Page 15 of Intolerable
Ruark stopped short. Blinking, he realized he’d been about to barrel straight into the Viscount Glastonbury. While Ruark didn’t know him intimately, they ran into each other here at the club since Glastonbury trained with the owner, Mort’s cousin Fred.
Glastonbury! Cassandra had said he’d called on her, and Ruark had seen her dancing with him at the ball the other night. A waltz, so perhaps he was truly interested in courting her. Ruark hoped so since it seemed Evesham approved of him.
“Sorry about that,” Ruark said with a smile. “I was thinking of my practice with Mort.” He glanced at the viscount’s attire, or rather, lack thereof, and determined he must be on his way to practice.
Glastonbury’s pale gaze fixed on Ruark’s chin. “I see he nailed you pretty good.”
Chuckling, Ruark rubbed his knuckles against his tender flesh. “Wasn’t fast enough today.”
“Hard to be fast with either of those Dodds, though I’ll put my money on Fred.” As the wirier of the two, Fred was abitfaster—on a good day.
“I’ll take Mort in the fight,” Ruark said. “He can knock down a tree.”
Glastonbury smiled. “He can indeed.”
“Say, didn’t I see you dancing with Lady Cassandra Westbrook the other night?” It was an inelegant transition, but Ruark didn’t see another way to broach the topic.
“Probably. I’ve danced with her a few times.” His fair brows pulled together. “Do you have some attachment to her?”
“Her brother, Lord Lucien, is a close friend.”
“Did he send you to warn me off on behalf of the duke?” Glastonbury frowned. “I thought I’d passed muster when I called on her.”
A pair of young bucks strolled toward them, their expressions eager. “Glastonbury, we’ve heard a rumor that Fred’s having a prizefight? What do you know of it?”
Glastonbury smiled. “You’ll need to speak with him. I haven’t heard this rumor.”
The lads exchanged disappointed looks then strode past.
Leaning toward Ruark, Glastonbury lowered his voice. “There is a prizefight, but you know how these things work.”
Secret until the last possible moment so it wouldn’t be stopped since such events weren’t legal. “How do you know about it?”
“Because I’m fighting in it.” Glastonbury’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
Absurdly, Ruark felt excluded. Why hadn’t he been asked to fight? He was one of the best in the club. And if that wasn’t the most obnoxious thing Ruark had ever thought, he’d eat his stockings. “How did that come about?”
“I’m doing it as a favor to Fred.”
“You could get seriously injured,” Ruark said, even as he felt a stab of envy. Fighting in front of a massive crowd would be something special.
Glastonbury lifted a shoulder. “Not likely. I’m pretty good, if I may say so. And I’m fast. Whowouldn’twant to do it?”
“I would’ve said yes too.” In fact, he had half a mind to angle for another spot. Mayhap he’d even fight Glastonbury.
“You should tell Mort or Fred. Or both. Perhaps there’s an opening in the earlier bout.”
“There’s more than one?” Ruark asked.
“Two, just in case one ends quickly, I suppose.”
“Glastonbury!” Fred Dodd bellowed from the cavernous main room. “Are you coming out here or not?”
“Coming!” Glastonbury responded before giving Ruark an apologetic smile. “See you, Wexford.” He moved past Ruark.
“See you.” Ruark continued into the dressing room.
As he washed up and changed his clothes, the thought of fighting in front of a crowd persisted. He’d never done that and had to admit the notion was thrilling.
