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“Such a gentleman,” she said in admiration, watching as he stood tall.
“Now, that is the first time I have ever been called that.” He chuckled along with James. “What other words have I been called, James?”
“Rogue springs more to mind though I think I prefer fool,” James said, laughing deeply.
“Ha! You would be right. You are fond of calling me the latter.”
Marina stared at James in wonder as he jested with his friend. It was almost as if he had undergone a transformation. Here with his friend, he was able to relax in a way she hadn’t seen him do before.
I wonder if I could make him laugh in that way too.
Yet the idea seemed rather impossible.
“What do you make of our little gambling hall then, Your Grace?” Michael asked, moving to stand on her other side, so she had a view of the room.
“It’s…” She struggled to know how to describe it. It perhaps wasn’t as sordid as she had expected, but there was a depravity she had not been prepared for. “It’s an eye opener,” she said in the end. “They seem ravenous as if they eat and survive on money.”
“They practically do,” James whispered as some of the clientele walked past, so only they could hear him. “Come, I’ll show you the books too, so you can see exactly how we make our money.”
“Some honeymoon,” Michael said with a chuckle before they could walk away.
“What was that?” Marina asked.
“Don’t encourage him.” But James’ words came too late.
“A newlywed couple?” Michael raised his eyebrows at the two of them. “Forgive me for being impertinent, Your Grace,” he addressed Marina with the words though James interrupted before he could finish.
“You always are, so go on.”
“I do not imagine many new husbands when married to you, Your Grace, would take you to a gambling hall. There is a very particular room I imagine they’d much rather occupy.” At Michael’s mischievous words, Marina blushed, but she couldn’t help giggling. He spoke of things that really shouldn’t be spoken of at all, and he continued to smile, even as James glared at him.
“I rather like your friend,” she said to James between her laughter.
“I did too, up until now.” He mockingly glared at his friend. “I’ll cause as much mischief when you wed, Michael.”
“May she be fine as your own wife.” He lifted Marina’s hand and kissed it again, but she felt her hand being quickly snatched away.
“No more kisses, Michael.” James threaded that hand back through his arm and led Marina away. Marina glanced back to see his friend laughing raucously, clearly pleased to have caused such mischief.
One look at James showed that muscle was twitching in his jaw once more. Something about the interaction with Michael had upset him.
“Do you not like your friend?” she asked as they left the room and stepped out into the back rooms.
“Of course, I do. He’s my dearest friend.”
“Tell that to your glare,” she teased him, earning another scowl from him though this one was a touch more playful. He released her arm, leaving her feeling a little cold without his touch, and reached for a candle. He took the wax stick out of the sconce on a wall and placed it in a brass holder before using the light to guide their way. They entered an office, the door set between two busts on white plinths.
“He’s my friend, but perhaps I don’t like the idea of him getting too close to you,” James said offhandedly, closing the door behind them.
“Why not?” Marina asked with intrigue, following his beckoning hand as he led her to his desk where he had laid out some account books. She sat down, so curious that her head bent over the books. “As I understand it, you told me I could take a lover, could I not?” The book she had been looking at was abruptly closed.
“Not Michael.” James’ face was so near to Marina that she could smell his scent. The muskiness was rather intoxicating, and she didn’t move away.
Wait… is he going to kiss me?
His lips were close; it felt like a real possibility.
“Why not?” she whispered the words.
