Page 21 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

Samuel nodded. “My seven nights with her ended on the same night I found my new mistress. Or dare I say, she found me.”

He chuckled. It had been almost so easy how she had landed on his lap. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought that all of this had been planned.

“Judging from the smile on your face and the easy way you speak of her, I believe it is safe to assume that you like her,” Benedict said, smiling at him.

“I assure you, Benedict, while she is quite different from what you would expect a mistress to be, and is undoubtedly beautiful and amusing, there are no feelings there. She is exactly what she is—my mistress. And when the seven nights are over, she will be gone much like the others,” Samuel said, pushing away the idea.

“It sure doesn’t seem that way from my point of view,” Benedict said, his smile teasing.

Samuel rolled his eyes at him. “You know me, my friend. I need not have to explain any of this to you.”,”

“I suppose I do,” Benedict agreed. “I certainly wish I could meet this young lady.”

“You know the rules, Benedict. I can tell you about them only because you are so eager to know, but I cannot tell you who they are. Especially if they will not be fine with that—and I assure you, she will not be,” Samuel said, not bothering to look up at his friend.

Benedict had never been introduced to any of the ladies Samuel had his affairs with. He had hazarded a guess a few times, and on some occasions, he had been correct. However, Samuel had never denied or confirmed his guesses. Much like him, his ladies’ reputations remained impeccable, even after their relationship was over.

Samuel and Benedict exited the carriage when it rolled to a stop in front of the gentlemen’s clubs. Samuel often preferred to do his business at White’s, often keeping it as impersonal as possible and leaving the moment the business was concluded. He was not one prone to conversations and fun with the men, which he supposed added to his mystery and also fueled the rumors about his cruelty.

He shrugged, walking into the room with Benedict by his side. He had been invited by the gentlemen he’d spoken to earlier at the masked ball, and he had agreed, surprising them.

“Your Grace, it is a pleasure to have you here with us,” Lord Silvermere called out, standing up to greet him. “It is wonderful that you could make it.”

“Lord Silvermere, thank you for the invite.” Samuel sat down with Benedict in the chairs that had been vacated.

“Certainly, Your Grace,” the smaller man said, scurrying to his side.

Samuel did not much care for the man. He had always considered him to be a little too much like a weasel for them to be more than just mere acquaintances—not that it would have changed if he was any different. He did not care to have a large group of friends.

“We wished you could have been present for the last meeting we had, there was much you could have provided your insight on, Your Grace,” the Earl of Towbridge added.

Samuel grunted, not answering the man. He raised a hand for a glass of whiskey to be brought to him.

He

Samuel had never met a man so generous with compliments as the Earl. The Earl had tried to befriend him when he had just inherited his title after the death of his father. However, Samuel had been raised as a bit of a loner, with only the servants to interact with. He hadn’t dared to speak with the servants except to make requests, as that would have only angered his father and led to punishments for everyone involved.

He had learned early on that he was better off staying away from everyone else, and that was exactly what he had done. As he grew from under his father’s thumb, he realized just how much damage had been done. Benedict was his only friend, and he was honestly fine with that.

These men he saw only at balls or when he visited White’s were not his friends. He only spoke to them when they met in places like these. He could see in their gazes that they disliked him for it and probably considered him to be proud. However, they also respected him for his business principles. He had never given them a piece of business advice that turned out to be wrong.

“So, Your Grace, we are all excited to know what businesses you are investing in,” Lord Silvermere said, looking at the men surrounding them, who nodded, although their faces showed their wariness, as though they were uncertain how he would react.

“I suppose I could tell you all about it, but then it wouldn’t matter if you have no interest in it. Investing in a business is more than just looking for profits. You need to want to knowabout it so that you will know the right venture to invest in. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing your money.”

Samuel

He looked at the men, who stared at him with so much focus. “Think of investments like gambling. There are some gambles you know are worth the risk. But there are others whose risk-reward ratio you cannot ascertain. Studying the business and going into what you love will help you be in the first option. Do any of you have businesses you wish to invest in?”

“Yes, Your Grace. As you know, my father was into agriculture. However, in the later years of his life, he experienced a fire that ruined his fields. I have been looking into reviving the fields, but I fear that, much like him, I would suffer some severe loss.”

“Your father was careless, Lord Downey. He did not plan for such things, which is why he suffered such loss. There are ways to be sure that you never experience such losses, as your father did. Do your research before you begin. Otherwise, you might face the same fate.”

The young man looked affronted by his statement and grateful for the help.

“If you wish to know how best to proceed and are at a loss, then you could come with me to my fields. Perhaps you might find the solution you seek.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. I will take you up on your offer,” Lord Downey responded eagerly.

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