Page 51 of His Scandal
Chapter 14
Alex knew people might be watching them, and didn’t care—but Emmeline would. Though he could easily lose himself in her blue-green eyes, he released her and looked toward the front hall.
Edmund stood there, watching beneath raised eyebrows. Alex frowned at him.
The servant stood hesitantly beside Edmund. “Lady Emmeline? Sir Edmund Blackwell comes to visit.”
Alex watched her stride away from him, and he knew a puzzling need to pull her back, to keep her at his side.
“Sir Edmund,” Emmeline said. “How good of you to see to Blythe’s welfare.”
“My lady, your sister is such a gentle soul. It grieves me to know that she suffers.”She led him toward her other guests. “Grieve no more, Sir Edmund, for Blythe is recovering quite well. Come, allow me to introduce you to her friends.”
Afterward when Edmund finally glanced his way, Alex motioned him over with a nod, and he brought a goblet with him.
“Fine wine,” Edmund said. “Willoughby made it, you know.”
Alex only shrugged, finding he didn’t wish to taste the stuff. He knew Willoughby’s game. He watched Emmeline lean over to speak to the man, who laughed as he answered.
Something curled tighter inside him with a tinge of unfamiliar pain, and he needed to ignore it. “So what are you doing here, Blackwell?”
“Blackwell, is it?” Edmund’s amusement was palpable. “From that dark look on your face, I’d say you need me.”
“I don’t need you except for your good company at the bar.”
“Then Lady Emmeline needs me.”
Alex rounded on him. “What?”
Edmund laughed. “I like her. I want to make sure you treat her well in this quest for her sister’s kiss. But then maybe she’s suitably preoccupied with someone else.”
He raised his glass in toast toward Willoughby, and Alex felt the need to hit someone. “He’s pursuing Lady Blythe.”
“So certain, are you?”
“Yes. He’s my competition.” He took Edmund’s goblet and drained it. “The stuff’s bitter, is it not?”
“I thought it quite good. Willoughby might be on to something.”
“I have something better to talk about.” He turned his back to Emmeline and her guests, as if he were looking out the window. “I need a favor.”
“You have only to ask.”
Alex glanced at him and smiled. “You haven’t heard it yet, old friend.” When Edmund only shrugged, he continued, “I’m short on money since the robbery.”
“I know. Your creditors have begun to question even me.”
“I need a fresh infusion, which means a trip to Cumberland. And I can’t leave London right now. Would you be willing to take the journey for me, as you’ve done so ably before?”
Alex knew it was ridiculous to ask Edmund to leave in the middle of their wager, he was as competitive as Alex himself.
But Alex just couldn’t bring himself to leave town, not when things were going so well with Emmeline. Each day was more interesting than the last, and the wager had paled in comparison.
“I’ll go,” Edmund said quietly.
Alex stared at him. “I was certain you would refuse. Thereisthe wager.”
“There is.”
