Nestor’s mouth turned down at the edges. It seemed to have found its customary position. “Smart of you, Archer,” he said a bit meanly. He was the sort of man who needed to make everyone who happened across his path feel inferior so he could feel superior.Vile.
Archie leaned in conspiratorially. “We wouldn’t be able to contain the hordes of gentlemen clamoring to get a look. No, the Arabian is being transported to Epsom Downs as we speak.”
Nestor nodded slowly, the wheels of his mind turning for all to see. A skepticism hung about him this morning that hadn’t been there yesterday when he’d been in the fresh throes of greed. Perhaps overnight, the idea had occurred to him that Lord Archer might be playing him for a fool.
The very idea set Valentina’s nerves on edge,because, well, he’d be absolutely correct. Lord Archer was, indeed, playing him for a fool.
And all for a lark.
But to look at him, one would never know it, for he showed no sign of nerves. Valentina wanted to run her fingertips over his palm, just to see if she found a slick of sweat. She suspected she wouldn’t.
“Just look at her, old chap,” said Archie.
It only occurred to Valentina that theherin question was…her.
All eyes were suddenly upon her. She tried not to squirm, mostly so as not to give Miss Muffet any ideas of bolting.
“I’m not sure she’s feeling all that great about your spirit,” he continued.
Lord Nestor’s face darkened, and his eyes narrowed on her. Valentina’s heart kicked into a sprint, but she saw what Archie had done. He’d sensed Nestor’s misgiving and turned it around on him.
Of a sudden, Lady Delilah opened her mouth and began spewing rapid Italian at Valentina. She recognized one of every four words, in particular the wordfugazi. It seemed Lady Delilah, with a broad, blameless smile on her face, was calling LordFestera fake to his face. Valentina nodded and inserted the odd, “Mm-hmm.”
These Windermeres were unequal to nothing.
Once Lady Delilah finished her thorough dressing down of Lord Nestor, which he accepted with a blank stare, Archie’s head cocked. “Nestor, I do believe your pocket just meowed.”
Valentina braced herself. She’d forgotten the promise of a small, furry gift.
On a sigh, Lord Nestor opened his riding coat and dug into an inner pocket. “Ouch!” His hand recoiled to reveal an alarming amount of blood on the tip of his thumb.
Archie flashed Valentina a quick glance. Equal parts of amusement and alarm shone in his eyes. Then the man winked.
She should be annoyed, really she should, but instead, she found herself biting back a smile. This was serious business, his wink seemedto say, but why couldn’t serious business be fun, too?
The view of the world he offered was unlike any she’d ever encountered, and she thought she might like it.
She might even likehim.
Chapter Eight
“You didn’t bring the contessa a serpent, did you?” asked Archie.
Nestor would be the sort to take a serpent for a soft, cuddly pet.
Nestor tried again, this time his hand emerging from the interior pocket with a hissing gray ball of fur. Wide, milky blue eyes flying frantically about, the kitten showed its tiny, sharp teeth. This kitten meant business.
Nestor thrust the animal toward Valentina. With a faltering smile that didn’t reach her eyes, she accepted the little beast gingerly,oooing andahhing and pretending to be delighted. One could only thank the heavens for kidskin gloves, though Valentina’s would be tatters by the time they returned home. Really, though, the kitten was adorable with its little, pushed-in face, even if it wouldn’t stop hissing.
Valentina flicked Archie a thoroughly irritated glance. Barely able to suppress the laugh that wanted out, he couldn’t have asked for this morning to go any better. Valentina, however, didn’t appear to share his optimism as she held the kitten safely away from her.
The air picked up the sound of hooves thundering in the distance. Archie pivoted in the saddle to find Rory riding toward them. Right on time. First thing this morning, Archie had sent his friend a note, asking him to meet them in Hyde Park. He’d figured after a night to think it over, Nestor might have some doubts. A little competition shouldbring him back in line.
Valentina’s question from yesterday nagged at him. Why was he dragging this out?
Justice, yes. In the end, Valentina’s family would get theirs, and Nestor would get his. A tidy outcome.
But that wasn’t the only reason why.
