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“A pleasure to meet you,” John said flatly.
“And who might you be? When I drink with a man, I like to be on a name-by-name basis.”
The viscount lifted his brow as he waited for John to reply.
“Raleigh. Michael Raleigh.”
“A pleasure to meet you. Alas, I haven’t a clue how I’m going to pay for this beverage.” Now, the viscount picked up the glass and took it all back in one sip.
John stood in awe of just how disastrous a mess the viscount was. Did Margaret put up with this behavior every day? Was she truly going to let this wretched man decide her fate?
“I shall pay for your drink.”
The viscount laughed. “Why is that?”
“In exchange, I want to hear more about you, Arthur Crowley.”
“A tad lonely, are you?”
“I’m a traveling man. I like to hear of new people.”
The viscount seemed all too eager to talk about himself. He remarked again about his ill-luck with cards and said that he had a daughter that would be marrying soon. This was exactly the bit of conversation that John wished to pursue.
“Who is the fellow that she is to marry?”
“If luck goes our way, Lord Darkmoor.”
"I have never heard of the man.”
The viscount clapped him on the back. “That is because you are a traveler, as you said! How would you know him?”
“A sound point.”
From the viscount’s hazy gaze, which was always averted, John took satisfaction in knowing that the man would most certainly have no recollection of this encounter if they were to run into each other the following day.
“And what do you think of Darkmoor? I’m merely making conversation.”
“He has sufficient funds. That is all that matters.”
“Hm.” John scratched his chin. “Then I suppose that it is a good match.”
“But I must ensure that Margaret is appealing to him.”
“I have just the thing.”
“You do?” the viscount asked, lifting his brow.
“Certainly. If there’s anything that a gentleman finds appealing, it is a woman who enjoys her freedoms.”
“I beg your pardon?” The viscount unleashed this question as though it was the most preposterous thing he’d ever heard.
“Yes, yes. When a man sees a woman, she must be his prey for him to have any real affection for her. By this, I mean she must present something of a challenge to him. What is appealing about a woman that is entirely easy to fetch?”
The viscount seemed to consider this question. “So, you’re saying I am to allow her more freedoms so that Darkmoor might notice this?”
“That is exactly what I am proposing.”
“That is rather interesting. I never considered such a thing.”
