Page 4 of The Lyon and His Promise
Lady Maribel, who overheard their conversation, laughed. “But we are at a ball, my lord. We require your undivided attention tonight, don’t we, Juliet?” Lady Maribel said with a bright smile.
“Oui. I expect you to dance only with me the entire night,” Lady Juliet cooed batting her eyes at him. Gyles almost groaned aloud.
Asher laughed. “Now that would cause a scandal, wouldn’t it, Wickes?”
“Indeed,” he drawled. “I would certainly hear of such inappropriate behavior from my parents come the morning. Two is the limit and even that is pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable.”
Lady Juliet waved her hand. “Bah! You are a marquis and will one day be a duke. You may do as you may.”
“Within reason… I, too, have a reputation to uphold,” Gyles replied knowing the noise from the crowd and music would drown out anything Lady Juliet might ask of him.
The two women excused themselves to visit the women’s salon to freshen up giving Gyles and Asher a few moments to mingle among the other guests. Gyles spotted their friend Vincent St. John, Marquis of Saxton and his wife, Moriah. He appeared deep in conversation with Lord and Lady Lancelot Versey.
Gyles had played cards a time or two with Lord Lancelot at the Lyon’s Den, among other places. His lady had had a hard time of it when she lost her children from her first marriage to a man who had made every attempt to steal her and her children’s inheritance. After a rough time of it, the situation had been remedied to everyone’s satisfaction and the culprit ousted from Society. Another match initiated by Mrs. Dove-Lyon, or so Gyles later learned. Saxton excusedhimself from the group and began making his way across the room.
The men clasped hands in greeting.
“Are you still enjoying wedded bliss, Saxton?” Gyles inquired while reaching for a glass of champagne in a crystal flute when a servant offered the drink. He had the notion he would need something stronger to make it through the evening.
Saxton smiled. “As any newlywed should. Moriah is a delight and my match in every way.”
Asher groaned. “Good Lord. You make it sound like you’re actually in love with the woman.” To be sure, they were reputed to be a love match, but it was one thing to hear that and another to see the evidence of it so plainly before him. Such matches were hardly common in his circle.
One brow on Saxton’s face rose as if in disbelief. “Most assuredly, I am. I’ve never been happier.”
Asher shook his head. “I thought you’d be ready to take a mistress by now.”
Gyles swatted his friend. “Quiet, you fool. Others can hear you and God only knows if there are prying ears listening so they can report any gossip for that blastedTeatime Tattler.”
Asher mumbled his apologies.
“I can assure you, gentlemen, I have no intention of taking a mistress.” Saxton gazed at his wife across the room. His emotions were clearly written all over his face. He reached for a glass of champagne when another servant passed by giving his wife a silent toast. “One day cupid’s arrow will find you both, most likely when you least expect it. I believe there will be a story to tell all our children one day.”
Saxton gave both men a look as if he had seen into their future and left to rejoin his wife and the Verseys. Gyles and Asher turned their attention to one another before they both laughed. Falling in love was for fools. Better to make an amicable match with a well-dowered lady who would add to your wealth than to actually fall in love with someunknown woman.
As if to prove his point, Lady Juliet and Lady Maribel saw them and made a mad dash to their sides. Gyles swore that if Lady Juliet got any closer, she’d be inside his jacket. To appease the women, they took the ladies to the ballroom when the music began again. Thankfully, Lady Juliet had a gentleman ask for the next dance and Gyles was only too happy to nod his head in acceptance while he gave the lady over to the other man.
He turned from the dance floor and almost bumped into Simon who leaned forward and asked if they could find a place to have that private conversation. Gyles was surprised at such a request but nodded his acceptance. They left the room and found themselves in a well-stocked library.
“Didn’t you receive my message that I would call upon you tomorrow?” Gyles inquired. He saw a decanter across the room on a sideboard and went to help himself. He poured two brandies and handed one glass to Simon.
Simon took a sip before he answered, then went to sit in a comfortable chair near the fireplace. “Yes, I did, but when I saw you in attendance, I figured now was a good a time as any to have this overdue conversation.”
“At a ball? You think now is the time to have a conversation that may become heated instead of in the privacy of your own home? Has something addled your wits in the past four years since we’ve spent time together that I should know about?” Gyles asked trying to control the tone of his voice. His jaw clenched as he prayed no one would overhear whatever was about to transpire in this room.
Simon smirked. “This way you can’t yell at me for my stupidity all those years ago.”
“Although I prefer to let the past stay where it belongs and move on, I can still yell at you, Simon.”
“Can you? Well, I suppose that remains to be seen,” Simon replied,took another drink, and then motioned for Gyles to take the vacant seat across from him.
Gyles complied. Obviously, he would need to keep his wits about him and not raise his voice unless he wished for everyone in Society to hear whatever was about to be said. Then it dawned on him that Simon had acknowledged his own mistake.
“I should have gone after her,” Simon admitted while watching Gyles carefully, “or allowed you to do so.”
“It wasn’t my place, or so you said,” Gyles muttered.
Simon nodded. “Another mistake on my part. I knew you cared for Josephine—”
