Page 56 of Enemies with an Earl
“Anyhow,” Ash continued. “I said something, I don’t even know what. I swear it was as though I’d drank a decanter of whisky. I have no recollection of my speech, just tried to explain how much I loved her, and hopefully sounded somewhat coherent. I lose my mind around that woman.”
“Love makes you daft. It’s a fact.”
Ash chuckled. “It is most definitely true. But she was happy with what I managed to string together. She said yes as soon as I asked the question.”
Ash fell silent, and Sam glanced over to find his friend smiling stupidly. “What’s that look for?”
The smile vanished, and Ash tried to look as if he had no idea what Sam was talking about. But failed miserably.
“Out with it. That expression was far too telling. No one smiles like that unless there’s something delicious to share.”
Ash ducked his chin and laughed softly. “I admitted to her that I had already written to her family to join us before I even asked her to marry me. Let’s just say she appreciated my initiative.”
Sam leaned over and slapped Ash on the back, a wide grin on his face. “Happy for you, mate. Don’t know anyone who deserves his happy ending more.”
Ash cocked his head and lifted his brows incredulously. “You must not have looked in the mirror much lately.”
Sam chose to ignore that.
“No, but really. Yes, you deserve it, too, but have you looked in a mirror lately? You look like you’ve been run over by a mail coach. The bags under your eyes could rival the grain sacks in the stables.”
“I had trouble sleeping,” Sam said vaguely.
Trouble sleeping because he’d been wrapped up in a certain lord until the wee hours of the morning. But what was a man to do? Bentley was a force to be reckoned with. That man didn’t tire. Sam was feeling every one of the nine years he had on Bentley.Oh, but it was worth it.
“Was someone perhaps busy…tending to another lord? All night long.”
Well, then. Apparently, Ash was very perceptive today.
“I don’t kiss and tell, Ash.”
“You do realize that is exactly what someone says when they have been up to something scandalous. You spent all night with Bentley, didn’t you?”
Sam lifted a shoulder and let it drop.
“You did!” The grin splitting Ash’s face was blinding. “The night beforeandlast night? Yourogue!”
Sam gasped theatrically. “Are you strumpet-shaming me? Maligning my pure virtue?”
“Quite the opposite. I’m encouraging more scandalous behavior. Continue on in your strumpet ways. And let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
Sam pumped his eyebrows. “I can see if Bentley’s into that sort of thing, but I don’t know, Ash… I’ve never looked at you in that way.”
Ash’s expression went dry as dust, and his gaze lifted heavenward. “Help. Not participate in.”
Sam grinned and winked at his best mate.
“So… What’s going on there?” Ash asked, his blue eyes blinking expectantly at Sam.Well, come on now, out with it.
Sam pressed his lips tight together and blinked right back.I’m not tellinggg.
“Really? You’re going to give me nothing?”
Sam let out a sigh. “I don’t know what’s happening, Ash. That’s the honest truth. If I ever make sense of it, you will be the first I speak to of it. Theonlyone I’d speak to about it. But I just…” He trailed off, and they were silent for a beat.
“You just…” Ash prodded.
Sam growled in frustration. “I don’t know,” he burst out. “That man is exasperatingly tempting. I cannot resist him. He’s almost as bad as Cook’s raspberry tarts.”
