooth skin and how it would feel if he kissed a path down her shapely neck.

His strange remark seemed to elicit interest from his friend. "Are you sure there isn't anything you would like to tell me about the bloke?" Christopher cocked his head to the side.

"I don't want to talk before I know anything for sure, but I'm not so certain that everything he does is entirely above board." He averted his gaze and looked to the open doors as club members passed, chattering away about current affairs and who shot the most ducks on the last hunt.

"Well, if there is anything afoot, I hope you will tell me beforehand. You know I hate to be the last of my peers to know when something happens." He reached into his inner coat pocket and retrieved two cigars, handing one to Dominic.

"Trust me, it's not political. He's been harassing someone I know, and I want to put a stop to it." He leaned over and lit the tip of his cigar from the lantern that had been placed between them on the small table.

Smoke filled the air as they both puffed on their cigars, filling the room with a woody scent.

Their attention was drawn to the open doors as two of the women who usually frequented Whites to entertain the men entered the room. Their dresses were cut far too low and the feather boas around their necks hinted at a different class of women than the ones who frequented balls.

The fiery redhead made a beeline for Dominic and slipped her arm around his shoulder while her friend headed toward Christopher.

"We haven't seen you around here for a while, gentlemen. Have you missed us?" the blonde woman with a large bust drawled as she made herself comfortable on Christopher's lap, running the tip of her finger over his jawline.

Dominic found himself thinking of Marie and her situation as the redhead purred in his ear and ran her palms over his shoulders. The attention felt like more of an irritation to him now rather than a distraction. He had never been one to fool around with too many women, and on the rare occasion that he did dally in a bit of fun, it had been at times when he had initiated the contact.

"We do this terrible thing called work, I'm afraid, but I'm glad to see that you haven't forgotten about us." Christopher ran his hand over the woman's thigh and ended at her ankle when she lifted her leg high in the air, an impressive feat for someone who was wearing as many layers of fabric as she was beneath her dress.

"How could I ever forget about you, sir? No other man in all of London has amber eyes as alluring as yours." The corners of the blonde's mouth hooked into a seductive smile as she winked at him, unbuttoning the top of his shirt and running her fingers over his chest.

Christopher seemed to be enjoying the attention as he whispered something in her ear, eliciting a giggle that filled the air. He had always been known as a lady's man, but Dominic had never seen the appeal in winning the hearts of women he never intended to court or even marry.

"And what about you, Your Grace? Did you miss us, or does the sentiment only apply to Mr. Wyre?" The woman he supposed had been intended as his companion whispered in his ear, allowing her lips to brush his skin for the briefest of moments.

He felt his irritation growing when she slipped her hands over his shoulders. Shrugging her off lightly, he cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, attempting to signal his unwillingness in her game. Why couldn't he enjoy the attention? It wasn't as if he had never been flirted with. There was just something off about the way he was feeling at present.

"Is something the matter, Your Grace?" The redhead's green eyes flashed as she came around the chair and propped her bottom on the armrest.

"I'm just not in the mood," Dominic answered gruffly, and placed his mouth against his fist with his elbow on the opposite armrest. The woman didn't seem to be taking the hint, and he wasn't sure how to tell her to stop.

"I think we could definitely do something about that," she purred in a seductive tone and drew her lower lip between her teeth. She shifted closer, giving him a good glimpse of her cleavage.

A wave of disgust rose in the pit of his stomach as he suddenly realized what was wrong with the situation.

Marie.

She had been on his mind for quite some time, even more so when she had rejected his proposal. She was a classy woman, beautiful, elegant, and refined. There was no way that she would have ever been caught dead acting like this. Yet there was something utterly sensual and attractive about her. He wanted to take her in his arms and sample those perfect lips, feeling her warm skin beneath the tips of his fingers.

Dominic hadn't even realized that his mind had been consumed by Marie until his gaze met that of the redhead. Thinking of Marie had triggered something within him.

"I must leave," Dominic pushed her hand aside and stood, straightening his collar and jacket.

Both the women gasped and looked at Dominic in shock; it wasn't often that men turned anyone down at White's when the offers wandered so willingly into their laps.

"Dominic, is something the matter?" Christopher whispered his apologies to his companion and gently ushered her off of his lap with more decorum than his friend had displayed.

"I have to leave; there is a matter that needs to be settled." He cleared his throat again and straightened his cuffs before walking from the room.

Christopher quickly excused himself and hurried after Dominic, catching up to him just as he reached the large staircase that led to the entrance. "What has gotten into you? Two of the finest and, might I add, most beautiful women that White's has to offer throw themselves at us, and you walk away as if you aren't even interested?" Christopher gripped his upper arm and stopped Dominic in his tracks.

"They are both there for the taking. If it bothers you so much, then you are welcome to my share of the evening's entertainment." Dominic made a move to leave again, but he quickly found himself being stopped.

"Hang on just a moment; is there another woman?" Christopher frowned as he took a step back and examined the scowl on his friend's face.

Why couldn't everyone just leave him alone to conduct his own business?

"My word, I never thought I would see the day. Who is she?" Christopher's mouth practically fell open as he gawked at his friend.

"It's none of your business, and quite frankly, I hope you plan on seeing a doctor in the morning because that blonde who was sitting on your lap was seen sitting on several other men's laps just yesterday," Dominic snapped impatiently at him before spinning away and descending the stairs.

He knew that he probably shouldn't have been so harsh with his friend, but his mind wouldn't seem to focus until the matter with Marie was laid to rest.

Christopher let out a hearty laugh from the top of the stairs before yelling down, "I hope you don't keep her to yourself for too long! I can't wait to meet the woman who has gotten you into such a huff! She's either drop-dead gorgeous or has one hell of a personality!"

"Unfortunately, both," Dominic grumbled under his breath as he hurried toward the exit, making a mental note to keep his friend as far away from Marie as possible for as long as he could.

That wouldn't be very long though; if things went as he planned, then he would be announcing their marriage to everyone as soon as he could. The sooner he convinced her to be his wife, the sooner he would be able to sleep at night without dreaming about her naked form.