AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Pausing, he closed his eyes and the image of her face came to him again. The look of shock and desire flashing in her blue eyes imprinted on his mind forever. Just as the sensation of her kiss would never leave him. He should have known how it would feel to taste her sweet lips again.
John had told him about her passionate nature and that alone should keep Matthew away from her. He didn’t need a woman who gave herself so freely to a man, even if that man had been her fiancé at the time. Jennette should have insisted on a quick wedding and not taken risks by prolonging the engagement for six months.
Shaking his head, he realized none of these insane thoughts mattered. He wouldn’t be marrying Jennette when there had to be at least one other woman who would have him. Walking down the hall, he heard the sound of angry voices and stopped.
“Why do you want me to do this?”
Matthew had never been one to eavesdrop, but Somerton sounded truly vexed, and in all the years Matthew had known him, that never happened.
“You have asked me for more favors than I have ever given another. This is the least you can do for me.”
He tilted his head in thought. The woman’s voice sounded vaguely familiar but he could not place it. He heard what sounded like a glass slamming down on the table.
“Very well,” Somerton said harshly. “But after I do this for you it will be time for you to tell me the truth. I want her name.”
“And you shall get it when the time is right,” the woman responded lightly as if she had no fear of Somerton’s wrath.
“No, Sophie. The time will be right after I do this for you.”
Sophie? Sophie Reynard? Jennette’s friend and the current medium taking the ton by storm? It made no sense that Somerton would have anything to do with her. Unless they were lovers…
“Anthony,” she replied softly but firmly. “I make this decision, not you.”
“Bitch,” he said roughly.
“Yes, I am. And just like you, I’m not one to cross.”
Hearing footsteps, Matthew continued down the hall before someone caught him listening in on what sounded like a very private conversation. He walked toward the gallery where people had congregated.
“Blackburn, hold up for a moment.”
He turned to see Somerton treading toward him with a smile. No sense of frustration appeared on his features, his stride relaxed, and his shoulders not tense. Nothing to make a person think he’d just been arguing with a woman. And losing the argument, from what Matthew had heard.
“Did you need me?” Matthew replied.
“I have two favors to ask of you.”
“Oh?”
Somerton smiled with his usual ease. “Accompany me on an errand, would you?”
“At this hour?”
“Yes.”
Matthew shrugged but wondered if this had anything to do with the conversation Somerton had with Miss Reynard. With his curiosity roused, he said, “Very well, I have nothing to get home to.”
“Excellent.”
“And the other favor?”
Somerton gave him a half smile. “I need you to save me from myself.”
“Is that even possible?” Matthew asked with a chuckle.
“Of course not. But I’ll be at Norton’s tonight and losing a tremendous amount of money—”
“But I thought you always win?”
