Read Online The Bridegroom by Joan Johnston - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joan Johnston
Ads: Link
Carlisle assured her in a quiet voice. “Mr. Kenworthy and I were roommates at Oxford. I told him I would be bringing you here tonight and asked him if he would come and bring a partner in case you wished to play at cards. I thought you might be more comfortable playing with friends, rather than with strangers.”
Reggie could not fault him on that. She had been afraid she might say something during play that would give away her identity. “Thank you. I would.”
As Carlisle seated her in one of the two empty chairs, she examined the man he had named as his friend. It was good to know the earl was capable of making friends—and of keeping them—since Roger’s friendship was apparently of long standing. Of course, that could also mean the earl had not made any friends recently. She had so much to learn about him!
It was difficult to tell much about Roger Kenworthy’s face behind the half-mask he wore, although he had a nice smile, with one front tooth that slightly overlapped the other. His hair was chestnut brown and so curly it must be a trial to his barber. He was a portly man, and to judge from his lime green waistcoat, enjoyed bright colors. The woman with him was rather thin, her dress bare of ornamentation, though it still must be considered fashionable. Despite Miss Waters’s austere attire, she wore a smile as warm as the one on Mr. Kenworthy’s face.
Reggie was able to say with the greatest sincerity, “It is so nice to meet you, Mr. Kenworthy. And you, too, Miss Waters.”
“The pleasure is entirely mine,” Roger replied.
“Thank goodness we may play whist,” Reggie said with a laugh. “It is the only card game I know. I enjoy playing it with my sister.” She looked longingly at the hazard table, where she could hear the sound of dice against the baize. “Although I must confess, I had imagined playing something a bit riskier.”
“Fortunes are won and lost playing whist,” Roger said.
“Oh. Really?” Reggie said, her interest piqued. She glanced across the table at the earl, with whom she was partnered. “Shall we risk all, my lord?”
“Everything, my lady.”
So, he could be tempted to gamble. And not just a little. Perhaps this was the Fatal Flaw in Carlisle’s character. The next few hours would tell the tale.
Though the earl had allowed a servant to fill a crystal goblet with wine for him at the beginning of play, he did not drink from it more than twice during the next three hours.
So much for drinking to excess, at least while he is playing at cards
, Reggie thought.
If she had hoped to see how much Carlisle was willing to lose gambling at cards, she should have picked another game. Because all he did was win. And win. And win. And that despite her ghastly play.
“Oh, that was the wrong card. Again,” Reggie said.
She had not purposely begun playing badly to testCarlisle’s patience and composure, but she had learned a few lessons there, as well. He never criticized her when she played the wrong card, but merely encouraged her when she was playing well.
He was infinitely patient.
He had no temper.
He was a paragon.
In fact, he was simply too good to be true. Except, she could not imagine what purpose the earl could have for pretending to be other than what he was. Unless Becky was right, and he had some unknown, nefarious motive for courting her other than the hope of winning her hand. Then, of course, he might be dissembling. If he was playing a deep game, she would uncover his deception. But she wanted to believe he was what he seemed to be.
This time her poor play caused them to lose. Reggie lifted her eyes to the earl’s face, looking for signs of blame. But all she found in his dark eyes was esteem. And regard. And respect.
She felt buoyed. And elated. And delighted to be in his company.
Which made her all the more suspicious. Carlisle was not going to break down her wall of caution with a single night’s good behavior. Oh, no. Anyone might manage to have
Reggie could not fault him on that. She had been afraid she might say something during play that would give away her identity. “Thank you. I would.”
As Carlisle seated her in one of the two empty chairs, she examined the man he had named as his friend. It was good to know the earl was capable of making friends—and of keeping them—since Roger’s friendship was apparently of long standing. Of course, that could also mean the earl had not made any friends recently. She had so much to learn about him!
It was difficult to tell much about Roger Kenworthy’s face behind the half-mask he wore, although he had a nice smile, with one front tooth that slightly overlapped the other. His hair was chestnut brown and so curly it must be a trial to his barber. He was a portly man, and to judge from his lime green waistcoat, enjoyed bright colors. The woman with him was rather thin, her dress bare of ornamentation, though it still must be considered fashionable. Despite Miss Waters’s austere attire, she wore a smile as warm as the one on Mr. Kenworthy’s face.
Reggie was able to say with the greatest sincerity, “It is so nice to meet you, Mr. Kenworthy. And you, too, Miss Waters.”
“The pleasure is entirely mine,” Roger replied.
“Thank goodness we may play whist,” Reggie said with a laugh. “It is the only card game I know. I enjoy playing it with my sister.” She looked longingly at the hazard table, where she could hear the sound of dice against the baize. “Although I must confess, I had imagined playing something a bit riskier.”
“Fortunes are won and lost playing whist,” Roger said.
“Oh. Really?” Reggie said, her interest piqued. She glanced across the table at the earl, with whom she was partnered. “Shall we risk all, my lord?”
“Everything, my lady.”
So, he could be tempted to gamble. And not just a little. Perhaps this was the Fatal Flaw in Carlisle’s character. The next few hours would tell the tale.
Though the earl had allowed a servant to fill a crystal goblet with wine for him at the beginning of play, he did not drink from it more than twice during the next three hours.
So much for drinking to excess, at least while he is playing at cards
, Reggie thought.
If she had hoped to see how much Carlisle was willing to lose gambling at cards, she should have picked another game. Because all he did was win. And win. And win. And that despite her ghastly play.
“Oh, that was the wrong card. Again,” Reggie said.
She had not purposely begun playing badly to testCarlisle’s patience and composure, but she had learned a few lessons there, as well. He never criticized her when she played the wrong card, but merely encouraged her when she was playing well.
He was infinitely patient.
He had no temper.
He was a paragon.
In fact, he was simply too good to be true. Except, she could not imagine what purpose the earl could have for pretending to be other than what he was. Unless Becky was right, and he had some unknown, nefarious motive for courting her other than the hope of winning her hand. Then, of course, he might be dissembling. If he was playing a deep game, she would uncover his deception. But she wanted to believe he was what he seemed to be.
This time her poor play caused them to lose. Reggie lifted her eyes to the earl’s face, looking for signs of blame. But all she found in his dark eyes was esteem. And regard. And respect.
She felt buoyed. And elated. And delighted to be in his company.
Which made her all the more suspicious. Carlisle was not going to break down her wall of caution with a single night’s good behavior. Oh, no. Anyone might manage to have
Similar Books
