Page 12 of The Lady's Forbidden Marquess
“Is that an invitation, Lord Hawthorne?”he asked, her cheekbones rising as she offered him a delighted smile.
“Only if you want it to be.”He let his gaze linger on her lips, waiting till she gave in to the temptation to lick them, and sensing victory, he lifted his gaze to her eyes.
“Well, there is no time like the present.”She glanced around.“And it is rather dull here.”
“I couldn’t agree more.I’ll have my carriage readied.Unless you’d rather meet me?”He glanced about, making sure they were not drawing attention.While the London ton would make some correct assumptions, it wasn’t exactly the on-dit for a known rake to entertain a known merry widow; rather it was considered business as usual.There were some delightful benefits to knowing one’s place, Gabriel decided.
“If I take my carriage, I’ll attract more attention than I wish, having it wait for me outside your residence, will it not?And I’m not the sort to stay…” Her brow arched in challenge, as if daring him to make her want to stay longer.“So I’ll depart with you, and it won’t be any trouble to get me home, will it?”
“Assuming you do, in fact, wish to leave.”
She gave a small giggle, seductive in nature.“Ah, Gabriel, I missed you.But not enough to keep your company for that long.”She ran a gloved finger down his arm for a split second and then nodded.“Ready your carriage; I’ll leave a few minutes after you and meet you there… you know, in case there’s so little interesting news that they have to gossip about us,” she flirted, and then walked away, swaying her hips and glancing behind once to make sure he noticed.
Gabriel waited till she turned back and made his way toward the door.Belatedly, he scanned the crowd to make sure that Henley was once more in charge of his disaster of a sister.But rather than see Henley, his gaze met the piercing one of the lady in question, and Lady Peregrine’s eyes shot through him with queries, her attention flickering to the left and lingering for a moment, then returning to him.Her chin lifted in a defiant tilt, and she dismissed him, as if a queen holding court.
Gabriel blinked, then noticed her gaze had strayed for that split second to Lady Smithson.Had she seen?Been watching… him?It was an odd sensation, and he wasn’t sure what to make of it.Everyone knew his reputation, and he made no qualms about hiding it; however, to be seen so clearly was unnerving.Because no one paid attention to him; no one saw him.
Yet, for some reason, she did.
And that was the most confusing part of all.
Shaking his head to dispel the conflicting emotions, he made quick work of ordering his carriage and discreetly helping Lady Smithson join him in his luxurious conveyance.
All else forgotten, he lost himself in the pleasure of a playful partner with no expectations, no need for anything more than a few hours of passion.Her laughter was champagne; her skin, silk.For a blessed hour, the world narrowed to the creak of leather and the hush of breath.But as he bid her farewell, an irritating emotion started to surface, rubbing him the wrong way.He wasn’t sure what it was, which was more frustrating.He should be relaxed, sated, and rather he found himself restless.The house was too quiet, his thoughts too loud, and so with a quick glance to the clock, he donned his clothing and made his way to White’s.
The gentleman’s club was the perfect place to avoid one’s emotions and thoughts, he decided as he passed through the door and into the haze of cigar smoke and scent of brandy.The air tasted of oak and regret.
He nodded to several gentlemen and ordered a snifter of brandy, needing something to take the edge off.He sipped quietly as he let the noise of the room thunder around him.
“I placed a hundred pounds on the bet with Ramsford.I think the bloke’s right.”
Gabriel paused, then listened to the conversation taking place beside him between two gentlemen.He angled himself to hear better, and took a slow sip of brandy, waiting.
“Why so little?You think the chit will come to her senses?”
Gabriel held back a glare as he ascertained who thechitin question was likely to be—Lady Peregrine.Was there no escaping that family?
“I think he’s a little too… expectant.I know the lady’s brother, and I’d not want to be on his bad side, if you gather my meaning,” the man huffed.
Gabriel listened intently, curious if they would say more.His patience was rewarded when the other gentleman blew out a breath and then spoke.
“Ramsford’s money—is he good for it?I heard he went in too deep last year in faro.Nearly lost his country estate.”
“You don’t say?I hadn’t heard that, but it wouldn’t surprise me; he’s either in one of the rooms with the faro table or in one of the rooms with the ladies.”
They chuckled together.
Gabriel rolled his eyes and took another long sip of brandy.It wasn’t shocking to discover Ramsford was lean in the pocket; he had a taste for the excessive side of life.But it did add a layer of interest to his willingness to entertain Lady Peregrine, because it was known that the Allendale coffers were quite full.Interesting.
“What was the bet for anyway?He isn’t actually betting he’ll marry her, is he?Or does he think the one brother will pay him off to get lost?”
“The elder one is gone, bloody pride and all.So who knows?But I still wouldn’t mess with Allendale.”
“No, but you’re rather deep in your cups if you didn’t even hear my question.What’s the bloody bet actually for?I might want in too.”
“Oh, sorry, chap.It’s to marry the chit.By season’s end.”
Gabriel released a tight breath.Well, that was a twist he didn’t anticipate.Ramsford was keen on marrying Lady Peregrine, was he?He couldn’t stifle the chuckle of angered shock that she’d bloody well done it—she’d reformed a rake into thinking about marriage, and only someone of Lady Peregrine’s horrific luck would find that reformation in the form of an eager fortune hunter, one who she wouldn’t suspect, with charm in spades.
