Page 26 of Enchanted By the Lyon
“Ha! I cannot believe it. And here you but recently were scolding me onmytable choices while at the Lyon’s Den. Wait until our friends at White’s learn you were caught off guard.”
Lucius lifted one brow as if daring his younger sibling to actually go through with his threat. “And drugged.”
Leopold leaned forward. “Really?”
“Really,” he growled in irritation. “I am usually careful about the tables I play at and this one had been safe in the past. Butthere was something amiss that night. Even Valentine Pierce fell into the Black Widow of Whitehall’s clutches.”
Leopold slapped his knee in unsuppressed satisfaction. “Glad to see I’m not the only one in this family to fall prey to the scheming going on at that unpredictable gambling establishment.” He tilted his head. “It’s a good thing that one can win well at the Black Widow’s. Her pots and games are better than anywhere else. And the drinks are good—and cheap. Honestly, if it wasn’t for those amenities, I don’t know why anyone would frequent there.”
“Still. I don’t like to be maneuvered into doing anyone’s bidding,” Lucius fumed even though in the end he hadn’t minded spending more time with Cassandra despite the reserved decorum that had formed between them.
“Even the mighty can fall,” Leopold said with another, more wicked smirk.
Lucius sighed, knowing how true his brother’s words were. “I suppose such a fall makes us human despite some of our attempts to put ourselves above others.”
“You mean those foolish mortals?” Leopold laughed.
“I am just as tempted to make mistakes as the next man, Leo. But you can remind me of my faults at a later time,” he answered honestly, before coming to a stand as he heard their mother’s approach.
“Both my boys in the same room together. Will miracles never cease?” Clara Ford said, coming into the room. She raised her cheek to receive a kiss from each of her sons.
“We could hardly ignore your summons, Mother,” Lucius drawled, feeling as though he was right out of the school room. It would never matter how old they got. In their mother’s eyes, Lucius and Leopold would always be children.
“And you’re both on time! Again… it must be a miracle,” Clara said, clapping her gloved hands. “Shall we go?”
They entered the foyer where a servant held out their mother’s cloak.
Leopold stepped forward. “Allow me, Mother.”
Once the garment was placed on her shoulders and the clasp done, she turned and patted her son’s cheek. “Such a good boy.”
Lucius rolled his eyes once his mother strode through the door and out to their waiting carriage. Once inside and on their way to the ball, their conversations turned to mundane gossip. Lucius ignored most of what was happening until his name was raised.
“Lucius! Have you not heard a word I’ve said?” Clara reprimanded him as though he were a mere child. “Pay attention.”
“My apologies, Mother. What were you saying?” Lucius replied, more out of respect for the woman who gave him life than for whatever she might have been complaining about.
“I asked if there was any woman who you were interested in this Season as a potential wife? I’m not getting any younger and Leopold can hardly marry first. I want grandchildren,” she said in a pleading manner.
And there it was… the dig that came with every conversation he had with his mother, of late, and the reason he stayed away from her as much as possible. Her constant insistence that he wed was getting old, and he was tired of being reminded that he must eventually find a woman to make his bride. A pair of mesmerizing green eyes came unbidden into his mind.
Lucius peered out the window. “Looks like we’ve arrived.” He stated the obvious as the carriage began to slow. Luckily, they wouldn’t have to wait for another to move from the front entrance to the manor or he’d have to listen more to his mother’s complaints.
“Are you ignoring me, Blackthorn?” she declared, already knowing his answer. The use of his title more or less set the tone of this encounter. She was more than miffed at him.
“I thought that would be evident, Mother,” Lucius declared as he opened the carriage door himself and waited for his mother to assist her as she stepped down and out. He gave her his arm and walked to the steps. Leopold followed. “We’re not done with this conversation yet, son,” she muttered before she plastered a fake smile on her face.
Leopold moved past Lucius and now he offered her his arm. “Leave him be for now, Mother. He has a lot on his mind of late and if you continue to pester him, you’ll find out how much he hates to be reminded he needs to marry. You won’t be seeing much of him if you continue.”
“You always side with him,” Clara whined before lifting the hem of her dress as they began climbing the stairs. “Why can’t you see my point that Lucius must marry first before you can?”
Lucius bent forward so their conversation would only be heard by the three of them. “When I have news of who I might select for my bride, you’ll be informed. In the meantime, I suggest we keep this conversation between ourselves unless you would like our name splattered all over theTeatime Tattler.”
Clara opened and closed her mouth several times before she clamped her lips shut. But it was thethis conversation isn’t overlook she tossed him that made Lucius know he’d be hearing more from her after the ball unless he could find another way home.Bloody hell…he needed another drink!
Leopold, thankfully, escorted their mother into the affair leaving Lucius freedom to enter by himself. He quickly transformed his features to appear disinterested by the looks the single women in the room began to give him. Their false smiles and battering eyes they showed him only added to his already foul mood.This, along with his mother’s nagging, were the mainreasons he stayed away from these events as much as possible. No woman saw him for anything more than his title and what they could get from his fortune. Was that so difficult for his mother to comprehend?
And then, he sawherand everything in his body relaxed, as if Cassandra alone could make things right in his world.
