Page 59 of The Pleasures of Passion
Well, it didn’t matter. She refused toletit matter. She must think of other considerations while she made her decision. She must think of Silas and Camden Hall. She must be absolutely sure that Niall could happily be part of her life before she fell in with his plans to court her.
Because if he could not, she could not allow his seductions to go any further. No matterhowdeliciously enticing they might be.
Eleven
Niall sat in the taproom at the Star and Garter, staring down at his cards. They were excellent. But so far, Sir Oswald hadn’t impressed him with an ability to take advantage of good cards. No wonder the fellow lost money routinely.
The question was, did he use counterfeits to make up for that?
“Sir Oswald?” Mr. Raines asked. “What’s your bid?”
“Leave me alone. I’m thinking.”
Which, from what Niall could tell, the man didn’t do terribly often.
Sir Kenneth leaned back in his chair. “Margrave, could you please get your partner to move this along?”
“Why?” Niall countered. “Have you somewhere else to be?”
Pip had met him earlier to say that Sir Kenneth was Captain Joseph Whiting’s second cousin. Which had made Niall automatically dislike the baronet.
“You tell him, Margrave,” Sir Oswald said. “Some of us like to take our time when playing cards.”
Niall resisted the impulse to point out that having plenty of time didn’t seem to help Sir Oswald’s bids one whit. But it did make Niall wonder how the man could be the mastermind of a counterfeiting operation. He wasn’t the brightest star in the sky, to be sure.
At last Sir Oswald bid, and the rest of the table was able to do so as well. Niall only hoped his partner’s bid was based on the cards and not wishful thinking. So far, they hadn’t done very well against Raines and Sir Kenneth.
Sir Oswald was an indifferent player, heedless and impulsive. Sometimes he shone. Other times he sank like a lead weight, taking his partner with him. Thank God Niall wasn’t as poor as he was pretending, or he’d be destitute after his stint with Sir Oswald.
Meanwhile, Raines had shown himself to be a thoughtful and careful player. Indeed, he seemed to lack the kind of reckless character Niall would have considered necessary for a counterfeiter. Then again, a clever man would hide his true character if it were devious, and Raines did seem to have a brain.
The gentleman he couldn’t make out was Sir Kenneth. The baronet’s playing was all over the place . . . as was his character. The man was enigmatic, to say the least.
“So,” Niall said, deciding he couldn’t lose anything by being blunt, “I understand you’re related to Captain Joseph Whiting.”
Sir Kenneth blinked. “I am, indeed. How did you—” His eyes narrowed. “Ah, right. I forgot. You fought my late cousin in a duel years ago.”
Niall nodded, wondering what Sir Kenneth would say to that.
“Why did you duel?” the man asked.
“Don’t you know?” Niall countered.
Sir Kenneth shrugged. “I heard it was over some paramour the two of you had shared.”
Niall stifled a groan. Had everyone in England heard that nasty gossip?
“But honestly,” Sir Kenneth went on, “you could have fought for any number of reasons. Joseph was an arse. I nearly called him out myself once.”
That took Niall by surprise. “Did you?”
“The man insulted the oldest of my sisters, for God’s sake. He tried to kiss her in our conservatory.” Sir Kenneth rearranged his cards. “She complained to Mother, who banned him from the house.”
“Good for her,” Niall said, then tensed. He didn’t want Sir Kenneth making any sort of connection between his sister and Clarissa.
But Sir Kenneth was oblivious. “That man was incapable of keeping his prick in his trousers.”
To say the least.
