Read Online Regency Spymasters 01 - Spy Fall by Diana Quincy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Diana Quincy
Ads: Link
out differently,” he said quietly.
Aldridge laid a gentle hand on Darling’s arm. “Of course you would have.” He slipped a glance at his son. “We know you did what you could, isn’t that so, Cosmo?”
“Of course. Especially in light of the fact I was too busy carousing with wenches to be of any use.”
Aldridge’s already wan face paled further. “Cosmo.”
“Both of us playing our parts to perfection, wouldn’t you say, Darling?”
Aldridge’s chair scratched against the floor and he pushed to his feet, the movement a slow and burdened one. With an excruciatingly correct bow, he uttered, “If you will excuse me,” before making a dignified exit from the room.
Watching the door close behind his father, Cosmo turned to Darling and Rosie. “Suppers at Langtry are quite different without Elinor.”
The viscount cleared his throat. “Yes, I can see that.” He came to his feet. “I think I too shall retire early.”
Rosie, who’d watched the exchange without uttering a word, also stood. “It’s time I made my way home. You can see me out.”
After Darling escorted Rosie from the chamber, Mari said, “You certainly know how to clear out a room.”
“I hope you are not sorry to miss dessert.” Cosmo gave her a toothy, lopsided grin. “After all, you were heavy enough when I carried you.”
“ Cochon. ” He was in his cups, to be sure. She seized the opportunity to draw information from him. “Tell me, do you dislike Darling for any real reason? Or is it solely because he was available to rescue your sister when you were not?”
Cosmo rubbed the top of his head, disheveling the chocolate waves of hair; a heavy curl fell over his high forehead, covering his dark brow. On any other drunkard, that hair would look a mess. On Cosmo Dunsmore, it enhanced his rakish charm. “It would be most ungraceful of me to dislike Darling because he tried to save Elinor when I couldn’t.”
“It would also be understandable.”
Cosmo tilted his head back, regarding her through half-closed, black, liquid eyes. “You think I am jealous of Darling because Aldridge holds him in high regard.”
“It has occurred to me. Are you?”
Propping his elbows on the table, Cosmo held his hands apart. “If I say no, you will not believe me. And if I say yes, that would not be the truth, either.”
“What is the truth?”
“I hardly know myself. I cannot fault his devotion to Elinor. It seemed sincere.”
“And yet?”
“There is something about him I cannot quite put my finger on.” He shook his head. “I know it makes no sense.”
“What did Elinor think of him?”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “She was fond enough of him, I suppose.”
“But not enough to marry him,” Mari said. “Perhaps she shared your opinion of the man.”
He sat back in his chair, considering that. “My sister always did have good instincts.”
“So what do you suppose it is about him?”
“I cannot say. Perhaps I just cannot abide angels.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he flashed a wide, devilish grin. “Except for fallen angels, of course. Those I cannot seem to get enough of.”
She suppressed a smile. “You are three sheets to the wind. You should get yourself to bed.”
“Finally, the proposition I’ve been waiting for.”
“Regrettably not.” She stood, taking his arm to help him to his feet. “I prefer the men I bed to have some recollection of the encounter.”
He stumbled to his feet, his face nuzzling into her hair. The combined scents of cedar shaving soap, warm male, and wine filled her nostrils. “You would be very difficult to forget.” His large, warm body leaned heavily on hers, probably a bit more than necessary.
“Clearly, you’re not too foxed to turn a situation to your advantage.”
He chuckled, placing an arm around her shoulders as they moved toward the door. “Angel?”
“Mm?” She curved an arm around his waist to help him walk, the contact making her supremely
Aldridge laid a gentle hand on Darling’s arm. “Of course you would have.” He slipped a glance at his son. “We know you did what you could, isn’t that so, Cosmo?”
“Of course. Especially in light of the fact I was too busy carousing with wenches to be of any use.”
Aldridge’s already wan face paled further. “Cosmo.”
“Both of us playing our parts to perfection, wouldn’t you say, Darling?”
Aldridge’s chair scratched against the floor and he pushed to his feet, the movement a slow and burdened one. With an excruciatingly correct bow, he uttered, “If you will excuse me,” before making a dignified exit from the room.
Watching the door close behind his father, Cosmo turned to Darling and Rosie. “Suppers at Langtry are quite different without Elinor.”
The viscount cleared his throat. “Yes, I can see that.” He came to his feet. “I think I too shall retire early.”
Rosie, who’d watched the exchange without uttering a word, also stood. “It’s time I made my way home. You can see me out.”
After Darling escorted Rosie from the chamber, Mari said, “You certainly know how to clear out a room.”
“I hope you are not sorry to miss dessert.” Cosmo gave her a toothy, lopsided grin. “After all, you were heavy enough when I carried you.”
“ Cochon. ” He was in his cups, to be sure. She seized the opportunity to draw information from him. “Tell me, do you dislike Darling for any real reason? Or is it solely because he was available to rescue your sister when you were not?”
Cosmo rubbed the top of his head, disheveling the chocolate waves of hair; a heavy curl fell over his high forehead, covering his dark brow. On any other drunkard, that hair would look a mess. On Cosmo Dunsmore, it enhanced his rakish charm. “It would be most ungraceful of me to dislike Darling because he tried to save Elinor when I couldn’t.”
“It would also be understandable.”
Cosmo tilted his head back, regarding her through half-closed, black, liquid eyes. “You think I am jealous of Darling because Aldridge holds him in high regard.”
“It has occurred to me. Are you?”
Propping his elbows on the table, Cosmo held his hands apart. “If I say no, you will not believe me. And if I say yes, that would not be the truth, either.”
“What is the truth?”
“I hardly know myself. I cannot fault his devotion to Elinor. It seemed sincere.”
“And yet?”
“There is something about him I cannot quite put my finger on.” He shook his head. “I know it makes no sense.”
“What did Elinor think of him?”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “She was fond enough of him, I suppose.”
“But not enough to marry him,” Mari said. “Perhaps she shared your opinion of the man.”
He sat back in his chair, considering that. “My sister always did have good instincts.”
“So what do you suppose it is about him?”
“I cannot say. Perhaps I just cannot abide angels.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he flashed a wide, devilish grin. “Except for fallen angels, of course. Those I cannot seem to get enough of.”
She suppressed a smile. “You are three sheets to the wind. You should get yourself to bed.”
“Finally, the proposition I’ve been waiting for.”
“Regrettably not.” She stood, taking his arm to help him to his feet. “I prefer the men I bed to have some recollection of the encounter.”
He stumbled to his feet, his face nuzzling into her hair. The combined scents of cedar shaving soap, warm male, and wine filled her nostrils. “You would be very difficult to forget.” His large, warm body leaned heavily on hers, probably a bit more than necessary.
“Clearly, you’re not too foxed to turn a situation to your advantage.”
He chuckled, placing an arm around her shoulders as they moved toward the door. “Angel?”
“Mm?” She curved an arm around his waist to help him walk, the contact making her supremely
Similar Books
