In a cold, flat voice he replied, "You are ever astute, my lady. That is exactly what I was about."
With an uncertain nod, Meredith hobbled off barefoot, stopping a good distance away to bend and slip on her stockings and boots. She watched the unyielding set of his back from beneath her lashes, wondering if perhaps she had been unfair. Perhaps he in fact desired her.
When her own husband could not stand the sight of her
? She shook her head. With one final look at his stubborn stance, she turned away.
----
Chapter 9
"I depart in the morning."
Meredith stared into the murky depths of her soup bowl, fearful of lifting her gaze and revealing how much his words affected her. She should feel only relief, not this deep ache beneath her breastbone.
Aunt Eleanor's voice carried from across the table. "We shall miss you. I confess I have grown accustomed to your company."
"Unfortunately, I have business that needs my attention in London." Although he answered her aunt, his eyes drifted her way, dark and unreadable beneath his dark brows. "Lady Meredith has everything well in hand here."
"You reside permanently in London, my lord?" Aunt Eleanor asked, dipping her spoon into her bowl of soup.
"Yes, business keeps me in Town most of the year."
Then why had he stayed here so long, upsetting the course of her life?
"What exactly is your business?" Meredith asked between sips, savoring the rich broth.
Aunt Eleanor's frown told Meredith she did not approve of her line of questioning. For some silly reason polite Society deemed it lowly for anyone to work for a living. Meredith supposed the proper thing would have been to ignore Nick's mention of an occupation, but she found nothing disreputable about earning an honest living, and was curious what kind of business would occupy a man like him.
Those brilliantly dark eyes of his settled on her in amusement. "I operate gaming establishments."
Aunt Eleanor fidgeted across the table. Her father had never approved of gambling, although it was a commonly accepted pursuit for gentlemen. Aunt Eleanor shared his opinion that a hint of sin lurked in the indulgent pastime, but Meredith noted that did not prevent her aunt from occasionally partaking in a friendly game of whist.
"Indeed?" Of course she had never been to any gaming establishments on her infrequent visits to Town. Ladies rarely endeavored beyond a drawing room game of whist.
"I spend most of my time at the Lucky Lady, my largest gaming operation."
Meredith's spoon clattered in her bowl. He owned the Lucky Lady? She and her aunt shared looks of incredulity. Even a provincial like her had heard of the Lucky Lady. Only gentlemen of the highest means patronized that establishment. It was purported to specialize in high stakes gaming only.
His inheritance could not amount to much when compared to the wealth he already possessed. She had assumed he possessed adequate means but not any true wealth. By his own confession, Nick and his mother endured poverty. How had he risen to such prosperity? She studied him with new respect. Not because of his wealth, but because of the obstacles he had overcome in reaching it.
Meredith suddenly felt buoyed. There was no need to feel guilt over cheating the man from an inheritance he did not need.
"You must be quite skilled at the cards, my lord," Aunt Eleanor commented.
"I'm a fair hand."
"Meredith is quite good herself. She beats all the neighbors. You two should play whist after dinner."
Meredith glared at her aunt. "I'm sure Lord Brookshire does not play cards with amateurs. There would not be much fun in it for him, I fear."
"I beg to differ," Nick objected. "I'm sure cards after dinner would be vastly entertaining."
Meredith eyed him closely but could read no mockery in his expression. She shrugged. "If you wish." Perhaps it would be diverting. Her aunt refused to play with her anymore since she always won. Some competition would be nice.
After dinner, her aunt settled down
With an uncertain nod, Meredith hobbled off barefoot, stopping a good distance away to bend and slip on her stockings and boots. She watched the unyielding set of his back from beneath her lashes, wondering if perhaps she had been unfair. Perhaps he in fact desired her.
When her own husband could not stand the sight of her
? She shook her head. With one final look at his stubborn stance, she turned away.
----
Chapter 9
"I depart in the morning."
Meredith stared into the murky depths of her soup bowl, fearful of lifting her gaze and revealing how much his words affected her. She should feel only relief, not this deep ache beneath her breastbone.
Aunt Eleanor's voice carried from across the table. "We shall miss you. I confess I have grown accustomed to your company."
"Unfortunately, I have business that needs my attention in London." Although he answered her aunt, his eyes drifted her way, dark and unreadable beneath his dark brows. "Lady Meredith has everything well in hand here."
"You reside permanently in London, my lord?" Aunt Eleanor asked, dipping her spoon into her bowl of soup.
"Yes, business keeps me in Town most of the year."
Then why had he stayed here so long, upsetting the course of her life?
"What exactly is your business?" Meredith asked between sips, savoring the rich broth.
Aunt Eleanor's frown told Meredith she did not approve of her line of questioning. For some silly reason polite Society deemed it lowly for anyone to work for a living. Meredith supposed the proper thing would have been to ignore Nick's mention of an occupation, but she found nothing disreputable about earning an honest living, and was curious what kind of business would occupy a man like him.
Those brilliantly dark eyes of his settled on her in amusement. "I operate gaming establishments."
Aunt Eleanor fidgeted across the table. Her father had never approved of gambling, although it was a commonly accepted pursuit for gentlemen. Aunt Eleanor shared his opinion that a hint of sin lurked in the indulgent pastime, but Meredith noted that did not prevent her aunt from occasionally partaking in a friendly game of whist.
"Indeed?" Of course she had never been to any gaming establishments on her infrequent visits to Town. Ladies rarely endeavored beyond a drawing room game of whist.
"I spend most of my time at the Lucky Lady, my largest gaming operation."
Meredith's spoon clattered in her bowl. He owned the Lucky Lady? She and her aunt shared looks of incredulity. Even a provincial like her had heard of the Lucky Lady. Only gentlemen of the highest means patronized that establishment. It was purported to specialize in high stakes gaming only.
His inheritance could not amount to much when compared to the wealth he already possessed. She had assumed he possessed adequate means but not any true wealth. By his own confession, Nick and his mother endured poverty. How had he risen to such prosperity? She studied him with new respect. Not because of his wealth, but because of the obstacles he had overcome in reaching it.
Meredith suddenly felt buoyed. There was no need to feel guilt over cheating the man from an inheritance he did not need.
"You must be quite skilled at the cards, my lord," Aunt Eleanor commented.
"I'm a fair hand."
"Meredith is quite good herself. She beats all the neighbors. You two should play whist after dinner."
Meredith glared at her aunt. "I'm sure Lord Brookshire does not play cards with amateurs. There would not be much fun in it for him, I fear."
"I beg to differ," Nick objected. "I'm sure cards after dinner would be vastly entertaining."
Meredith eyed him closely but could read no mockery in his expression. She shrugged. "If you wish." Perhaps it would be diverting. Her aunt refused to play with her anymore since she always won. Some competition would be nice.
After dinner, her aunt settled down
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