Page 32 of A Duke's Wicked Secret
“Can I offer you a glass of wine, gentlemen? Dinner should be served here shortly,” offered the viscountess.
“I would love a glass!” Alexander replied.
“Thank you, a glass of wine would be wonderful,” said Theo as he accepted the glass offered to him.
Everyone made small talk for a few minutes until the butler came in and announced that dinner was served. Everyone got up and sat down at the dinner table. The table was lavishly prepared, with the best silver and China laid out, and the candlesticks all lit and gorgeous flowers arranged elegantly.
The first course of white soup was followed by many courses of meats, jellies, and pickles, and the dessert was an excellent custard. By the end of the meal, everyone was quite full and all very happy to relax on the sofas and lounge chairs in the drawing room.
“My dears, will you not play us all a lovely sonnet to listen to now that dinner is done?” asked Penelope’s mother, looking at Penelope and Georgina as she said this.
“Oh, yes, please do play something, Ms Stuart. I so love hearing you play. And Ms Ainsworth, I have yet to hear you, though I have been told you are a great talent. Your Grace, I am sure you would agree with me?” Alexander implored.
“I have been told the same and would enjoy listening to both ladies’ artistic talents,” Theo agreed.
Both Penelope and Georgina stood up and headed to the pianoforte. Georgina played, and Penelope sang. Penelope had an enchanting soprano voice, and as she sang, Theo lost all sense of where he was and found himself in a world where only he and Penelope existed.
There in that world, he listened to her sing for hours, and even as he made love to her once again, her singing could still be heard. Theo loved how talented and accomplished Penelope was.
He loved how free-spirited she was and that she had a mind of her own and stayed true to her beliefs no matter what. Penelope was not the kind of woman someone would meet every day on the ton; she was unique and had completely captured his heart, body, and soul.
After Penelope and Georgina finished playing, Alexander mentioned how he had been admiring the billiards table as they passed it earlier.
“Ahhh, yes, it is a beauty, is it not? Would the two of you gentlemen care to play a game?” the viscount asked with pride.
“I would love to play a game,” Theo stated, and Alexander almost in unison. The decision made, the three men stood up and headed towards the room with the billiards table.
“Can I offer either of you a glass of brandy and a cigar?” the viscount offered.
“I would enjoy one of each, please,” Alexander replied.
“Just brandy for me, thank you,” Theo said.
As the game began, Theo could tell that the viscount was paying close attention to him and thought that, like most men, the viscount thought that someone could learn a lot about a person by the way they played billiards. With this knowledge, Theo chose a conservative strategy similar to the one the viscount played.
In the course of the game, the men spoke of many things. When the viscount brought up his last hunt and how much bad luck he had on it, Theo took the golden opportunity to ask him to hunt together, as they had planned beforehand.
“I would greatly enjoy the opportunity to go for a hunt on your land, Your Grace. I have been told you have some of the most fertile hunting grounds in the region. Thank you for the offer.”
“The pleasure is all mine. Alexander and I will enjoy having someone to go with us this Saturday,” Theo said sincerely, and Alexander agreed.
After they had played two games of billiards in which the viscount won the first and Theo won the second (though it was neck and neck between him and the viscount) the men returned to the drawing room where the women were talking amongst themselves.
“Ahh, perfect timing. The ladies and I were just discussing a game of cards. Will you gentleman play?” Penelope’s mother asked as she dealt the cards before they even answered.
“That sounds wonderful, though, I must admit I am a sore loser at cards,” said Alexander in jest.
“Thank you, I would enjoy a game,” Theo said as he sat at the card table.
The rest of the evening passed quite pleasantly, and Theo was surprised at how he found himself there. By the end of the night, as they all said their goodbyes, the viscount shook his hand and said that he was greatly looking forward to their Saturday hunt and that they would have to come over again very soon.
Theo said that it would be his honour to host them all at his estate next time, and if the hunt were successful, they could enjoy some of the fruits of their efforts.
On the ride home, Alexander gave Theo a warm smile.
“See, Theo; I told you that you had nothing to worry about. I believe tonight to be a great success. Do you not agree?”
“I also feel like the evening went well and a good seed about me was securely planted in the viscount’s mind. Alexander, can you tell me honestly, were my feelings for Ms Ainsworth noticeable tonight?”
