Page 4 of Scandal With A Viscount

“You might not be a man who enjoys a drink, but this is a house party. There is nothing wrong with a bit of merriment.”

John laughed and then glanced at Maddie before focusing on Louis. “Just how merry do you plan to be?”

Louis stole another glance at Georgie. “Some of us aren’t ready to settle into wedded bliss.”

And never will be. Louis set his glass down. John shook his head and went back to his pheasant knowing that he didn’t have a counterpoint to that.

Lady Hurst brushed her foot against his under the table. If he hadn’t known what her intentions were before, he was certain of them now. A flirtation with her was certainly more acceptable than staring at the bosom of his closest friend’s sister.

He pulled his foot away when laughter like tinkling bells caught his attention. Georgie was still speaking with that same man. Whatever his name was.

Louis groaned and picked up his glass. Across the table, Maddie caught his eye. She held it for a moment, glanced toward Georgie, then looked back at him with an expression he knew far too well.

He leveled her with a firm stare to communicate that he didn’t want her to say a word about whatever it was that she was thinking.

Louis did his best to focus on his plate for the rest of the meal, only speaking to John every now and then about horses and hunting dogs.

Dinner ended and the men enjoyed their port. Maddie waited for him outside the drawing room where everyone would be gathering this evening for a round of cards.

She pulled him to an alcove on the other side of the door. “Are you quite serious, Louis? Max's sister?”

He gritted his teeth. “You have become quite the busybody since you’ve married. Max asked me to keep an eye on her. That’s all there is to it.”

“So is that what I just witnessed at supper?” She folded her arms and leaned against the wall, blocking his path. “Are you certain that’s all it was, Louis?”

“She’s Max’s sister.” He said the words as if they should explain everything. More for his benefit than Maddie’s. “And I’m going to keep my eye on her. Now if you excuse me, we made a wager about cards.” Louis took a step toward the drawing room.

“A wager.” Maddie’s brows went up. “What kind of wager?”

“It’s innocent. These things are always full of cards and games. It’ll keep her entertained until Max gets here.”

He was positive that Maddie wasn’t going to believe him.

“She's not one of your widows, Louis. You know that.”

“Neither were you, and look how happy you are now.” He let the words slip faster than he could stop himself. The last thing he needed was for Maddie to think he’d take up a similar arrangement with Georgie.

And then the image of Georgie naked in his bed entered his head, and his entire body reacted.

“Those were very different situations.” She patted his arm. “Just don’t do anything foolish, Louis.”

Then she stepped to the side and headed toward the drawing room. Louis stood in the corridor to get control over himself as he willed his hard cock to ease in his breeches. This wager was going to be a very bad idea if he kept being such a cad.

He drew a deep breath and then entered the drawing room.

Thea had already taken command of the room as she spoke to those seated at the various card tables. “Vingt-et-un. Stakes are modest because Wesley will lecture me if anyone loses an estate at my table. Again.”

“That was one time,” Wes said from behind her. “And it was Louis's fault for getting the poor soul to increase his wager.”

“It was not my fault. He should not have bet what he couldn't afford to lose.”

Louis took his seat and found Georgie settling into the chair across from him. He tried to open his mouth to say something clever to get back to the comfortable, lighthearted camaraderie they’d always had. But when she looked up at him, he forgot what he'd been about to say.

“Ready for the fun to begin?” she asked.

It took him a beat too long to answer. “You are going down, my lady.”

The mental images returned. Thankfully the table hid what was going on in his breeches.