Read Online The Seduction by Laura Lee Guhrke - Free Book Online
Authors: Laura Lee Guhrke
Ads: Link
intelligent and rational men.
* * *
"You two have successfully divided the spoils of the evening between you," Alistair said with admiration as he looked from Trevor to Henry. It was quite late, and both men had been playing poker with Alistair and Edward most of the evening. Trevor had six hundred pounds more than he'd started with. It was unfortunate that poker could not be counted on as a means of earning a living.
"Too bad Hymes wasn't here," Henry said with a chuckle. "Trevor and I would have made even more. Nice enough fellow, excellent at whist, quite good at baccarat. But can't play poker worth a damn."
The mention of the name caught Trevor's attention. "Hymes?"
"Lord Hymes," Edward explained. "Viscount with estates in Durham. You may know him."
Trevor thought of the viscount on his knees the night before, making an utter ass of himself, and he smiled. In a manner of speaking, he supposed he did know Hymes. But he admitted nothing.
"What happened to the fellow anyway?" Edward asked. "I came down this morning and Giuseppe told me he'd ordered a carriage brought round and left at sunrise without a word to anyone. Not even a note."
"Really?" Trevor lit a cigar and blew three smoke rings toward the ceiling in rapid succession. His smile widened. "Awfully rude of him, I'd say."
Henry shrugged. "Well, I can't say I blame him. I understand from my niece that he proposed marriage to my daughter last night and she refused him. Only fitting he should leave, I suppose. Damned awkward if he didn't."
Trevor wondered if Margaret had told Lady Kettering about his role in the events of last night. He rather doubted it.
Edward yawned, then shoved back his chair and stood up. "I think it's time to find my pillow."
"Are you sure?" Trevor asked. "The ladies have returned from their dinner party, remember. Cornelia's bound to be awake, waiting for you so that she can ask how you did and lecture you about how much you've lost."
Edward was a good loser. He grinned. "We haven't been married long enough for that yet," he answered. "If she's waiting up for me, it has nothing to do with poker."
The other men laughed as Edward picked up his glass and downed the last swallow of brandy. He turned to Trevor. "I'm glad you'll be staying a few more days. We still have much to catch up on."
Trevor glanced at Henry, then said, "I don't know how long I'll be staying, but we'll find time before I go."
"Excellent. Good night, gentlemen." Edward set his glass down on the table and left the room.
Henry's secretary also rose to his feet. "It's quite late. I think I'll turn in as well." He left, closing the door behind him and leaving the other two men in private.
Henry stood up and walked to the liquor cabinet, then uncorked a new bottle of brandy and brought it to the table. After refilling Trevor's glass and his own, he sat down, lit a cigar, and wondered how best to proceed. He'd learned long ago to trust his gut feelings, and from what he'd seen, he felt certain Ashton was the right man for Margaret. Charm would be needed to win her, as well as a persuasive tongue, audacity and quick wits. Ashton possessed all those qualities. He was also titled, and that counted for a great deal. In addition, Henry liked him. Yes. Ashton would do very well.
He leaned forward in his chair. "Lord Ashton, I'm an uncomplicated man. I've made my money by being willing to take risks, by seizing opportunities, and by being a good judge of men. I need a man to take on a rather unusual and very challenging task for me. The moment we met, I realized you might fit the bill."
Trevor swirled the brandy in his glass. "You've made me quite curious."
Henry glanced at the door to make certain it was closed and no one could overhear. "What I have in mind would be an ideal solution to your current situation. It would provide you with plenty of money to salvage your estates, and there would be enough left over for you to live in luxury for the rest of
* * *
"You two have successfully divided the spoils of the evening between you," Alistair said with admiration as he looked from Trevor to Henry. It was quite late, and both men had been playing poker with Alistair and Edward most of the evening. Trevor had six hundred pounds more than he'd started with. It was unfortunate that poker could not be counted on as a means of earning a living.
"Too bad Hymes wasn't here," Henry said with a chuckle. "Trevor and I would have made even more. Nice enough fellow, excellent at whist, quite good at baccarat. But can't play poker worth a damn."
The mention of the name caught Trevor's attention. "Hymes?"
"Lord Hymes," Edward explained. "Viscount with estates in Durham. You may know him."
Trevor thought of the viscount on his knees the night before, making an utter ass of himself, and he smiled. In a manner of speaking, he supposed he did know Hymes. But he admitted nothing.
"What happened to the fellow anyway?" Edward asked. "I came down this morning and Giuseppe told me he'd ordered a carriage brought round and left at sunrise without a word to anyone. Not even a note."
"Really?" Trevor lit a cigar and blew three smoke rings toward the ceiling in rapid succession. His smile widened. "Awfully rude of him, I'd say."
Henry shrugged. "Well, I can't say I blame him. I understand from my niece that he proposed marriage to my daughter last night and she refused him. Only fitting he should leave, I suppose. Damned awkward if he didn't."
Trevor wondered if Margaret had told Lady Kettering about his role in the events of last night. He rather doubted it.
Edward yawned, then shoved back his chair and stood up. "I think it's time to find my pillow."
"Are you sure?" Trevor asked. "The ladies have returned from their dinner party, remember. Cornelia's bound to be awake, waiting for you so that she can ask how you did and lecture you about how much you've lost."
Edward was a good loser. He grinned. "We haven't been married long enough for that yet," he answered. "If she's waiting up for me, it has nothing to do with poker."
The other men laughed as Edward picked up his glass and downed the last swallow of brandy. He turned to Trevor. "I'm glad you'll be staying a few more days. We still have much to catch up on."
Trevor glanced at Henry, then said, "I don't know how long I'll be staying, but we'll find time before I go."
"Excellent. Good night, gentlemen." Edward set his glass down on the table and left the room.
Henry's secretary also rose to his feet. "It's quite late. I think I'll turn in as well." He left, closing the door behind him and leaving the other two men in private.
Henry stood up and walked to the liquor cabinet, then uncorked a new bottle of brandy and brought it to the table. After refilling Trevor's glass and his own, he sat down, lit a cigar, and wondered how best to proceed. He'd learned long ago to trust his gut feelings, and from what he'd seen, he felt certain Ashton was the right man for Margaret. Charm would be needed to win her, as well as a persuasive tongue, audacity and quick wits. Ashton possessed all those qualities. He was also titled, and that counted for a great deal. In addition, Henry liked him. Yes. Ashton would do very well.
He leaned forward in his chair. "Lord Ashton, I'm an uncomplicated man. I've made my money by being willing to take risks, by seizing opportunities, and by being a good judge of men. I need a man to take on a rather unusual and very challenging task for me. The moment we met, I realized you might fit the bill."
Trevor swirled the brandy in his glass. "You've made me quite curious."
Henry glanced at the door to make certain it was closed and no one could overhear. "What I have in mind would be an ideal solution to your current situation. It would provide you with plenty of money to salvage your estates, and there would be enough left over for you to live in luxury for the rest of
Similar Books
