Page 85 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“You seem… Oddly calm.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Derek shrugged.
“If my brother-in-law insulted the Duke of Gloucester and was tossed out of St. James Palace after running up debts all over England’s gambling hells, I’d be a touch more worried.”
“He’s a confused young man who will surely see the error of his ways in a few years. Until then, it’s my job to keep him in line.”
“Your job? Since when?”
“Since marrying Holly.”
The earl stared at him.
“You seemed to have taken to the role of surrogate family patriarch with ease. I would have guessed it would be stifling to a man who never had to worry about other people.”
Gavin shook his head.
“That’s always what you and Silas assumed—that I enjoyed my solitary existence,” he said lowly. “But the truth is, it wasn’t very fun for me. Not having anyone always left me alone, didn’t it? And while I was blessed enough to have friends who always included me, there’s nothing quite like being a part of something, irrevocably.”
“So, marriage suits you?”
“It does, although I doubt I’ll have the easiest time of it over the next few hours. Holly is perturbed with me.”
“Why?”
“I made the mistake of informing her brother that I would consider helping him sell off Felton Manor, their childhood home.”
“And she didn’t want you to do that?”
“No.”
“Well, save her brother from being drawn and quartered over gambling debts and she’ll likely forgive you.”
“I’ve my doubts.”
“Then they are unfounded,” Derek insisted. “She seems very fond of you. I noticed it at Combe’s dinner party. She’s very eager to please you.”
“Ah, yes,” Gavin said, smirking as he gazed down at his hands, flexing his fingers. “She told me about the candies.”
Derek nodded before peering out the carriage window.
“We’ll be there shortly. Kilmann’s club isn’t far now.”
“How do you know about Clemet Club? I thought it was only a place for desperate men.”
“I would be a poor host if I didn’t keep up with my competitors.”
“I thought you were giving up your secret gambling games?”
Derek shrugged.
“I will, eventually. The earldom has certainly taken much of my time, but I find I’m unwilling to let them go for some reason.”
“Well, you should. I haven’t been to a game in months and Combe refuses to go anymore, not since the last time,” Gavin said, referring to the time Combe actually won his wife in a hand of cards. “I’m sure the time to let go is nigh.”
“When something comes along to distract me from the game, it might. Until then…” he trailed off as the coach stopped. “We must be here.”
