Page 8 of The Earl and the Vixen
Nick laughed heartily. “Those were fun times, indeed. Ockham wrote that he took you to see some of the places we visited.”
Lady Ockham looped her arms through her husband’s and looked up at him with nothing but love, and Nick was thankful she wasn’t looking at him to see how he rolled his eyes.
“That he did,” she said. “We visited for a year after we married, then returned home so we could have our sonback here at home.”
“Congratulations to you both. I hope to meet him while I am here,” Nick said, taking a large swig of his drink.
“What about you, old man?” Ockham asked, slapping Nick on the back. “Surely you are thinking about leg shackling yourself in the near future?”
Nick choked on the second swig of brandy he took and patted his chest with his fist.
“I’m not so sure about that, old friend,” Nick said.
Lady Ockham clasped her hands together. “Oh, I’d be happy to give my opinions on the young ladies present at the party. Perhaps you shall meet someone while you are here.”
The woman was far too excited by the notion of matchmaking, and Nick shook his head in response. “That isn’t necessary. I have much to do with my estates, and a wife would just get in the way.”
Ockham audibly sucked in a large breath of air, and his wife cast her husband an annoyed sideways glance before refocusing her attention on him.
“That is the most bacon-brained thing I have ever heard,” she said before glancing at her husband again, “and I have heard some bacon-brained things.”
Based on the hard expression on her face, Nick wouldn’t dare to ask but chuckled to himself imagining what might have earned his friend such ire.
“Now, now, my love,” Ockham said, kissing his wife’s temple, “I’m sure what Craven means to say is just that he isn’t ready to take a wife yet. Give him just a bit of slack, my love, the man had his heart broken.”
“Ockham,” Nick ground out. “Don’t.” The last thing he wished to do was discuss the greatest heartbreak of his life in the middle of a country house party. Or ever.
The viscountess patted his arm, and pity washed over her expression. “I’m so sorry, my lord. I didn’t know. What happened?”
“She married someone else,” Nick said, downing the rest of his brandy. Ockham reached for the decanter and refilled Nick’s glass with a healthy pour, and he immediately downed that, too.
“Who is she?” Lady Ockham asked. “I shouldn’t like to associate with someone who would hurt my husband’s dear friend in such a way. You will find that we are quite loyal to our friends.”
“My love,” Ockham replied, saving Nick from having to answer. “He will never tell you. I tried to get it out of him over many drinks, and he won’t budge.”
Nick exhaled hard. “He’s right, my lady. I adore you already, but that pain is mine to carry, and that’s that.”
The viscountess huffed but didn’t press further. Although he wasn’t certain he’d be so fortunate for theentire fortnight.
“Very well,” she said. “I’m still going to think about which ladies might make a good match for you in case you change your mind.”
Ockham laughed. “My wife is nothing short of relentless.”
“I see that,” Nick deadpanned. He could only hope she’d get distracted with marrying off more willing guests and leave him be.
“My love,” she said, “we should greet some of our other guests.”
“Of course. Craven, you should mingle with the others, too. You haven’t been seen in society in a couple of years. It would do you some good.”
Nick nodded and watched his hosts move to another group of guests.
He reached for the decanter on the sideboard next to where he stood and refilled his glass. He turned around to see if he recognized any of the other guests in attendance so he might do as Ockham suggested and re-acquaint himself.
A pair of ladies entered the room, and he glanced at them from the side of his eye and then did a double take. His throat went dry, and his heart was in his throat.
If lightning had struck him where he stood, he would have been less jarred than by the woman he had fixed his gaze upon. No, surely it couldn’t be that the one personhe never wished to encounter again had just entered the salon, where he would be unable to go unnoticed by her.
His entire body tensed and his hands formed tight fists. He groaned to himself, and his jaw clenched so hard that it hurt. His cock twitched as well, but he refused to give that even the faintest bit of attention. Eliza.
