Page 32 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
“Really?” William asked, sitting forward and intrigued.
“Yes. I met a lady I neither wish to mock nor discard after a game or two.”
“Oh, dear,” Blackmore said with an exaggerated sigh. “Hartwood’s got it bad.”
“Oh, be quiet,” Sebastian said, laughing at Blackmore’s reaction. “It’s just a blip, nothing more.”
“Good,” Blackmore said with a raise of the eyebrows. “Couldn’t bear to think of losing another of our ranks to that dastardly institution that is marriage.”
“Never fear,” Sebastian said. “I am most certainlynotgoing down that route.”
“All right,” Fitzroy said warily. “Blackmore, it’s on you. You betting?”
“Of course,” Blackmore said, throwing two more coins into the growing pile. Sebastian closed his eyes while they played out the hand. He hadn’t meant to snap, but to think of Miss Jones being spoken of in such a way—even if they did not know her—brought a pain to his chest. Still, he thought he covered it up well enough.
“Go on, then,” William said, throwing his own coins in. “I’ll see you. What have you got?”
Fitzroy laughed raucously and threw his cards face up on the table.
“Can you beat a full house?” he said with a smirk.
“Ah, hell,” William said, sneering and throwing his card down. “Three of a kind.”
Fitzroy laughed again and leaned in, pulling the coins toward him.
“Your deal, Blackmore,” he said, handing him the pack of cards. Blackmore duly obeyed, shuffling them quickly them letting them fly to each player across the tabletop.
“Say, Hartwood,” he said as he dealt. “What’s that scrap of fabric over your lap? Seems you haven’t let it go all night.”
“It’s…” Sebastian rolled his eyes, “nothing of your concern, Blackmore.”
Without thought, he raised the shawl to his face, inhaled her scent, let the delicate silk brush across his cheek.
“You’re in love?” Fitzroy said suddenly, his tone both surprised and disapproving. “Goodness me, I never thought I’d see the day!”
“I knew it!” Blackmore cried, slapping his thigh.
“Come off it,” Sebastian said, letting the shawl drop back down to his lap. “How can anyone fall in love in just one night?”
“Haven’t you heard the nonsense the ladies spout?” Blackmore asked, an eyebrow raised. “You playing?”
“Yes,” Sebastian said, picking up a coin and placing it in the middle. “And what nonsense?”
“William, your turn. They read it in their books, don’t they?” Blackmore continued, carefully watching the proceedings of the game. “Love at first sight and all that.”
“It is not love,” William said. “But rather, it’s lust. Especially if he only met her tonight. Love does not happen so quickly—if it exists at all.”
“You are a pessimist, young man,” Fitzroy said, letting his coin chink against the others in the middle. “Love is a wonderful thing, if you let it into your heart.”
“Did the wife tell you that?” Blackmore asked, and William cackled with laughter.
“It is neither love nor lust,” Sebastian said, his jaw set. “Nor is it anything I wish to discuss with you. Now can we please—”
“Whatever else she took from you,” Blackmore said, his lips twitching into a grin, “it seems she took your sense of humor with her.”
“You all talk a lot of puffed air,” he said, pushing his chair back noisily. “I’m going in search of a drink.”
“Oh, come back, Hartwood,” Fitzroy called. “It’s your turn!”
