“It was three solid punches,” Richard shot back, shoving Blake away and swinging at his head. “And I was getting tired of your smugness.”
“So you resorted to cheating?” Blake raised an eyebrow.
“I prefer to think of it as a sportsmanlike distraction.” Richard shook his head, sweat flying as he did so.
“I think you mean decidedly unsportsmanlike.” Blake darted out of the way of Richard’s fist.
“No, I said exactly what I meant.” Richard grinned as he punched Blake in the torso.
In answer, Blake punched Richard twice, once in the stomach and then once in the chest. Richard groaned and swung out, but Blake dodged the blow easily, landing another punch and then a jab that sent Richard sprawling. He grinned as he strode towards him. The other man held up his hands in surrender.
“I yield.” Richard glowered at him.
“Good.” Blake held out a hand to him and helped him to his feet. “I would offer you my congratulations on your nuptials had you not used them as a means of distracting me from our match.”
“A man does what he must to win.” Richard massaged his neck and shrugged.
“But you didn’t win,” Blake couldn’t help but point out.
“No, not this time.” Richard hesitated for a moment before saying, “Besides, I want more than your congratulations. I was hoping you would agree to be my best man.”
“You want me to be your best man? Why?” Blake gaped at his friend.
Surely Glassbury is joking?
“Because you are my oldest and dearest friend. I was hoping you could put aside your personal feelings on the matter of marriage and be there by my side.” Richard gave him a pointed look.
Blake frowned as he asked, “What do you mean my personal feelings? I have no issues with other people getting married.”
“Was it not you who once said, ‘Marriage is an institution designed to trap two people in perpetual misery and suffering, a house built on nothing but lies and hypocrisy’?” the Marquess said in a reasonable imitation of Blake’s deep baritone.
“I might have said that at some point.”And it is true for most people.Blake shrugged and began to towel himself off with the cloth an attendant handed him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Richard’s face and realized with a jolt that his friend looked genuinely worried. Something in Blake’s heart twisted.
“My feelings about marriage are my own, Glassbury. To my mind, marriage seems pointless. Most men forsake their vows almost as soon as they take them.” A memory tugged at the corners of Blake’s mind, and he pushed it away violently, the imagined scent of stale rum and cheap perfume lingering. “But you are not most men. You mean what you say.”
“I do. And I will do everything in my power to be the best husband to my future wife.”
“I know you will. And while I think it is utter folly to get married, if it is something you want to do, then I will stand behind you.” Blake squeezed Richard’s shoulder affectionately.
“Thank you, Rochester. I will be glad to have you by my side.” Richard clapped him on the back.
“I take it you will be marrying Miss Cressida Minton? You have been courting long enough,” Blake asked as he pulled on a fresh shirt.
His friend’s face lit up as he said the name. The sight of the unbridled joy on his friend’s face made his heart twist.
If anyone can make a proper go of marriage, it is him. He will make the woman a most devoted and loyal husband.
“Of course! Cressida is the love of my life. I had not thought such happiness was possible, not until I met her. She is my soul, Rochester. And I would spend the rest of my life with her.” The Marquess smiled happily, his cheeks rosy.
“Then I wish you every happiness.” To his surprise, Blake found that he meant it. “May you both forever be loyal and deserving of one another.”
Blake hoped that his friend would hear only sincerity in his voice.
“Already practicing your speech?” Richard raised an eyebrow at him. “I hope you do not intend to harp on about loyalty, as though we might be disloyal to one another.”
Blake laughed. “Fret not, Glassbury, my speech will be far better than that. It will be from the heart.”
