Page 51 of No One's Bride
Christian laughed. “Spells are just a figment of the imagination. Only one’s mindset has the power to alter one’s destiny. Ask Aaron.” He looked up as his eldest brother marched into the dining room. “While he can kill a man with a single punch, it’s his mental agility, his determination in the face of adversity, that makes him a force to be reckoned with.”
All the brothers had a powerful, masculine presence. Aristocratic blood flowed in their veins, yet years of surviving in the rookeries had made them an indomitable force.
“It doesn’t matter how hard a man punches,” Aaron said, taking his seat at the head of the table. “He’ll lose everything if his mind isn’t in the game.” Curiosity clouded his black eyes. “Delphine said Miss MacTavish struggled to sleep last night.”
“Perhaps it’s the unfamiliar surroundings,” Sebastian said.
Or did she remember every delightful tremor?
Was she desperate to experience them again?
“You were out quite late.” Aaron spoke like a domineering father.
“Daventry instructed us to visit him at midnight.” Not that he had to explain his actions to anyone, least of all the notorious owner of a gaming hell.
“I’m surprised someone of your ilk would sully his hands by working for a duke’s bastard. But then Daventry knows how to grab a man by the ballocks and cut off his blood supply.”
Daventry certainly had the power of persuasion.
“Sometimes men ofourilk are forced to take matters into their own hands. Like you, I’d fight to the death to protect those I care about.”
Aaron grinned. “You care about Miss MacTavish?”
“I wouldn’t tolerate your endless jibes if her safety were not my priority.”
A discreet cough behind him brought the object of his desire.
He turned, his heart lurching.
The dark shadows beneath Ailsa’s eyes confirmed she’d struggled to sleep. Her jade green irises had lost the magical sparkle that held him mesmerised last night.
“Good morning, gentlemen.” A guilty blush touched her cheeks.
They all stood.
Sebastian drew out the chair beside his.They don’t know what we’ve done, he wanted to say, but Aaron seemed to find something amusing.
“Had I known lack of sleep was a Scot’s weakness, I’d have hired a violinist to play soothing music at the tables.” Aaron resumed his seat. “You don’t seem at all yourself, Miss MacTavish.”
The lady gathered her wits and smiled. “We came close to being caught at the murder scene by a potential killer, Mr Chance. Would that nae unsettle any lady’s nerves?”
“You led me to believe you cope well under stress.”
“Ye led me to believe ye’re a hard, nae-nonsense man, yet ye persist in making mindless comments.”
Aaron snorted. “Did Delphine encourage you to provoke me?”
“If ye find honesty provoking, it explains why ye surround yerself with deceitful men. Desperate gamblers often lie and cheat.”
Sebastian poured the lady tea while enjoying the friendly banter.
“I’ve met more than my share of deceitful men, Miss MacTavish. Most wear expensive coats, ride in elegant carriages and have seats in the House of Lords.”
“Then it’s clear we move in different circles, sir.” She glanced at Sebastian, her smile broadening. “The men in my life are nothing but honourable.”
Sebastian inwardly grimaced. His behaviour last night was that of a randy reprobate. He should whip himself with a birch, yet he was neither ashamed nor sorry. He’d touch her again in a heartbeat.
The other Chance brothers arrived, and the conversation turned to the raucous events of the previous night. While they ate ham and eggs, Christian revealed the wins and losses that resulted in Sigmund turfing two lords out onto the street.
