three inches, his broad-shouldered frame was intimidating to the uninitiated. Ram thought his friend resembled a medieval warlord in looks and brooding temperament.
His shoulder-length glossy black hair was a stark contrast to his striking face. Exotic and beguiling, his eyes were the color of amber and edged with a thin outer dark ring of green. They were eyes that burned both hot and cold depending on the viscount’s mood. The ladies seemed unabashedly fascinated by his masculine beauty and cynical wit, and Everod was swift to oblige his admirers.
In Everod’s typical provoking manner, he seized a man passing by the card table and shoved him into his chair. Strangely, the man picked up the viscount’s discarded cards and the game at the table resumed without him.
“What kept you? I expected to find you prowling about London a fortnight ago.”
Abruptly, Ramscar’s friend halted. He hooted with laughter and clapped Ramscar on the back. “Pray tell me you’ve enjoyed the winter snuggling up with that Amazon who couldn’t keep her greedy fingers off your stiff poker?”
Ram had forgotten Everod had caught him and his mistress in the middle of what should have been a private encounter. Angeline had laughed when the unabashed viscount had suggested joining the couple later that evening. From Ram’s point of view, it had been damned embarrassing. There were some things in life in which some might view
him as a selfish bastard, and sharing his mistress was one of the more important ones. He left that particular carnal mischief up to Everod and Cadd.
“I remained at Swancott longer than expected,” Ram explained, sitting down at an empty table. “Meredith has joined me this season.”
“Meredith?” The viscount frowned, likely having forgotten that Ram had a younger sister. His next words negated that suspicion. “Your sister? Why drag her to town? She is a mere child.”
“You should visit Swancott more often. My sister will be four and twenty at the end of the week,” Ram dryly said. He smiled at the barmaid and quickly ordered two bottles of wine. “Fortunately, the Dowager Duchess of Solitea has kindly offered to hold a ball in celebration of Meredith’s birthday.”
“Damn me! The chit is practically a spinster, Ram,” Everod said in his usually blunt fashion. He was not a cruel man, but he rarely censored his thoughts around his friends. “What were you thinking? You are six years too late if you hope to marry her off.”
A plume of uninhibited anger unfurled within Ram. While he enjoyed the viscount’s company, he, amongst all Ram’s friends, was the wrong gentleman to be discussing the delicate handling of Meredith’s fears. Solitea would have understood why
Ram had delayed bringing his sister to London. The duke had a younger sister, too. The impulse to coddle them was irresistible.
There was a hint of ice in Ram’s hazel green eyes when he held the other man’s gaze. “The fire scarred more than her face, Everod. Nor am I seeking to marry her off to some blackguard like you or Cadd—”
Everod looked offended. “Hey! That’s mighty harsh, considering that we are your friends !”
“A man who is willing to tolerate a ruined face for a sizeable dowry.” Ram shook his head, disgusted by the notion. He would rather keep his sister hidden away at Swancott than marry her off to a man who could not see Meredith’s beauty.
Ram paused, recognizing that Everod had done nothing to deserve his anger. After all, had he not directed the same criticisms at himself? “Perhaps you are right. I should have brought her to town six years ago instead of capitulating to her tearful pleas to remain at Swancott. I am trying to remedy that mistake this season. I even hired a companion for her.”
Ram silently cursed when he noticed the viscount’s interest piqued at the mention of a hired companion. Everod had no shame when it came to seducing ladies, whether they were duchesses or lowborn
His shoulder-length glossy black hair was a stark contrast to his striking face. Exotic and beguiling, his eyes were the color of amber and edged with a thin outer dark ring of green. They were eyes that burned both hot and cold depending on the viscount’s mood. The ladies seemed unabashedly fascinated by his masculine beauty and cynical wit, and Everod was swift to oblige his admirers.
In Everod’s typical provoking manner, he seized a man passing by the card table and shoved him into his chair. Strangely, the man picked up the viscount’s discarded cards and the game at the table resumed without him.
“What kept you? I expected to find you prowling about London a fortnight ago.”
Abruptly, Ramscar’s friend halted. He hooted with laughter and clapped Ramscar on the back. “Pray tell me you’ve enjoyed the winter snuggling up with that Amazon who couldn’t keep her greedy fingers off your stiff poker?”
Ram had forgotten Everod had caught him and his mistress in the middle of what should have been a private encounter. Angeline had laughed when the unabashed viscount had suggested joining the couple later that evening. From Ram’s point of view, it had been damned embarrassing. There were some things in life in which some might view
him as a selfish bastard, and sharing his mistress was one of the more important ones. He left that particular carnal mischief up to Everod and Cadd.
“I remained at Swancott longer than expected,” Ram explained, sitting down at an empty table. “Meredith has joined me this season.”
“Meredith?” The viscount frowned, likely having forgotten that Ram had a younger sister. His next words negated that suspicion. “Your sister? Why drag her to town? She is a mere child.”
“You should visit Swancott more often. My sister will be four and twenty at the end of the week,” Ram dryly said. He smiled at the barmaid and quickly ordered two bottles of wine. “Fortunately, the Dowager Duchess of Solitea has kindly offered to hold a ball in celebration of Meredith’s birthday.”
“Damn me! The chit is practically a spinster, Ram,” Everod said in his usually blunt fashion. He was not a cruel man, but he rarely censored his thoughts around his friends. “What were you thinking? You are six years too late if you hope to marry her off.”
A plume of uninhibited anger unfurled within Ram. While he enjoyed the viscount’s company, he, amongst all Ram’s friends, was the wrong gentleman to be discussing the delicate handling of Meredith’s fears. Solitea would have understood why
Ram had delayed bringing his sister to London. The duke had a younger sister, too. The impulse to coddle them was irresistible.
There was a hint of ice in Ram’s hazel green eyes when he held the other man’s gaze. “The fire scarred more than her face, Everod. Nor am I seeking to marry her off to some blackguard like you or Cadd—”
Everod looked offended. “Hey! That’s mighty harsh, considering that we are your friends !”
“A man who is willing to tolerate a ruined face for a sizeable dowry.” Ram shook his head, disgusted by the notion. He would rather keep his sister hidden away at Swancott than marry her off to a man who could not see Meredith’s beauty.
Ram paused, recognizing that Everod had done nothing to deserve his anger. After all, had he not directed the same criticisms at himself? “Perhaps you are right. I should have brought her to town six years ago instead of capitulating to her tearful pleas to remain at Swancott. I am trying to remedy that mistake this season. I even hired a companion for her.”
Ram silently cursed when he noticed the viscount’s interest piqued at the mention of a hired companion. Everod had no shame when it came to seducing ladies, whether they were duchesses or lowborn
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