before he passed away. Had a great time, but then I’m sure you can imagine.”
Nick could, although he wished it were otherwise. The infamous parties had been his father’s favorite form of amusement. And as with anything relating to his sire, no one with an ounce of decency or a shred of morality would have wanted to be within a stone’s throw of the festivities.
“Was there something in particular you wanted, George?” Nick asked.
The unwelcome acquaintance from his past looked mildly offended, but the flicker of emotion passed quickly. “Just wanted to see how you were getting along,” he defended.
“Well enough.” If the man were waiting for Nick to open a dialogue, George was certain to be disappointed.
“But undoubtedly,” George tried again, “you haven’t had the time to enjoy being home. Tons of invitations, I’m sure.”
Nick didn’t comment.
George turned his attention to Marcus, obviously assuming his inane commentary would be more welcome on that side of the table. Nick knew he should probably introduce the two men, but he didn’t. Doing so would only give George an additional reason to linger.
“Huntsford, here, has been pretty busy since he returned to town,” George told Marcus.
“Has he?” Marcus asked, his voice bland.
“Yeah, but that’s no surprise. Like father, like son, eh?”
Nick sighed. How long would he be compared to the dead marquess?
George, wisely enough, didn’t give Nick an opportunity to answer to the insult. “Hey, Huntsford, a couple of the guys and I were…talking, and I was wondering if you’d help me out.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “How would I do that?” And why, he thought to himself.
“Some are saying you’ve already got your eye on some chit. I’m wondering how confident you’re feeling about your ability to woo her.”
Nick stiffened, and he saw, from the corner of his vision, Marcus narrow his eyes. “I don’t know who would be saying anything like that.”
George started, but then, thinking he understood Nick’s game, laughed. “I get it. Don’t want to tip your hand. Smart move.” The man leaned back in his chair, balancing his considerable girth on just two legs.
Nick thought about kicking the seat out from under him.
“But you can trust me. I’m just wondering because some say this Westin girl is a harsh one.” George grinned, waiting on Nick to give him an answer.
“That’s my sister,” Marcus said. His voice had a hard edge to it.
George didn’t miss it. “Oh, I—uh—I’m sorry.” The man cast a frantic look to a group on the other side of the room. “I better go. Just—uh—forget about the other.” And he was gone before either Marcus or Nick could say another word to him.
Not that Nick particularly cared.
“It’s happening already, I suppose. The gossip.” Marcus sighed.
Nick managed a shrug. “We knew it would. Just a bit sooner than I thought.”
“You don’t know how grateful I am for your assistance,” Marcus said. “You’re a good friend to help me this way.”
Nick felt somewhat uncomfortable. Of course, he was doing this to help his friend…but he didn’t like to think of the time he spent with Olivia as being part of a job, or a duty.
Because he liked her.
Quite liked her, as a person. He found Olivia fascinating, and beautiful, and witty, and charming….
She was unlike most women he knew. While many of the ladies of his recent acquaintance didn’t know the real him and were after what they thought he had to offer them, Olivia seemed to appreciate him for the person he was—not the one he was purported to be.
Nick didn’t realize Marcus had been studying him during his long moment of silence until he looked up and his friend looked away guiltily.
“I don’t want you to feel you have to do this.” Marcus’s voice had dropped.
The significance of the situation, and the importance of hisanswer, wasn’t lost on Nick. He knew that the words out of his mouth next would
Nick could, although he wished it were otherwise. The infamous parties had been his father’s favorite form of amusement. And as with anything relating to his sire, no one with an ounce of decency or a shred of morality would have wanted to be within a stone’s throw of the festivities.
“Was there something in particular you wanted, George?” Nick asked.
The unwelcome acquaintance from his past looked mildly offended, but the flicker of emotion passed quickly. “Just wanted to see how you were getting along,” he defended.
“Well enough.” If the man were waiting for Nick to open a dialogue, George was certain to be disappointed.
“But undoubtedly,” George tried again, “you haven’t had the time to enjoy being home. Tons of invitations, I’m sure.”
Nick didn’t comment.
George turned his attention to Marcus, obviously assuming his inane commentary would be more welcome on that side of the table. Nick knew he should probably introduce the two men, but he didn’t. Doing so would only give George an additional reason to linger.
“Huntsford, here, has been pretty busy since he returned to town,” George told Marcus.
“Has he?” Marcus asked, his voice bland.
“Yeah, but that’s no surprise. Like father, like son, eh?”
Nick sighed. How long would he be compared to the dead marquess?
George, wisely enough, didn’t give Nick an opportunity to answer to the insult. “Hey, Huntsford, a couple of the guys and I were…talking, and I was wondering if you’d help me out.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “How would I do that?” And why, he thought to himself.
“Some are saying you’ve already got your eye on some chit. I’m wondering how confident you’re feeling about your ability to woo her.”
Nick stiffened, and he saw, from the corner of his vision, Marcus narrow his eyes. “I don’t know who would be saying anything like that.”
George started, but then, thinking he understood Nick’s game, laughed. “I get it. Don’t want to tip your hand. Smart move.” The man leaned back in his chair, balancing his considerable girth on just two legs.
Nick thought about kicking the seat out from under him.
“But you can trust me. I’m just wondering because some say this Westin girl is a harsh one.” George grinned, waiting on Nick to give him an answer.
“That’s my sister,” Marcus said. His voice had a hard edge to it.
George didn’t miss it. “Oh, I—uh—I’m sorry.” The man cast a frantic look to a group on the other side of the room. “I better go. Just—uh—forget about the other.” And he was gone before either Marcus or Nick could say another word to him.
Not that Nick particularly cared.
“It’s happening already, I suppose. The gossip.” Marcus sighed.
Nick managed a shrug. “We knew it would. Just a bit sooner than I thought.”
“You don’t know how grateful I am for your assistance,” Marcus said. “You’re a good friend to help me this way.”
Nick felt somewhat uncomfortable. Of course, he was doing this to help his friend…but he didn’t like to think of the time he spent with Olivia as being part of a job, or a duty.
Because he liked her.
Quite liked her, as a person. He found Olivia fascinating, and beautiful, and witty, and charming….
She was unlike most women he knew. While many of the ladies of his recent acquaintance didn’t know the real him and were after what they thought he had to offer them, Olivia seemed to appreciate him for the person he was—not the one he was purported to be.
Nick didn’t realize Marcus had been studying him during his long moment of silence until he looked up and his friend looked away guiltily.
“I don’t want you to feel you have to do this.” Marcus’s voice had dropped.
The significance of the situation, and the importance of hisanswer, wasn’t lost on Nick. He knew that the words out of his mouth next would
Similar Books
