Page 58 of One Night with a Prince
Apparently she could, for she flashed the man a game smile. “Oh, dear. Philip was asking to borrowGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlmoney, wasn’t he? I’m afraid every one of his friends had to endure that from him. I must apologize for my husband—”
“No need.” Stokely slanted a glance at Gavin. “Besides, clearly I was not the only person from whom your husband borrowed money.”
Gavin bristled at his implication. He’d been accused of many things, but never forcing a woman to his bed to repay her husband’s debts.
Before he could level the man with an acid retort, however, Christabel slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow and cast Gavin what could only be called a fond smile. “Yes, thank heavens. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met Byrne. And he’s been such a comfort to me.”
“A comfort?” Stokely’s expression grew calculating. “That’s a new way to put it, eh, Byrne?”
Gavin covered Christabel’s hand with his. “It’s growing late, Stokely. Perhaps you should have someone carry our bags to our rooms, so we’ll have time to dress for dinner.”
“Of course.” Stokely waved a footman over. “Put Mr. Byrne’s bags in his usual room. And put Lady Haversham’s in the blue room.”
Gavin scowled. “If I remember correctly, the blue room is in another wing from mine. In fact, it’s right across the hall from the master bedchamber. Isn’t that where you usually putyour mistress?”
“We parted ways a few weeks ago. Since Lady Haversham was such a late addition to my party and I’d run out of rooms by then, I decided to put her there.”
“You aren’t trying to steal my partner, are you?” Gavin snapped.
“Of course not.” Stokely’s expression was impenetrable. “And about that, I’ve changed the rules for our games this week. I’m telling the others at dinner, but I suppose you can hear it now.” He settled his black gaze on Christabel. “Whist partners for each rubber will be randomly selected. Until the eliminations begin, that is.”
The blood pounded in Gavin’s temples. “Why?”
Stokely shrugged. “As you know, that’s how it’s generally done in the clubs. It prevents cheating between partners who know each other well.”
Ignoring Christabel’s killer grip on his arm, Gavin said in a deliberately amused tone, “Are you expecting trouble with cheaters? It hasn’t been a problem before.”
“There’s always a first time. Besides, that will give everyone a chance to observe their fellow players. Then, when it’s time for the eliminations, they can choose their partners more…objectively before they start.” He scanned Christabel’s translucent gown with a decidedly lustful glance. “And it will lend more interest to the game.”
“I thought the pot was what lent interest to the game,” Gavin bit out. “Unless you’ve decided to change that, too?”
“No, but there is one other minor change that you will hear more about at dinner.” He glanced at aGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlnearby clock. “Which you will miss if you do not go to your rooms at once. Byrne, you can find your own way.” With a smooth smile, he offered Christabel his arm. “I shall show Lady Haversham to her room myself.”
As Christabel reluctantly took Stokely’s arm, and they headed up the stairs with Rosa trailing behind, the most unsettling urge seized Gavin. He wanted to snatch Christabel free of the man, march her out to his carriage, and carry her back to London. He could scarcely keep from striding up the stairs after them. What the hell had come over him? He’d known what to expect when they came here, and so had she. All right, so neither of them had guessed that Stokely had known her from before. Or might have invited her for that reason. Or that Gavin’s half-jesting comment from a week ago, that Stokely might have taken a fancy to her, would prove to be true.
Damn the bastard. He didn’t like how Stokely looked at her. He didn’t like Stokely seeing her in that clinging gown, which showed her delectable shape. And he bloody well hated that she’d be sleeping a few yards away from the man.
Stokely could have any woman in the place…and often did. Most women found his combination of stark white hair and black eyes captivating.
In the past, Gavin hadn’t cared if the baron shared an interlude with Gavin’s companions, but it bothered him that Stokely might think Christabel equally accessible. And why did it bother him? It must be because he hadn’t yet bedded her himself. What other reason could there be?
There was only one solution—Gavin would have to bed her as soon as possible. He wasnot going to stand by and do nothing while Stokely played his nasty games with Christabel. And once she was in Gavin’s bed, he meant to keep her there for a very long time.
Chapter Thirteen
Occasionally, one of my old lovers would
rise up to haunt me.
—Anonymous,Memoirs of a Mistress
Christabel could scarcely breathe as Lord Stokely led her up the stairs. She’d never dreamed that the white-haired man in Philip’s study all those months ago had been Baron Stokely himself. She did remember overhearing Philip say, when she was outside the door, “She prefers Rosevine, and I prefer to have her here.”
Lord Stokely had answered something she couldn’t hear. But later when she’d asked Philip who he was, he’d told her the man was no one of importance. That’s why she’d assumed Lord Stokely was a creditor.
Philip had probably sold the letters to him that very day, blast him.
“I hope you’ll find your accommodations suitably comfortable, Lady Haversham,” Lord Stokely remarked, as soon as they were out of Byrne’s earshot. “You don’t mind being on this end of the house,Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmldo you?”
