Page 13 of A Duke's Lustful Portrait
Lord Campbell grinned with satisfaction. “Then you may drink from the chalice, my boy, the same chalice that has been in use for the past twenty years. May its contents bring you only peace and happiness. Congratulations, Joseph, you are now a member of the Lord’s Society.”
Flooded with relief, the boy climbed to his feet and gratefully accepted the chalice, gulping back the wine. The room erupted into applause as he waddled back to his seat, his own expression proud now that the nerves were gone. Sebastian could feel the anxiety buzzing between the rest of the nominees. He supposed they had not all been told of their fates as he had, and they waited impatiently.
“Lord Gouldsmith?” Sinclair said, prompting the next founding member to his feet.
Gouldsmith selected an older man of perhaps forty years. He swaggered into the centre of the room with as much confidence as the founding members themselves, and Sebastian could easily see why he, in particular, had been selected.
Next was the Duke of Ramsbury, who selected his own son.Another family member, interesting.The man had clearly been groomed for membership from a young age, for he saw it as his right, and he knew every step of the pledging ceremony without even looking.
Sebastian felt a bolt of pity for the poor fools next to him, those who, in truth, had no chance of joining the Lord’s Society. They were neither sons nor grandsons nor had they made a good enough impression. They would forever live in wonder at what they were missing, unable to expose the group for fear of retribution on themselves.
“And finally, it’s my choice,” Sinclair said, clapping his hands as he stood up. Sebastian stiffened. This was his moment, assuming Sinclair hadn’t lied to him. “The man I have selected has already garnered something of a reputation among our peers as the Dark Duke—a mysterious creature who has joined us in London for the first time this year. Sebastian, the Duke of Ravenswood—would you care to join me?”
Sebastian glanced around before getting up. He tried to display the same confidence as the others, not wanting the same pity that went out to young Joseph Campbell, but he couldn’t deny his nervousness. The idea of pledging himself to anything was bad enough, but promising loyalty or accepting the consequences to a group such as this one left a bad taste in his mouth.
It’s all for a good cause, he reminded himself.To avenge Mother’s death.
“Ravenswood, I have selected you because I see myself in you. You are much as I was when I was a much younger man. Indeed, I was your age around the time when we founded the Lord’s Society, and I can see in you what I felt then.
You are clearly intelligent and very obviously secretive. It thrills me that there is yet more we do not know about you, and I look forward to discovering more as I take you under my wing. You fit every criterion required for membership in the Lord’s Society. Indeed, you are the very essence of what we look for in our members. Sebastian Ravenswood, please kneel before me to make your pledge.”
This is your last chance to back out.
The thought was there but fleeting, and with renewed determination, Sebastian knelt in front of Edward Sinclair, ready to pledge himself. As Sinclair poured the wine into the chalice, Sebastian looked up from under his brow, his gaze pulled by some force towards the door.
It had been cracked open, and there, peering into the room and watching proceedings with a stricken expression, was Lady Arabella Sinclair. Their eyes met, and as he made his pledge, he did not once pull his gaze from her.
When he finally stood up to drink from the chalice, his eyes still upon her, he noticed the horrified expression on her face. He felt a pain in his chest as if he had disappointed her, but he shook it away. How could he have such strength of feeling when they had shared no more than fifty words?
“Congratulations, Ravenswood, you are now a member of the Lord’s Society.”
Sebastian turned to smile gratefully at Sinclair, as was expected of him. When he returned his attention to the door, Lady Arabella was nowhere to be seen.
Chapter 7
A week had passed since Sebastian had pledged himself to the Lord’s Society, and he had not heard from Sinclair nor any other members. It felt like it had all been a dream. His life had returned to normal; no further contact or invitations. He wondered how long he should wait until he made the move to contact Sinclair himself.
“Come on then, Ravenswood, it’s your turn,” Fitzwilliam said, staring down at the cards on the table between them.
Sebastian returned his attention to the cards fanned in his hand. He selected one and snapped it down on the table. “Fifteen for two.”
“You’re settling into London life then?” Fitzwilliam asked.
Earl Fitzwilliam was a year younger than Sebastian at four-and-twenty, and the two became quick friends when they met just a few weeks earlier. He, too, had lived a life behind the walls of a country manor, and the pair had connected on many fronts. Fitzwilliam didn’t know everything of Sebastian’s past, of course, nor the real reason why he had come to London, but he knew enough that the pair could chat amiably enough.
“It’s very different from Ravenswood,” Sebastian said wryly. “But I’m getting used to the hustle and bustle. Is there really a balleveryweekend?”
Fitzwilliam chuckled. “Through the season, yes. And if it’s not a ball, it’s a garden party or a game of shuttlecock or a luncheon. Did that father of yours teach you nothing of theton?”
Sebastian groaned, not wanting to reveal too much. “It wasn’t on his list of priorities for me, no,” he admitted. “I’m glad to be here now, though.”
“And have your eyes alighted upon any pretty face that takes your fancy?” Fitzwilliam asked. He placed a card. “Three makes eighteen.”
As Sebastian thought, he let his fingers hover over the tops of his cards. “Of course not. I am not in the market for a woman, Fitzwilliam.”
“Not for more than one night, at least,” the earl replied with a snort of humour.
“Twenty-seven and a run for three,” Sebastian said, placing the card down. “I actually met Edward Sinclair last week.”
