He lingered over that second glass, chatting with Khiran and Del about nothing of consequence. But eventually, his sips couldn’t get any smaller. His next sip would be his last, and then he had to go.
Velario contemplated the drops of brandy remaining. He should just drink them. He needed to get back to the bank. He did not look forward to the return of his worries, though.
A knock on the door distracted Velario from his dilemma.
Del called out permission to open the door, and a servant stuck his head in. “Lady Lisca and Lady Reyn are here, sir. They said they were looking for Lord Khiran.”
Khiran stood up, grinning. “Send them in.”
Velario regretted lingering over his brandy. He did not need to get sucked into polite conversation with Lady Reyn. A break to refresh his mind was one thing, a break that shriveled his brain was something else altogether. He downed the last of his drink.
Lisca, carrying Marseo, and Lady Reyn walked into the room moments later. Khiran was at his wife’s side in a blink, kissing both her and their son. Velario, meanwhile, tried not to stare—or glare—at Lady Reyn. She was even more beautiful than he had remembered. She would be the center of every event she attended for her entire stay.
Del greeted her cordially, but showed no signs of being overwhelmed by her presence. Even when she greeted him and her melodious voice sucked all the air out of the room.
Of course, the two happily married men didn’t notice her in that way. Velario only wished he didn’t. He didn’t want to.
With a force of will, he turned away from her and addressed Lisca. “I hear life is a little uncomfortable at Geratisi House at present. If you need a nursery maid for the next few days, I’m sure my housekeeper can spare Bianna.”
“Why do you have a nursery maid on staff?” Lisca laughed. “Have you been keeping secrets from us, Velario?”
Velario did not glance over at Lady Reyn. Why did he want to see her reaction to Lisca’s joking accusation, anyway? He smiled half-heartedly. “No, no. Bianna is the oldest of thirteen. She is wonderful with children, but she is just a maid at Ferrini House.”
“I may take you up on that. I have a mediation starting tomorrow, and Khiran can’t take Marseo around with him when he is visiting sick children.”
“Oh, I know.” Reyn’s voice was bright.
The sound of it alone nearly turned Velario’s smile from half-hearted to full-fledged. He shook his head, trying to dislodge the urge to beam at her.
“If Lord Velario’s maid comes to help, Selona and I can take Marseo out to the royal greenhouses tomorrow. I’ve been wanting to see them.”
Velario rolled his eyes. “You want to spend your day with a baby in tow?”
“Of course.” She actually batted her eyelashes at him. “Doesn’t every woman want a child? That’s all we are good for, after all, isn’t it? Breeding?”
Five hells. Velario did not need Lady Reyn and breeding in his thoughts at the same time. Breeding required bedding, and bedding conjured too many tempting images. He attempted to banish all thoughts of Reyn and a bed—or a chair. Or a wall.
What was going on? Velario never had this problem with women. Certainly, he found some attractive, and even distracting. And Lady Reyn was leagues beyond any other woman he had seen. But he didn’t lose his head over a pretty face. He preferred to like his bed-partners. He preferred women with more in their heads than fashion and socializing.
“Oh, is that what women are for? I thought your purpose was to spend money.”
“Well, we need something to fill the rest of the hours of the day—men never last long enough for more than a fleeting distraction.”
Someone in the room snorted.
Velario’s eyes narrowed. Lady Reyn held his gaze, unflinching.
