When a Rogue Meets His Match - Elizabeth Hoyt Page 0,72
him without giving the man a chance to defend himself.
Had he grown weak? It was so simple a thing—a quick jab and everything he’d ever wanted would fall into his hands.
Everything except Messalina. He would lose Messalina.
He was tense, his fingers clenching, as he entered the dining room in preparation for supper. But something happened when he caught sight of his wife, busily gossiping with her sister.
His heart lightened.
What a strange feeling. It made him uneasy somehow—to have his very mood changed by another person. Gideon had always needed only himself.
He paused for a moment inside the doorway to draw himself together and then noticed the third person in the room, sitting across from Messalina and Lucretia.
“Hawthorne!” Will Blackwell exclaimed, turning around. “I’d begun to fear that you’d abandoned your wife and her lovely sister.” He darted an uncharacteristically shy glance at Lucretia as he said the last part.
Lucretia’s color rose.
As did Gideon’s eyebrows. Was Blackwell interested in his sister-in-law? Normally he wouldn’t stand a chance of courting Lucretia. But then, normally Gideon wouldn’t be married to Messalina.
“Good evening,” his wife said with a smile.
His pulse leaped at her expression.
All three were looking at him expectantly, so he bowed. “A good evening to you all. I’m sorry for my tardiness. I wasn’t aware we were to have a guest.”
He took his seat across from the ladies.
“That’s my fault, I’m afraid,” Blackwell said rather sheepishly. “I came to call on you and somehow stayed for supper.”
“That’s because we invited you to supper,” Messalina replied. “After all, you’re my husband’s business partner and friend. Naturally you’re quite welcome at our house.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Blackwell said.
Lucretia tilted her head as Reggie brought in a platter of charred-looking roast beef. She murmured, “You may not think that once you’ve tried the food here.”
Pea followed with a bottle of wine and a bowl of gray cooked…stuff.
“I’ll be taking my supper down at the tavern, guv,” Reggie muttered as he thumped the roast beef on the table.
To Gideon’s surprise, Messalina said, “Oh, Reggie, couldn’t you stay? I know Hicks is trying his best.”
“No doubt about it, ma’am,” Reggie readily agreed. “But…” He glanced at the blackened beef and winced. “I suppose I can eat my dinner here.”
“Thank you.” The smile Messalina bestowed on Reggie made the big man blink.
Both Reggie and Pea exited the room.
Blackwell turned to Messalina. “Your concern for the cook does you credit, ma’am.”
Gideon grunted, feeling the dullard for not having complimented her first. “You’ll have all my men turned to tame lambs soon.”
He reached for Messalina’s glass and poured the wine.
“How dreadful,” Lucretia murmured. “Who would you have to do your nefarious deeds then?”
Blackwell choked.
Gideon raised a brow at Lucretia, who looked very far from repentant.
Messalina cleared her throat loudly. “Do you often attend the theater, Mr. Blackwell?” She turned to Lucretia. “That is where we met.”
The phrase sounded so intimate. It wasn’t, though. Gideon stared at his wineglass, refusing to be jealous.
“I’m afraid not.” Blackwell looked rueful. “Business takes up the majority of my time. I do, however, like to read when I’m able.”
“Do you?” Lucretia sat up a little straighter. “I’m reading The Adventures of David Simple in Search of a Faithful Friend right now.”
“Ah,” Blackwell said. “A favorite of mine. What do you think of the author’s sentiments on morality?”
Lucretia appeared to hesitate, then said slowly, “They are very noble, but they seem to me a bit idealized.”
“Exactly,” Blackwell replied. “For instance, David Simple is appalled by London and its people, while I find them most congenial.”
Messalina looked interested. “I must read the book after you’ve finished it, darling.” She glanced doubtfully at Gideon, hesitating.
“No, I haven’t read it,” he said gruffly.
“Gideon dislikes literature of all kinds,” Blackwell said cheerfully. “He is a very busy man.”
Gideon narrowed his eyes at his partner. Blackwell made him seem a clod.
Messalina hastily asked, “How was your day, Gideon? I haven’t seen you since well before luncheon.”
He’d left her, warm and limp with pleasure, that morning.
He cleared his throat. “Very good.” Considering he’d spent most of it contemplating how to murder her brother. Gideon glanced down. The slice of beef on his plate suddenly seemed much too greasy. He strove to think of something light to say. “And your day, madam?”
“We shopped on Bond Street.” She hesitated and then squared her shoulders. “Then we came back to Whispers and found the Duchess of Harlowe and her sister Lady Elspeth waiting for us in the sitting room.”