know what I’m thinking?” Cole tried to sound offended.
“Because it’s what you’re always thinking.” Paxton sighed, knowing his friend wouldn’t let up. “I took her to some stupid sitting room, where I warned her away from wolves like you, and then I told her we could be friends.”
Cole laughed, seemingly believing Paxton was daft or jesting, but Paxton’s expression clearly said he wasn’t anything but serious. “You interrupted our dance for such nonsense?”
“No. I interrupted your dance because you were having too much fun with an innocent lady who does not have the practice or prowess to fight your adept lecherousness.”
Cole shrugged. “At least you admit I have such a gift.”
“You’re the most notorious rake I know.” Paxton laughed at how Cole took his words as complimentary.
“Regardless of my prowess, you didn’t have to warn Lady Evelyn away from me. I know you’re infatuated with the woman. I would never dream of stepping on your toes.”
“I’m not infatuated!” Paxton was going to add that, in regards to Evelyn Manning, Cole hadn’t a chance in hell of stepping on his toes, but he let the subject drop. He did not wish to have any feelings other than friendship toward Eve.
Cole laughed at the anger in Paxton’s tone. “All right. Calm down. I’m harassing you.”
Lydia walked up behind them. “And what, pray tell, are you teasing my brother about now, Lord Geary?”
“Why, Lady Lydia, what a pleasant surprise. Where have you been keeping your lovely self all evening, my pretty dove?” Paxton often wondered if Cole could shut off the drivel he often spouted, but compliments and flattery were Cole’s specialty.
His sister was well aware of Cole’s philandering, and she tended to enjoy throwing compliments back at the marquis, but in an overly-dramatic voice. “Oh, my lord, I didn’t think you’d heed little ol’ me. Well, now, I am truly flattered someone of your exalted caliber noticed me at all. If you must know my whereabouts, I was in the card room.”
“Now I am the one who is sorry, for that is the one place I had not looked,” Cole said solemnly, and Paxton laughed.
“To know you looked at all is enough,” said Lydia.
“Would you two stop this nonsense!” Paxton eyed his sister, no longer amused by this last information. “You know I don’t like you playing cards.” She gave him a tight-lipped smile that said without words, “Who really cares what you like.” He sighed inwardly, trying not to feel negativity toward his mother and her absence from Lydia’s side. “Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes. It’s late and I’m tired.”
“Did you win or lose?” Cole asked.
“I won. I seem to have a knack with the cards,” Lydia proudly boasted.
“That’s because I taught you.” Paxton was in fact glad his sister won and hadn’t lost her pin money again.
“Leave it to you, dear brother, to try to take credit for my inborn skill. Besides, Mother taught me too. Have you heard from her?” Lydia asked.
“Yes. There is a letter at home for you. She says she is off to Bath to enjoy the minerals and wants you to join her.” Lydia would refuse. This he already surmised.
“I’m not going to Bath. It’s full of old people trying to gain back their youth by soaking in those smelly mineral waters. I’d prefer to stay here.”
“Then you shall.” Paxton wouldn’t send her to Bath if she didn’t want to go, and admittedly, he’d be lonely without her. But one day she would move out of his home and he was in charge of making sure this happened soon. What were the odds of Lydia marrying this Season? In his opinion, she appeared to be extremely fastidious. After all, this was Lydia’s second Season and she had yet to find even one interesting man. At least this is what she claimed. Ugh, sisters!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The next day, the Stonehaven house was filled to capacity with gentlemen and female callers. Evelyn and her mother did their
“Because it’s what you’re always thinking.” Paxton sighed, knowing his friend wouldn’t let up. “I took her to some stupid sitting room, where I warned her away from wolves like you, and then I told her we could be friends.”
Cole laughed, seemingly believing Paxton was daft or jesting, but Paxton’s expression clearly said he wasn’t anything but serious. “You interrupted our dance for such nonsense?”
“No. I interrupted your dance because you were having too much fun with an innocent lady who does not have the practice or prowess to fight your adept lecherousness.”
Cole shrugged. “At least you admit I have such a gift.”
“You’re the most notorious rake I know.” Paxton laughed at how Cole took his words as complimentary.
“Regardless of my prowess, you didn’t have to warn Lady Evelyn away from me. I know you’re infatuated with the woman. I would never dream of stepping on your toes.”
“I’m not infatuated!” Paxton was going to add that, in regards to Evelyn Manning, Cole hadn’t a chance in hell of stepping on his toes, but he let the subject drop. He did not wish to have any feelings other than friendship toward Eve.
Cole laughed at the anger in Paxton’s tone. “All right. Calm down. I’m harassing you.”
Lydia walked up behind them. “And what, pray tell, are you teasing my brother about now, Lord Geary?”
“Why, Lady Lydia, what a pleasant surprise. Where have you been keeping your lovely self all evening, my pretty dove?” Paxton often wondered if Cole could shut off the drivel he often spouted, but compliments and flattery were Cole’s specialty.
His sister was well aware of Cole’s philandering, and she tended to enjoy throwing compliments back at the marquis, but in an overly-dramatic voice. “Oh, my lord, I didn’t think you’d heed little ol’ me. Well, now, I am truly flattered someone of your exalted caliber noticed me at all. If you must know my whereabouts, I was in the card room.”
“Now I am the one who is sorry, for that is the one place I had not looked,” Cole said solemnly, and Paxton laughed.
“To know you looked at all is enough,” said Lydia.
“Would you two stop this nonsense!” Paxton eyed his sister, no longer amused by this last information. “You know I don’t like you playing cards.” She gave him a tight-lipped smile that said without words, “Who really cares what you like.” He sighed inwardly, trying not to feel negativity toward his mother and her absence from Lydia’s side. “Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes. It’s late and I’m tired.”
“Did you win or lose?” Cole asked.
“I won. I seem to have a knack with the cards,” Lydia proudly boasted.
“That’s because I taught you.” Paxton was in fact glad his sister won and hadn’t lost her pin money again.
“Leave it to you, dear brother, to try to take credit for my inborn skill. Besides, Mother taught me too. Have you heard from her?” Lydia asked.
“Yes. There is a letter at home for you. She says she is off to Bath to enjoy the minerals and wants you to join her.” Lydia would refuse. This he already surmised.
“I’m not going to Bath. It’s full of old people trying to gain back their youth by soaking in those smelly mineral waters. I’d prefer to stay here.”
“Then you shall.” Paxton wouldn’t send her to Bath if she didn’t want to go, and admittedly, he’d be lonely without her. But one day she would move out of his home and he was in charge of making sure this happened soon. What were the odds of Lydia marrying this Season? In his opinion, she appeared to be extremely fastidious. After all, this was Lydia’s second Season and she had yet to find even one interesting man. At least this is what she claimed. Ugh, sisters!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The next day, the Stonehaven house was filled to capacity with gentlemen and female callers. Evelyn and her mother did their
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