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“I’ve never been to Almacks.” I responded, wiping the sting from my eyes. Did he really think that I, a person of no consequence, could enter such an establishment?
“Well, you’re not missing out.”
“Aren’t you banned?” I asked. The impertinence of the question shocked me as soon as the words had left my mouth, but I felt a sudden surge of rash confidence.
Was this the effect of gin? I had never had enough wine to feel drunk before…
The Lord laughed.
“Direct, you are. Indeed, I am banned. Have been since two seasons ago.”
“What happened?”
He eyed me shrewdly.
“I think the story would be rather much for your delicate sensibilities.”
I stared at Lord Marsden, almost laughing myself.
“My delicate sensibilities? Did Lady Radcliffe not remind you well enough that I am the daughter of a steward? And besides, I have just had far too much of whateverthatwas.” I eyed the bottle of gin with some disgust.
“Do the ladies at Almacks behave in such a fashion, my Lord?”
I had no idea where my confidence was coming from. These were the sorts of things I usually thought, butneversaid out loud, and for good reason. If Lord Marsden were like any respectable gentlemen, he would scold me and send me back to my room for such a brazen speech.
But Lord Marsden wasnota respectable gentleman.
He laughed, a grin spreading across his face.
“No, they certainly do not. Well then, you’ve made your point. I would be foolish to underestimate you, Amelia Allen. You’re the same girl I knew as a boy, that’s for sure.”
“What do you mean, my Lord?”
“Stop calling me that.” He said quickly, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
“Stop calling you-”
“Call me Will. You did when we were children, before I had this title, did you not?”
I felt my face redden.
“Yes, but…”
“Well, you’ve just made a point about not being a lady. As you probably already know, I’m no gentleman.Call me Will.”
It was another command. I swallowed, trying to process everything that was going on. My mind felt a little fuzzy.
“Okay, Will.” I said, his given name sounding surprisingly familiar on my tongue.
He sighed, taking a long swig of the gin. As if by reflex, he handed the bottle to me. I took another swig, against my better judgement. This time it hurt a little less.
“I don’t remember a lot of my childhood, to be honest. But I remember you. You were like… a sibling to me. I actually can’t believe we haven’t seen each other since. Where’d you run off to?”
His tone sounded serious. I looked up at him, and his eyes, though clouded by liquor, were somber.
“I didn’t run off.” I said, wiping the gin from my lips. “You left for Eton and never came back.”
He paused, locking eyes with me. I felt like I could drown in the deep blue.
