Page 108 of Ironvine

“He seems to be paying much attention to Alice this evening.”

“Yes, he is.”

“My brother was quite taken with her in London, but she seems to be easily swayed by Mr. Penry’s flirting and flattery.”

“Well, Mr. Penry prides himself on his great charm and charisma.”

“He certainly does,” she replied evenly. “Look at Thomas.” She gestured discreetly to where her brother stood, a scowl etched on his face, a glass of wine in his stiff hand as he watched Matthew and Alice converse with a group of guests. “Surely Matthew knows that his good friend has feelings for the girl.”

“Of course he does, but he’s a selfish nob. And Alice is the easy answer to his problem.”

A familiar airy laugh rose up, and he clenched his jaw. Amanda. Matthew was amusing Amanda with a tale, the two of them laughing along with Mr. and Mrs. Whatley. But Alice was not laughing. She did not seem to understand the joke.

* * *

Charles dranka fresh glass of Madeira as he watched the Duke converse with his wife across the room.

“Good evening, my lord,” a familiar cool voice said at his side.

His eyes narrowed over Amanda. “What are you doing here?”

“Enjoying a night out.” Amanda exchanged her empty glass for a full one from the servant’s tray.

“Forgive me, I thought you were in mourning for your dead husband.”

“I’ve had quite enough of mourning. Doesn’t suit me.”

“Indeed, I mistook you for a typical widow. Are you not humbled in the least by William and Hugh’s sudden and violent ends because of you?”

She eyed him, her cool and relaxed gaze a challenge. “It was their choice as gentlemen, was it not?”

Matthew and Alice strolled by them. Alice smiled shyly at Charles, whilst Matthew sent Amanda an appreciative gaze. The idiot was flirting with her as he tried to bedazzle Alice.

Amanda sent Matthew a smug smile in return. Charles let out a dry laugh at that familiar sight. How she enjoyed conquering. He leaned into her, lowering his voice. “I wonder, is Matthew more interested in the widow’s fortune or her experienced cunt?”

She met his acidic gaze with her own, just as she would in the old days when they’d have biting conversations in public plotting schemes. “I’m not quite sure if he deserves my cunt.”

“Make him work for it. You always enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

“Oh, I still do.” She sipped her wine.

“Hugh once told me the sculpture gallery here is a spectacular place for assignations.”

“Did he?” Her voice rose slightly.

He’d caught her interest with that remark. Charles’s lips tipped into a sly grin that he knew she’d recognise. “He did. It’s just off the main hall and is lit with torches, which only adds to the illicit atmosphere for such arendezvous vous.”

She laughed as she took a delicate swallow of her wine. “I must say, Charles, I find it most satisfying that as I am enjoying my freedom from my husband, you are now saddled with a wife. Poor darling. But that won’t stop you, will it?” she said in that slicing yet syrupy tone.

Saddled? No, he wasn’t bound against his will, squirming to be free. He actually felt freer, more at ease than he ever had. “I am most satisfied with my marriage, madame.”

“With her?” Amanda laughed. Laughed the same way they used to laugh together over gossip, over others’ weaknesses. It had once filled him with satisfaction. Was that what his life had been filled with before? Only a series of temporal triumphs and deceits?

“Ah, Charles…” She let out a dramatic sigh. “At this moment, being married is all shiny and new to you both, but that sparkle won’t last long. It won’t. You—like me, like Hugh—cannot deny yourself. You will be stifled for the lack of—”

“Madame, you are confusing me with my brother.”

“You, sir, do not compare to your brother.”

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