“My good man, you must not jump to conclusions or get yourself too cocksure. This so-called fate you are inclined to embrace might be nothing more than another obstacle. The lady, as you said, is notamenable to being matched. Mrs. Dove-Lyon has not endorsed your courtship of Lady Sinclair and may not support your efforts. You are building up your expectations and might fail to realize your desire.”
“Why are you being negative? You are the one who encouraged me to pursue a bride. All signs point to this beautiful lady being both titled and endowed with enough wealth to save my earldom, besides being a woman who stirs me to a passion that has me rock hard, and my ballocks tied in a frigging knot,” Lex said in a lowered voice.
Basil laughed commiseratively. “Such a state I would wish on no man, least of all my dearest friend.”
“The only thing good about being suspended up in the boughs is that even if I don’t remember, my body recalls what a good shag feels like. I tell you, Basil, she stirs my blood like no woman I have ever known.” Well, that wasn’t the complete truth. The Lace Bandit had stirred his loins as well, but he doubted finding a husband was first on her list of things to do.
“I might keep these passions to myself for now. Likely, she’s a virgin and won’t have any idea of the pleasures you wish to deliver to her.” Basil chuckled.
Lex peered toward the dining room’s entrance, and a tall, thin man waited to be seated. Although he could not place him, something about the man struck Lex as familiar. “Basil, that gent who just walked in looks familiar. Do you recognize him?”
Basil turned around. “Why, yes. That’s Charles—” He rubbed his temples. “Bloody hell, I can’t remember his surname. He was at Eton with us. I believe his father was the cousin of a baron. All in all, a good fellow with a wicked sense of humor. You remember when that bully, Redmund, was putting us all through hell. Word has it that while Redmund was suffering from a cold and his olfactory senses were impaired, Charles filled his bed with horse manure. The bloke woke up covered in it.”
Lex laughed. “Ah, yes, he stank for days, and it tempered hisbehavior going forward.”
“We will say hello on our way out.”
Lex nodded as he absent-mindedly munched on a watercress finger sandwich. He had an unobstructed view of Charles what’s-his-name over Basil’s shoulder. “You’re right; he is waiting for someone. He keeps looking toward the entrance. Perhaps he’s waiting for his wife.”
Basil was no longer paying Lex any mind, as he had flagged down a waiter and was busy ordering more sandwiches and an assortment of cakes.
Lex was bringing his teacup to his lips when a young woman entered. He nearly dropped the cup in his lap. “Bloody hell! It’s her!” His curse slipped a little too loudly from his lips, and he had to contend with disapproving looks from the occupants of several of the surrounding tables.
Even Basil was deterred from ordering nearly everything on the menu. “For God’s sake, who?”
“Don’t look, but the red-haired beauty from the Lyon’s Den is being led to Charles’s table.” Lex’s stomach knotted tight with jealousy. He was tempted to…he wasn’t sure what. He clenched his fists with a desire to pound Charles into a toadstool, but that could only serve to lower Lady Sinclair’s estimation of him and label him as a man who couldn’t control his impulses and shamefully tied his garters in public. A sorry state he did not aspire to.
“Well, isn’t this a surprising turn of events?” Basil dropped his napkin and bent to retrieve it, sneaking a glance at the lady. Charles stood upon her arrival, and she kissed him on the cheek before taking her seat. “There’s nothing wrong with your taste, Lex; she isquitestunning.”
Lex stared morosely at the two, his focus on their interaction. Naturally, her gaze hadn’t wandered around the tearoom, as she was busily caught up in conversation with Charles and pouring a cup of tea from the silver teapot. On the other hand, Lex couldn’t tear his eyesaway from her. The lively conversations in the room faded into the background as he wished he could hear what she was saying. She spoke animatedly and often smiled as she engaged in conversation with Charles.If only I could read lips.
His entire being longed to hold her in his arms, and the amorous thought of touching her sent his blood racing. He shifted in his seat from the discomfort of his pants tightening around his swelling cock. He wanted her more than anything he’d encountered in his life. “Basil, God help me, do not allow me to make a fool of myself.”
“If I have to wrestle you to the floor to prevent it, I shall.” Basil laid a restraining hand on Lex’s arm. “Tear your eyes away before you’re turned to stone,” he added, chuckling.
Basil’s reference to the fate of any who gazed upon Medusa was a little too late, given the current state of his lower extremities, which appeared to have already turned to stone. Still, the warning did have the calming effect that laughter brought. Their laughter also brought unexpected pleasure, as the lady who was the source of his discomfort glanced his way. Their eyes locked, and Lex saw recognition in the depths of her golden-brown orbs. Perhaps he was projecting his longing, but he thought he saw a flicker of excitement before she demurely dropped her eyes. Did he detect a challenge in that too-short glance?
Basil and Lex chatted about inconsequential matters, drank tea, and ate crustless, bite-sized cucumber-and-butter sandwiches, as well as thinly sliced ham-and-butter sandwiches. All the while, his attention was riveted on Lady Sinclair and Charles what’s-his-name.
Was there something between them? Had her meeting with Charles also been coordinated by Mrs. Dove-Lyon? They were engaged in an animated conversation, but it seemed on a strictly friendly level. No light touches. No coy glances. No lingering looks. He hadn’t detected any of that yet, but it bothered him that she didn’t look his way again. It seemed to Lex that the lady did whatever shecould to avoid making eye contact with him.
Finally, Basil had eaten his fill of sandwiches and sweets and, patting his nonexistent stomach, suggested he would be amenable to a walk in Hyde Park. “I fear I need to digest all the food I’ve just consumed. Besides, it’s always good to walk amongst the Town folk. One never knows whom one will meet.”
“First, we’ll stop and greet Charles what’s-his-name, so I can finally properly introduce myself to Lady Sinclair. And besides, I must find out what the standing of her relationship with Charles is. I’ve not noticed anything untoward in their behavior toward each other.”
Basil nodded in agreement. Lex rose and followed his friend to the other table. Because he was acutely aware of Lady Sinclair, he noticed the imperceptible widening of her eyes as they approached.
“Charles, my good man, it has been years since I’ve seen you.” Basil held out his hand, and Charles jumped up and shook it enthusiastically.
“Basil, old chap, what brings you to London?”
“A bit of sport and a little business.” Basil winked at Charles and gave a gentlemanly nod toward Lady Sinclair. “Charles, you devil, have you married?”
“Oh, good God, no! Where are my manners? Marquess Basil du Priest, may I introduce my cousin, Lady Edwina Sinclair.”
“Pleasure.” Edwina smiled. Her gaze finally rested on Lex, and the warmth of her smile poured over him like warm honey.
“Charles, do you remember our classmate, Lexington Bradford Capel, Earl of Essex?”
