All the Honorable St. John Ashford ever wanted was his father’s love, but if he can’t have that, he’ll settle for being noticed. In an effort to do that, St. John sets his sights on Andrew Dorincourt, a man for whom the Viscount has nothing but disdain. Surely this will draw his father’s attention?  Unfortunately, while Andrew seems willing to date him, he appears entirely disinterested in anything else. St. John knows it’s just a matter of time before all his plans going up in smoke, especially when Andrew becomes attracted to an exotic young man he rescued from Malossini’s House of Oddities.<br><br>Robin Dorincourt is something of a playboy who enjoys nothing so much as flitting from one boyfriend to another. He doesn’t poach, though, and when he finds himself attracted to St. John Ashford, he does what he can to keep a healthy distance between them, using taunts and teasing. It’s difficult, until he realizes his brother is in love with someone else. Robin’s path toward St. John is clear, and he makes his move.<br><br>But is his path as clear as he imagines? St. John might be as attracted to Robin as Robin is to him, but he’ll be damned if he allows himself to be passed from one brother to the other as if he’s nothing more than a poor second choice. Now it remains is for Robin to persuade St. John he’s no one’s second choice.

More, by All Mores

“Gently, love,” I murmured, and he gave me a grateful smile.


“What do Father’s pistols have to say about anything?”


“Your father was left alone for just a moment.” Tanner scowled until he realised I was watching him. Then his expression smoothed. “Your uncle asked me to take the men from Scotland Yard to the cellar to examine the…erm…scene.”


The “scene” involved St John’s deceased mother. Without taking his gaze from his uncle’s associate, Singe reached across and rested his palm on my knee, almost as if he knew I was about to explode.


“Your father apparently asked for some tea, and your uncle went into the kitchen to brew a fresh pot. There was a gunshot. James ran back to the study, but by the time he got there, your father was already dead.”


“How could such an accident have happened? Father is an expert marksman.” St John was pale, and his grip on my knee tightened.


This time I reached down and rested my palm on his hand so he would know he wasn’t alone.


Chapter 49