Page 31 of A Duke's Lustful Portrait
Sinclair laughed again and, wrapping an arm around Sebastian’s shoulders, turned him away from the wall.
“There’s more to her than just a pretty face,” he said.
“Of course,” Sebastian replied. “I don’t think she’s a pretty face at all. I mean … yes, she’s pretty in an objective sort of way, butIdon’t think ...”
Sebastian trailed off, huffing at his own ineptitude. He was rarely if ever, flustered, and yet this woman who had somehow invaded his very being made him so. Her father’s reputation didn’t help matters either, or his continual self-reminder of his purpose here. He tugged at his cravat to allow cool air down his shirt front.
Sinclair laughed. “It’s all right, Ravenswood. I know my daughter turns heads. As long as your eyes are looking and not touching, we shan’t have a problem.”
“Of course,” Sebastian said. He furrowed his brow and stood taller, bringing his confidence back to himself.
“How about a little drink in the study?” Sinclair suggested.
Study?
“I could certainly do with one,” Sebastian replied, feeling on steadier footing now.
As Sinclair poured the drinks, Sebastian sat in front of the desk and looked around. The walls were lined with bookcases, each filled with files and ledgers. There were no books that he could see, but rather, it seemed a store ofinformation. The chair behind the desk was grand, upholstered in soft leather, and heavily cushioned.
Comparing it to the weak and uncomfortable wooden chair he was sitting on, Sebastian wondered whether this room was sometimes used for interrogations or punishments. Errant members, if ever there were such a thing, would have to be dealt with somehow. Perhaps this room—this house—was the starting point.
“The others should be arriving in thirty minutes or so,” Sinclair said.
He handed Sebastian the glass, then settled himself in the bigger chair. It made Sebastian feel inadequate, a boy on a low stool, but then he supposed that was the point. He raised his shoulders up, tensing his muscles to compensate.
“I’m glad we’ve this opportunity to talk,” Sebastian said. He placed his glass down on the side table without taking a sip. “I’m dying of curiosity. I understand there are tasks we have to do in order to gain full membership. Is that so?”
Sinclair’s eyes glittered with delight. “Well, aren’t we an eager one.” He watched Sebastian over the top of his glass as he took a sip, and when he lowered it again, he said, “All in good time, Ravenswood. All in good time. We have to get to know one another first.”
Sebastian nodded, his eyes pulled around the room again. Yes, he wanted to get to know Sinclair very much indeed, and if he wouldn’t answer that question, he would ask more.
“What is this place?” he asked.
Sinclair followed his gaze around the bookshelves. “I like to think of The Haven as the Lord’s Society headquarters if you will. It’s the centre of everything, I suppose. Where we meet, where we plan, where we store anything related to our membership or our business dealings.” He gestured around the room, and Sebastian nodded again.
“Business dealings? Does the society have investments then?”
Sinclair smiled knowingly at him. “I suppose you’ll find that out in time,” he replied. “Why are you so interested?”
Sebastian hesitated, thinking which answer would make Sinclair the happiest.
“I suppose I’m intrigued enough to want to get involved. You know the late duke, my father, was a very wealthy man by the time he died. Now, of course, I have inherited the lot. I suppose, with all I have seen so far and all I suspect I will learn about the society, I could see a large donation making its way into the coffers.”
Sinclair took a moment to register this, then he grinned and leaned forward so that he was almost leaning across the table.
“Well, now, Ravenswood. It turns out I was perfectly correct in selectingyoufor membership. I think you’ll fit in well with us, my dear boy. Very well indeed.”
Chapter 16
The afternoon party was in full swing, so much so that Sebastian suspected it would not be contained to merely the afternoon. The members of the Lord’s Society had settled in for the rest of the day, and Sebastian readied himself for a long evening.
Despite the debauchery and the excitement that brought, these people were terminally dull. They had not an ounce of witty conversation between them; all they wanted to talk about were their own sordid adventures and how much better the members were compared to those of theton. It both bored and irritated Sebastian, even while some of their tales titillated him.
“I hear Lord Chalmsford has a newboyif you catch my drift. Has him living in the coach house, apparently,” Lord Fesser said.
“Really? I didn’t think he was that way inclined, not with all the by-blows the man’s got.”
Lord Fesser sniggered. “I don’t think he much cares about inclination. If he can bend it or bugger it, he’ll have it.”
