Page 10 of The Duke's Spinster

Chris glanced around the table. “Lady Zenobia’s sister? Of course I know her. I know all the sisters. Their whole family in fact.” The food reached its target, and he chewed and swallowed. Under duress no less. “What?” he finally asked.

“You didn’t think to mention anything last night?” Wesley managed to keep his face impassive.

“What? You needed my help to ask a lady to dance?” Chris scoffed.

“No,” Wesley eyed his friend, “I didn’t need your help asking her to dance. But didn’t you think it was pertinent to disclose your proximity to the family?”

“I did not. The bet is between you and Samuel.” Chris continued chewing. Annoyingly so.

“You’re telling me that you don’t remember the kissing bet we made on Chris and Zenobia?” Samuel jumped into the conversation.

Mouth full, Chris piped up, “We don’t need to bring that up.”

“Because you defaulted?”

“I didn’t default.”

“Did you kiss her?” Samuel prodded.

Chris crunched down on his food. “Whatever.”

“Well, who won the bet?” James asked.

“I did,” Samuel boasted.

“Of course, you did,” Wesley wanted to revert the conversation back to Chris and Boudicca. “Would you say you’re good friends with Boudicca?”

“We’re friends. What do you want from me? We used to play together as children. I know she’s feisty. I know she likesto fence. I don’t know her favorite ice flavor or what music she likes.”

“I get it. You’re friends.” Wesley put his hands up in defense.

This was not good. The exasperating woman was a friend. Well, a friend of a friend. He didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize her reputation. Even more so now. And, perhaps for the first time, he appreciated the fact that he also didn’t want to play around with her emotions at all. Not that he currently thought she had more than two: disdain and offense.

“Samuel—”

“Aha! Another attempt to weasel your way out of this bet.”

“James—”

“This is between you and Samuel.” James’ hands were in the air. “You two made the ridiculous bet, now you can lie in it.”

“Good one,” Wesley said dryly.

“Don’t be mad at me when you’re the idiot.” James chuckled.

“Right. I can see you three are going to be a great help in all of this.”

“Happy to help.” James slapped him on the shoulder.

“What kind of trouble did she give you?” Chris asked guilelessly.

“No trouble,” he bit off. “I forgot to bring her flowers when I paid her a call today.”

And that sent the three into wallops of laughter.

“Wesley,” James shouted. “Are you new? Is this your first visit? What were you thinking ol’ boy?”

“Apparently I wasn’t.”

---