Page 22 of The Duke of Distraction
Shame that Anthony wouldn’t be here, especially since there was now going to be a plethora of kissing games.Felix could think of several, including the ones she’d mentioned, and maybe he’d come up with one of his own… He’d done it before.His mind conjured a series of potential ideas…
“A picnic, eh?”
Felix, startled from his reverie, blinked at the sound of Anthony’s voice.“You’re here.”
Anthony looked around.“Should I be somewhere else?”
“Oaklands, apparently.Sarah said you had to go and look after something.”
Anthony waved his hand.“It will wait.I wasn’t going to miss this event.”
“That can’t have pleased your father.”Felix knew the viscount was always trying to get Anthony to take a more active role in managing their estate.Anthony wasn’t a slouch compared to some other gentlemen they knew, but he loved his life in London and didn’t like to miss a thing.
“No.Between his anger at me and my mother’s desperation about Sarah, they were both in a fit.”
Felix glanced toward Sarah, the skirt of her coral-colored dress spread across the corner of the gray blanket.“Desperation?”
“She made it clear that Sarah had better return from this party with a suitor.”
“And if she doesn’t?”Felix asked.He knew the Coltons well, but really had no idea what they would do if Sarah didn’t marry.Why did they care so bloody much?Wasn’t it enough to ensure she was happy?The millinery shop would do that, not a husband.
Anthony shrugged.“They claim they’ll arrange a marriage, but I don’t know if they will.They’ve threatened that before.Granted, there is an interested party.”
“Is there?”Felix would have invited him here if he’d known.“Who?I can send a message to London and get him here by tomorrow.”
Anthony stared at him for a moment.“You’ve taken this matchmaking role quite seriously.”
“Does everyone need to call it that?”Felix muttered.
“You can’t send him a message in London.Allencourt lives in Epping.And he wouldn’t ever come to a party like this.He’s nearly my father’s age, has already been married twice, and has three daughters, one of whom is older than me.”
“Age is just a number.As are daughters and marriages.”
“Says a man who has none of the latter two.”Anthony chuckled.“Allencourt also despises London and spends most of his time in Epping.He is the magistrate for the surrounding area and takes his duties quite seriously.I have to think Sarah wouldn’t get to spend much time in town.”
Felix didn’t think she’d like that.She had friends and enjoyed social engagements.Furthermore, where could she show off her hats in Epping?
“Sounds as if we need to find her a husband, not just a suitor.”
“We?”Anthony barked out a sharp laugh.“That’s all on you.”He clapped his hand on Felix’s shoulder.
“Fine, just don’t be angry when I launch a set of kissing games during the party.”
“Why in the devil would you do that?”Anthony sounded a trifle horrified.
“As if you’ve never played them,” Felix scoffed.“Why do you think?Your sister shouldn’t choose a suitor without seeing if they’re worth a damn sexually.”
“First of all, a kiss tells you next to nothing about a personsexually.Second, I do not want to discuss my sister in this way.”He looked as if he’d eaten a bad pudding.
Felix gave him a wry look.“If you think a kiss tells you nothing about a person’s sexual nature or abilities, you haven’t been doing it right.”
“I said next to nothing,” Anthony said, rolling his eyes.“Can we please talk about something else?”
Felix smiled as he suppressed a laugh.“It’s nearly time for me to get the races started anyway.”He turned and scanned the picnic area for Dartford.Seeing him standing near a blanket several yards away, Felix started toward the earl.
Dart made eye contact and met him halfway.“Ready?”
“I was just going to make the announcement.”
