Page 47 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“Silas!” Violet called out, jumping up from her chair and hurrying around the table.
Gavin turned to see his tall, black-haired friend greeting his sister. Silas, the Duke of Combe, had once been the gloomiest man in England. A divorced duke, he had a black mark against his name until winning his wife in a shady card game that had scandalized the ton. But something had happened between the broken Silas and the ever-gentle Clara. A friendship had formed, and before anyone knew it, the two were married, and Silas had slowly become one of the more satisfied people in London. Happier than Gavin himself, even.
“Silas,” he said with a grin, standing up as the duke hugged his sister. “It’s been ages.”
“You’ve been away. Again,” he said as he patted Gavin on the back. “I swear, I’m beginning to doubt your nationality. You’re out of the country more than you’re in it.”
“Who wants to be in England during the winter? It’s dreadful.”
“Not when you have the proper company,” Silas said, smirking as he turned to face his wife.
Clara’s cheeks turned crimson at her husband’s comment.
“Silas,” she said with a warning tone. “Hello, Gavin. How are you?”
“Very well,” he said with a nod.
“Thank you for seeing Violet to London,” Silas said, turning about the room. “We weren’t sure how long we were going to be detained, but as it were, our business wrapped up faster than we expected.”
“Good news, I hope?”
“Very,” Silas said.
“Where is Holly?” Clara asked, stepping forward. “I’ve been quite anxious to speak with her in person.”
“She’ll be down any moment,” Katrina said. “I just left her room, and she was nearly dressed.”
Gavin had hoped to be out of the house before she arose.
“Oh, I’m glad. I wanted to go straight to her after the letter where she told me she had married John, but we couldn’t manage it,” Clara said, looking at her husband. “We were rather stunned to discover that she had finally accepted one of his proposals. I’m sure she only agreed to appease a dying man, but knowing Holly as I do, I can’t imagine it’s been easy, especially considering how dear he was to her.”
Gavin stood perfectly still as Katrina came forward.
“Oh dear. You do not know.”
“Know what?” Clara asked, worried.
Gavin took a deep breath.
“Holly did not marry my uncle,” he said.
“She didn’t?” Clara asked, her brow scrunching slightly, looking between Gavin and Katrina. “But her letter said otherwise.”
“The old baron was only standing in. Holly is married tothisbaron,” Katrina said, nodding toward Gavin. “It was a proxy marriage.”
Both Clara and Silas stared slack jawed at Gavin.
“What?” Clara asked, confused.
Gavin opened his mouth to explain but was once again interrupted.
“Gavin?” the high-pitched echo of Aunt Marnie’s voice carried through the hallway.
Silas’s face became drawn as Gavin gave him a pained smile.
“Oh no,” the duke said.
“Oh yes,” Gavin said under his breath. “Listen, might you care to meet me at White’s later? I’ve a meeting this morning, but I would like to speak with you later.”
