“You certainly know how to depress a fellow, puss. We only wanted what was best for you, you know.”
“I do know that, and I love you for it. I just know I’ll adore whomever the three of you decide will make a perfect husband.”
“Will you?” He grinned. “I’m not so sure. If Jason agrees to this, for example, he’ll be determined to find a man who’s nothing like me.”
He was teasing. If there was anyone who would disapprove of someone like him for her, that someone was Tony himself. She laughed. “Well, you know you can always convert my husband, Tony—after I’m safely married.”
Chapter 4
PERCIVAL Alden shouted in triumph as he reined in his horse at the end of Green Park, Piccadilly side. “That’s twenty pounds you owe me, Nick!” he called over his shoulder as the Viscount came charging up behind him riding his bay. Nicholas Eden gave Percy a black scowl.
They began walking their horses around in a circle. The two friends had just come from Boodles, ending a perfectly good game of cards when Percy mentioned his new black stallion. Nicholas was just drunk enough to take up the challenge, and they sent for their horses.
“We could both have broken our bloody necks, you know,” Nicholas pronounced quite sensibly, though his vision was blurred almost double. “Remind me not to do this again, will you?”
Percy thought that was terribly funny and began laughing so hard he nearly lost his balance. “As if anyone could stop you from doing what you’ve a mind to do, especially when you’re foxed. But never mind, old chap. You probably won’t remember this daring escapade come morning, and if you do, you won’t believe your memory. Ah, where the bloody hell was that moon when it was needed?”
Nicholas looked up at the silver orb just coming out from behind a cloud bank. His head was spinning. Damnation! The race should have sobered him a little.
He fastened his wavering gaze on his friend. “How much do you want for that animal, Percy?”
“No wish to sell him. I’ll be winning more races with him.”
“How much?” Nicholas repeated obdurately.
“I paid two hundred and fifty for him, but—”
“Three hundred.”
“He’s not for sale.”
“Four hundred.”
“Oh, come now, Nick,” Percy protested.
“Five hundred.”
“I’ll send him round in the morning.”
Nicholas grinned in satisfaction.
“I should have held out for a thousand.” Percy grinned back. “But then, I know where I can get his brother for two fifty. And I wouldn’t want to take advantage of you.”
Nicholas laughed. “You’re wasting your talent, Percy. You should get a job in Smithfield Market selling horseflesh.”
“And give my dear mother yet another reason to curse the day she bore a son? No, thank you. I’ll go on as I am, taking advantage of hard bargainers like yourself to turn a tidy little profit. It’s more fun, anyway. And speaking of fun, weren’t you supposed to put in an appearance at Shepford’s tonight?”
“Bloody hell,” Nicholas growled, his good humor disappearing. “Why did you have to remind me?”
“My good deed for the day.”
“I wouldn’t go near that place if my little bird didn’t need her wings clipped,” Nicholas confided.
“Ruffled your feathers, did she?”
“Would you credit she thinks to make me jealous?” Nicholas asked, outraged.
“You? Jealous?” Percy guffawed. “I would love to see the day, dearly I would.”
