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Brandy glasses in hand, the four friends had been lounging for a while at one corner of the club one late afternoon.
"He threatened Miss Green for a perceived slight against his daughter," Drake informed.
“Because you took her as your guest to the ball?” Titus guessed.
Drake nodded before tossing his drink.
“What kind of asinine notion is this?” Harris made it a point to question the ton’s double standards.
“Asinine is the word,” Worcester agreed.
"The knight in shining armour and the damsel in distress," Edmund commented.
"They match," Titus added with a suggestive glance at his longstanding friend.
“Shall we warn the ladies and prepare our superfine?” Darroch contributed.
"The stubborn woman won't listen to any of it," Drake admitted, looking at the glass he rolled in his hands.
“The hell you say.” Edmund gave a surprised look at his friend.
“Perhaps she needs to warm to it,” said Brunswick. “Philippa refused my first proposal.”
“And then she accepted it because I demanded you repeat it.” Came Darroch, his brother-by-marriage.
“Just like we did to you,” Edmund and Titus reminded the Scott.
“Well, nobody’s perfect.” He jested and drank from his glass.
The four of them stood at the same time. “Dinner,” indicated Edmund.
“Same here.” From Brunswick.
“And here.” Darroch this time.
“As for me.” Revealed Drake.
“Not even married and already domesticated.” Mocked Titus, as Edmund and Harris chuckled.
“One of these days I’ll call you out.” Drake joined in the jest.
“Mind waiting for a while? Edward needs to grow a bit more,” Titus said, referring to his toddler heir. “And I intend to make a spare.” The four of them left the club in a light mood.
Late that night, Drake and Hester lay in bed, her head on his shoulder, his arms around her waist, her hand playing with the whorls on his chest. Under the coverlet, they were warm and cosy.
“I met Philippa and Master Edward afte
r the rehearsal.” Hester started.
They had just devoured each other, and Drake’s mind was still slow with satiation. “Hm,” he emitted simply, turning his head to inhale the perfume of her hair as the light-brown mass spread on the pillow.
“Lord Haddington has travelled to the country,” she revealed. The mention of the damned man got him alert.
“Good that he heeded my advice.” He turned to face her.
“I’m relieved.” And burrowed more into him. “That means I can go back to my home tomorrow.”
Her plan made him jerk his head up to direct his brandy eyes to her in the firelight. “You need not leave.”
