“I haven’t dreamed anything substantial in quite some time,” Goodland answered. “There’s been a lack of inspiration of late.”
Goodland turned to the lady on his other side, Daniel’s sister, Lady Calliope. “What about you?” he asked her. “What do you think of dreams?”
“Dreams are a wonderful way for us to imagine what we have trouble reaching in our waking moments. It’s like a wish brought forward, but one we don’t dare to achieve.”
“That’s lovely,” Goodland said in a warm tone.
Thank God they were on the last course. Goodland was flirting with Iris and Daniel’s sister. He was going to kill him. There was no way around it. He didn’t want to do it. Goodland was a good friend to have, but he was going too far. Both Iris and Calliope were out of his league. Especially since he made it clear that he would never marry, and he wanted his family’s title to die with him. He had a lot of hatred for his father.
They finished the last course. Everyone stood. “Ladies,” the duchess began. “If you’ll join me in the sitting room for after-dinner drinks.” She smiled at them. “Gentlemen, follow my husband to the game room. I believe he has something special planned for you all.”
They separated and went to their designated rooms. Daniel wanted to pull Iris aside and kiss her senseless. It wasn’t the time or place for it. Besides, he had to deal with Goodland first. They went into the game room. Lindsey poured them all snifters of brandy and passed them out. “Now that dinner is over, the real fun can begin.”
“What did you have in mind?” Winchester asked. “It’s been a long day.”
“You’re an old married man now,” Goodland said, then laughed. “You can stay here longer. We don’t have the opportunity to gather together like this anymore.”
“He’s right,” Merrifield said. “Some of us are old married men now. With wives waiting in a warm bed.” He laughed at the stricken look on Goodland’s face.
“Don’t rub it in,” Goodland said. “Some of us have a cold bed.”
“You can fix that, you know,” Lindsey said. “Find a woman willing to put up with you and you’ll always have that warm bed.”
“No, thank you,” Goodland said. “I will have another snifter of brandy though.” He held out his glass for Lindsey to pour brandy into it.
“We’re going to play a drinking game.” Lindsey grinned. There was a devilish glint in his gaze that Daniel didn’t like. Sometimes the duke could be truly wicked. “The loser has to drink each hand they lose.”
Merrifield groaned. “I don’t want to go to bed foxed. Violet won’t appreciate that.” The marquess had settled into marriage far better than Daniel had believed he would. They all had been so adamant against it. Why did any of them think they could avoid marriage he didn’t understand. They were so determined to remain bachelors. Daniel was contemplating taking that step. He knew he wanted Iris, and if he wanted her forever he would have to marry her. Convincing her of that would be the hard part. For tonight he wanted to forget all that though. He’d play this game the duke had in mind. What did he have to lose?
Daniel didn’t care how much he had to drink. He did not have a wife to worry about. If Iris were waiting for him, he might object to this game, but as she wasn’t, he said, “I’m in.”
They all settled down at the table. They were playing Faro. Merrifield didn’t do well with any card game, but luck was usually on Daniel’s side. Which was why he couldn’t help being surprised by how many times he’d lost. “Are these cards rigged?”
“Would I do that?” Lindsey said and held his hand on his chest. “You wound me.”
He had already drank more than half the decanter of brandy. The room was blurry as hell. Daniel narrowed his gaze. “You’re up to something.” He slurred his words. “I don’t know what, but I will figure it out.”
Goodland slapped him on the back. “You’re paranoid, my friend.”
Daniel glared at him. He forgot to speak to him about his flirting earlier. “You need to stay away from my sister.” He had no claim on Iris. Yet. But he could warn him off of Calliope.
“I had to escort her in to dinner. Did you want me to be rude to her?” Goodland shook his head, then played his card. Daniel cursed. He had lost this hand.
“Give me the brandy,” he conceded, his loss. Lindsey poured it into his snifter, and that was the end of that decanter. “We’re out of brandy.”
“Don’t worry,” Lindsey said. “There is more.”
“I can’t drink any more.” He was done for the night. If he drank another sip he might fall into unconsciousness. “I’m going to bed.”
Daniel stood and swayed a little on his feet. Damn, he was stupid drunk. Why had he agreed to this game again?
“Can you even make it up the stairs?” Merrifield asked.
“Of course I can,” he insisted. He walked, what he thought, was a straight line to the door. He heard laughs behind him, but he didn’t turn and glare at them. If he did, he might fall over and he was determined to make it to his bedchamber.
Somehow, by some miracle, he fumbled his way up the stairs and into his bedchamber. He didn’t bother with lighting a candle or calling for his valet. All he wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep off the brandy. Daniel yanked off his boots and tossed them to the side, then slid off his jacket and waistcoat. When he had all of his clothes off, he slid into bed completely naked and then curled up against the warm body next to him. He didn’t question why she was there. She visited his dreams so often he assumed she was there to return to her nightly haunting...
Seven
