Page 41 of My Wicked Earl
“Should you steal me a dozen,” a shy smile graced her swollen lips, “I may consider my offer to still be good.”
Colin bent his forehead to hers, sighing softly as he breathed in her scent. “I shall buy you an entire bakery.”
9
GRAY COVINGTON 1836
“Colin, you look as if you could use a drink.”
Sutton Reynolds, Marquess of Cambourne, clapped him on both shoulders, his green eyes, so like Miranda’s, full of welcome. “I must thank you for escorting Miranda and my grandmother. I do hope it wasn’t too much of a trial. Was the journey pleasant?”
“It was.”Not really. He spent most of the trip lusting after Miranda. Who he ruined six years ago under the nose of the Marchioness . Being forced to watch her being courted by Hamill and Ridley would most likely incite him to murder.
Unlike Nick, who inserted himself in everyone’s affairs whether they wished for it or not, Cam could be oblivious to a great many things, and one of those things appeared to be the tension between Colin and Miranda.
Satan Reynolds, as thetoncalled Cam behind his back and out of hearing of the Dowager, could be a bit self-centered. Not that Colin blamed him. Few women could resist the allure of the Marquess of Cambourne. Even Colin had to admit that Sutton possessed a face that drove women mad with lust. Since he, Nick, and Cam had attended Eton, females of every age had been throwing themselves at Cam.
Nick surmised that all that attention had gone to Cam’s head. How could it not? Then, of course, there was the dragon tattoo that decorated his friend’s back, which few had seen but all gossiped about. Colinhadseen it. And he didn’t understand what the fuss was about.
Cam walked across the study to the sidebar where a large decanter of whiskey sat. The jade earring he wore peeked through his ebony hair.
Colin thought the bit of jade resembled a baby, but Cam insisted it was a deity of some sort.
“Whiskey?” Cam didn’t wait for his answer and instead poured two glasses of the amber liquid.
Three hours in the coach with Miranda had left Colin irritable, regretful and slightly aroused, altogether a terrible combination. First, Miranda claimed not to remember St. Remy, or the Duke of Langford, or whatever the fuck thetoncalled him. How could she not remember a man she’d been betrothed to? He almost wished the damned letter hadn’t fallen apart so he could wave it in her face. It would be so much more honest of Miranda to just admit to the letter. To St. Remy. To everything.
‘Surely, Lord Kilmaire, my brother has relayed the reason why I have a rather limited field of suitors. Good God, the entire ton is rife with gossip concerning the incident.’
Except Colindidn’tknow the reason. Cam had said nothing about Miranda or her lack of suitors.
“It’s Irish, you’ll like it.” Cam held up both glasses. “Came in on one of Nick’s ships. He has an uncanny ability to find the best whiskey,” Cam said from his place by the sideboard. “I had a letter from him just the other day. He and Lady Dunbar will be staying at the Dunbar family seat longer than anticipated.”
“He wishes to have his duchess to himself for a while. I’m not surprised. Jemma is a rare woman to have captured Nick’s affection. Truthfully, though I expected he’d marry one day, I never thought he would do so for love. I am happy for him. I’m told Jemma is rather a good shot and prefers breeches to dresses.”
Cam handed him a crystal cut glass. “Yes, and I believe half the gossips of thetonlive in fear of her, for she does not tolerate any disparaging of her husband’s character. I find it quite charming that one small dog is intent on guarding the safety of a rather large, fierce wolf.” He laughed, causing the jade figurine to bounce as if it were alive. “The bit with Arabella is unfortunate.” Cam shook his head. “But I suppose Nick had no choice but to banish her for the time being.”
“I still cannot contemplate why Arabella would do such a thing. Conspiring with Corbett, a man she knew to be her brother’s enemy, to rid herself of a sister-in-law.” The aroma of the whiskey wafted into his nostrils and he took a sip. “Delicious.”
“Makes me appreciate Miranda all the more.” Cam lifted his glass and his gaze turned thoughtful before turning back to Colin. No hint of anything other than happiness at Colin’s appearance glittered in his green eyes.
Cam truly didn’t know. Or even suspect. Well, hehadbeen in Macao at the time of Miranda’s debut.
“Tis a shame that His Grace is not here to see me paraded about like a prize steer,” he remarked, swirling the amber liquid about in the glass. “Nick would find my situation humorous, if nothing else, though I expect he would have plenty to say. He rivals your grandmother with his knowledge of everyone in theton.”
Cam took a sip of his whiskey and regarded Colin over the rim of his glass. “This isn’t necessary, Colin.”
“What isn’t?” The glass rolled back and forth in Colin’s hand.
“For God’s sake, Nick and I will both lend you what you need to restore Runshaw Park. I can send breeding stock from several of my estates. I can—”
“No.”
“Damn your pride. Do you really mean to saddle yourself with one of these girls? One that my grandmother has chosen for you?”
“Well, I don’t have the stomach to choose for myself.” Truthfully, he wanted none of these girls, their fortunes be damned, for none of them had hair dark as ink with eyes the color of jade.
“And I’m to tolerate Lady Dobson for a week.” Cam’s lips curled into a sneer. “Only for you. Although my wife finds her niece, Miss Lainscott, to be a lovely girl. Much more intelligent than she lets on. If you are determined, Miss Lainscott would suit you well, I think.”
