Read Online One Moonlit Night (Moonlight Square: A Prequel Novella) by Gaelen Foley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Gaelen Foley
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their families, that can be arranged.”
In shock, Gable skimmed the list, so incredulous he almost could have laughed. “These are the daughters of your political allies!”
A defensive flicker passed behind his father’s eyes, but he shrugged. “So? Strengthening such ties would be most advantageous. Well, you might as well go and have a look at them. It can’t hurt!”
Jaw clenched, Gable refused to read any further. It was all he could do not to tear the paper into shreds. Furious, he felt as though a noose were closing around his neck, even as he’d barely just survived a duel. His father, the political lords, and their simpering daughters could all go hang.
His pulse thumped. “Will there be anything else, sir?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“Why, yes, in fact, there is. And this part may please you. I am not so cruel a father as to know how difficult this may be for you. So I have devised a couple of carrots, as well as the stick, for my wayward son,” he said dryly. “Choose a bride off my list, and I will give you Castle McCray for your country house. You always liked it up there in Scotland, by the sea. Furthermore, should you produce a child within a year of your marriage, I will double your monthly allowance.”
Gable stared at him in amazement. “You think you can bribe me into having a child, too?”
“When you have a family, your financial needs will increase,” his father said in an oh-so-reasonable tone.
And although this was quite true, and very much the way things were done, Gable was revolted. Dazed, he folded up the list and tucked it into the breast pocket of his waistcoat, feeling like some sort of stud horse about to be crossbred with some equally purebred filly, for no other bloody reason than to produce the wanted foal.
It was repulsive, he thought, standing there while his father stared matter-of-factly at him, waiting for him to absorb his instructions.
Alas, his reaction was probably not what His Lordship had desired. For Gable was suddenly filled with rebellion, glad for every woman he had seduced. In that moment, he was a rakehell to the core, worse even than Netherford—defiantly proud of his charity work in giving Society’s poor, hobbled broodmares a brief, wild taste of freedom. Hell, every one of them deserved it after being auctioned off, as was the way of their class, and put through this exercise in humiliation.
He could barely wait to pleasure even more of them. He almost told his father to take his fortune and shove it up his arse, but he bit back the words at the last minute…for he liked his easy life, and had no desire to acquaint himself with the sponging house.
Then he was disgusted with himself. God, maybe he really was a whore.
At a loss, Gable just shook his head, turned away, and walked toward the door without even bidding his elder a good day.
“Are you quite clear on what is expected of you?” the earl clipped out after him.
“Crystal,” he muttered, and slammed the door behind him.
His heart was pounding and his mind was a blur as he gusted out of the house in a fury, marching down the pavement, ignoring passersby.
With the powerless sense of rage washing through him, he could suddenly relate all the more to the marital pressure that had driven Lady Katrina to angry, futile tears on the night he had met her.
The thought of her stopped him mid-stride.
Hold on!
He took his father’s list out and unfolded it, a crafty smile spreading across his face. Well, I’ll be damned. There it was, third name down, in his father’s own hand: Earl of Beresford – several eligible daughters, your choice.
“Oh, ho, ho…” A vengeful snicker escaped him. Now, here was one solution he could live with.
Hell, I can even get a castle out of the deal.
For he knew one very agreeable daughter of Lord Beresford who’d likely be glad for any offer she could get at this point. Relief flooded him. Thank God. Their meeting at the gazebo that night
In shock, Gable skimmed the list, so incredulous he almost could have laughed. “These are the daughters of your political allies!”
A defensive flicker passed behind his father’s eyes, but he shrugged. “So? Strengthening such ties would be most advantageous. Well, you might as well go and have a look at them. It can’t hurt!”
Jaw clenched, Gable refused to read any further. It was all he could do not to tear the paper into shreds. Furious, he felt as though a noose were closing around his neck, even as he’d barely just survived a duel. His father, the political lords, and their simpering daughters could all go hang.
His pulse thumped. “Will there be anything else, sir?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“Why, yes, in fact, there is. And this part may please you. I am not so cruel a father as to know how difficult this may be for you. So I have devised a couple of carrots, as well as the stick, for my wayward son,” he said dryly. “Choose a bride off my list, and I will give you Castle McCray for your country house. You always liked it up there in Scotland, by the sea. Furthermore, should you produce a child within a year of your marriage, I will double your monthly allowance.”
Gable stared at him in amazement. “You think you can bribe me into having a child, too?”
“When you have a family, your financial needs will increase,” his father said in an oh-so-reasonable tone.
And although this was quite true, and very much the way things were done, Gable was revolted. Dazed, he folded up the list and tucked it into the breast pocket of his waistcoat, feeling like some sort of stud horse about to be crossbred with some equally purebred filly, for no other bloody reason than to produce the wanted foal.
It was repulsive, he thought, standing there while his father stared matter-of-factly at him, waiting for him to absorb his instructions.
Alas, his reaction was probably not what His Lordship had desired. For Gable was suddenly filled with rebellion, glad for every woman he had seduced. In that moment, he was a rakehell to the core, worse even than Netherford—defiantly proud of his charity work in giving Society’s poor, hobbled broodmares a brief, wild taste of freedom. Hell, every one of them deserved it after being auctioned off, as was the way of their class, and put through this exercise in humiliation.
He could barely wait to pleasure even more of them. He almost told his father to take his fortune and shove it up his arse, but he bit back the words at the last minute…for he liked his easy life, and had no desire to acquaint himself with the sponging house.
Then he was disgusted with himself. God, maybe he really was a whore.
At a loss, Gable just shook his head, turned away, and walked toward the door without even bidding his elder a good day.
“Are you quite clear on what is expected of you?” the earl clipped out after him.
“Crystal,” he muttered, and slammed the door behind him.
His heart was pounding and his mind was a blur as he gusted out of the house in a fury, marching down the pavement, ignoring passersby.
With the powerless sense of rage washing through him, he could suddenly relate all the more to the marital pressure that had driven Lady Katrina to angry, futile tears on the night he had met her.
The thought of her stopped him mid-stride.
Hold on!
He took his father’s list out and unfolded it, a crafty smile spreading across his face. Well, I’ll be damned. There it was, third name down, in his father’s own hand: Earl of Beresford – several eligible daughters, your choice.
“Oh, ho, ho…” A vengeful snicker escaped him. Now, here was one solution he could live with.
Hell, I can even get a castle out of the deal.
For he knew one very agreeable daughter of Lord Beresford who’d likely be glad for any offer she could get at this point. Relief flooded him. Thank God. Their meeting at the gazebo that night
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