Edwin’s face sobered. Leo picked up the cards and shuffled. They played three more rounds, and Leo won and efficiently managed to have his lips sealed.
“One last round, Leo.”
Leo smiled cockily, sure that Lady Luck would be on his side once more. But Edwin went on the offensive and easily overtook Leo.
“Ask your question,” Leo resigned.
“What are you going to do with Miss Jenkins now?”
“I am courting her.”
Edwin choked on his brandy.
“Pardon?”
“The ton already has her in its jaws. A courtship, fake or not, would shield her, and it would give me time to discover who forged that damned letter.”
Edwin filled his glass again and barely restrained his laughter.
“You, Leonard Payne, the Duke of Mildenhall, will go around London pretending you are smitten?”
Leo looked up from the rim of his glass. He was not amused.
“Where do I buy tickets for this show?” Edwin chuckled.
“It is merely strategy.”
“And you are certain that this… fake courtship will stay in the parameters you dictated?”
Another image flashed before him. She was against the door at the Countess’ charity event. The heat of her body, the swell of her curves. Leo cursed under his breath, feeling himself tighten.
This might have been slightly easier if Miss Jenkins were plain, simple, and timid. If she were forgettable. Instead, she was a curvy woman, short enough for him to know he could handle her.
No, not his time.Any… handling would complicate already complicated things. Not that Miss Jenkins was a stellar specimen of handleability.
“The parameters will stay where I tell them to stay,” Leo hissed.
Edwin was ready to tease some more when he was met with Leo’s threatening look. He wisely chose to collect the cards and call for a cigar, a rare occurrence for them both.
The two friends stayed in silence for a while. Leo was engrossed in watching the swirls of the smoke in the thick atmosphere of the gentleman’s club. It didn’t help, though, that the smoke was moving as if dancing seductively.
“Who did it, Leo?”
This was the main reason Leo was on the edge of his civility. He had no proof but had suspicions.
“Whoever it was, they knew I altered the seal. But they couldn’t have known that the seal is not in my possession yet.”
“Even I didn’t know that.”
“I know it. It’s… her. Or him.”
“Leo,” his friend looked at him with a serious expression. “You can’t possibly mean…”
“It’s either my mother or her son.”
“This is not something to be told lightly,” Edwin leaned in and lowered his voice to a whisper.
Leo inhaled the smoke and let it out slowly.
