“That’s not the impression I got when you visited.”
Why was he even bothering to argue with this man? Aiden had the ability to sense what people truly wanted at their very core. It was one of the reasons he presently had two very profitable businesses.
The music ceased playing. He looked toward the dance floor. Miss Garrison and Camberley were standing in its center talking. Why wasn’t he escorting her to the edge of the dance area or to her mother? Or to some chairs? Or to a wall?
A polka began, and the blighter took Miss Garrison back into his arms. Two dances in a row simply weren’t done, not without creating gossip and speculation regarding a gent’s intentions. Camberley might not live through the evening. “What game is he playing at?”
“I’m not sure. Her mother said he was looking for a wife. First time I’ve heard of it, although when he’s had too much to drink, he’ll mumble on about finding a girl with a large dowry. But as the Americans are here seeking investors, I can’t imagine she’d be a good choice, that her dowry would provide him with the means he seeks.”
“Perhaps he believes the business will, eventually.”
“Will it?”
He experienced an unexpected flash of surprise with the realization that Aiden trusted him to know the answer, and his word could mean the difference in his brother investing his hard-earned coins. The answer was not something to be taken lightly. “I’m not yet sure. But if you’ll excuse me, I have a matter to attend to.”
Leonora liked the Earl of Camberley. He was charming, easy to talk with, and had numerous times madefun of himself, his propensity for wagering, his reliance on Aiden to get his affairs in order, and the man’s role in helping him to marry off two of his sisters—if he didn’t count the one Aiden had married himself. Then it was three. Only one left, but Lady Alice had little interest in marriage, preferring independence. Leonora wished her family was as supportive concerning her marriage preferences.
“Perhaps you should ask Mr. Trewlove to assist you in finding a wife,” she told him now as they moved speedily over the floor. He’d daringly signed his name beside two dances. She’d never had anyone dance more than once with her. She was quite flattered.
He laughed. “I’m not sure he’d have my best interests at heart or even understand what it is I want in a wife.”
She refrained from asking what that was because she feared his response might beyou. And then what was she to say? “I suppose when it comes to a partner for life it is best if we make our own decisions.”
“Indeed. Do you seek love, Miss Garrison?”
“I seek happiness.” Whether or not that included love was another matter.
“What would make you happy?”
Investors. “As you like to wager, why not make a bet on the success of our business rather than on a hand of cards?” She wished she possessed the sort of flirtation skills where she could bat her eyelashes without looking as though she was merely striving to rid herself of flecks of dust that had landed in her eyes. “In both cases, at their very core, fate is doing the dealing.”
He seemed intrigued by the notion, then slowly shook his head. “My club will extend me credit. I assume you won’t.”
She almost suggested he seek a loan from a bank, but she certainly didn’t want to encourage him to go into debt for her. “It would rather defeat the purpose, I suppose.”
He smiled warmly. “However, it does make me wish I had all my affairs in order, so I could fulfill your wishes, as I do believe there would be nothing more satis—”
A large, white-gloved hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, forcing him to stagger to a stop. She nearly tripped over him, might have fallen if a second hand—no, it was an entire arm—hadn’t come around her back to steady her.
“I believe this dance is mine,” Rook said with such utter conviction and arrogance that she wouldn’t have been surprised to look at her card and discover that somehow his name had indeed replaced Camberley’s.
“But I claimed it,” the earl insisted.
With heads whipping around and necks craning, curious couples glided past the immobile trio.
“Let me sweep her around the floor once, and I’ll bring her back to you. And pay off your debt at the Dragons.”
Camberley opened his mouth, closed it, and made a hasty retreat to the edge of the dance floor. Before she could object, speak, or even catch her breath, she was once again on the move but this time with Rook.
“That was rather rude,” she finally managed to mutter.
“Rude would have been punching him.” An icy chill accompanied his words, and she was surprised frost didn’t form on the air between them.
“Why would you have done that? He seemed niceenough, and he is related by marriage to your brother, which I suppose in some manner makes him related to you.”
That strong, rock-hard jaw of his seemed to grow even harder, his eyes more formidable, a man laying claim to what he owned, to what belonged to him. A small thrill went through her with the realization that he might actually be jealous. She couldn’t recall a man ever being upset because another was giving her attention, but then so few had.
“He’s not a bad fellow,” he finally ground out. “It’s just that I have every intention of kissing you again tonight. I shouldn’t like the taste of his mouth on yours, and I wouldn’t think you’d want the flavor of another woman’s on mine.”
