Noble Hearts Box Set: Books One - Three by Anna St. Claire

Author:Anna St. Claire [St. Claire, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781956077148
Publisher: Sassy Romances
Published: 2022-08-15T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

Harlow wondered if Max was bamboozling him about his getting leg-shackled to Lady Lilian. Once he had picked himself up, apologized for breaking the chair and blotted the drink from his pantaloons with his handkerchief, he walked over to the Betting Book and checked for himself.

“Fustian nonsense!” he declared. Sure enough, someone had written ‘per L.C.P to one M.M.’ He knew other gentlemen with the initials M.B, but none that would have plastered this about Town. The ‘per L.C.P’ threw him. “This has to be some sort of lark. Who would post such as thing?”

“It appears that M.M. put forward the wager. Do you know him?” Max asked, sauntering up to join him. “More to the point, perchance you should inform your old friend about Lady Lilian,” he prodded jokingly. “By Jove! Is that the young lady who was thrown from her horse last year?”

“The same,” growled Harlow. He enjoyed Lady Lilian’s company, and had planned to call on her today, so why did he feel as though his under-carriage had been displayed for all the world? It did not affect just him, either. It called attention to Lady Lilian, a lady who sought privacy. His attention had cast her into public notice. He instantly regretted his initial, selfish reflections on how this affected him. “I need to find this M.M. and have him erase that bet.” It was not something he could do on his own. Once a bet was cast, it stayed unless it was cancelled by the one who had it entered on the pages. At least, he hoped it could be expunged.

“You will catch cold at this, my friend. What do you know? I go out of Town for a few days, and when I come back, what do I find? You, all but caught in parson’s mousetrap! Is this decision not something you consider worthy of sharing with your friends?” Max asked nonchalantly, examining his cuticles.

“I will not have the lady’s name bandied about in public, Max!” Harlow hissed. He glanced about to make sure they could not be overheard and lowered his voice. “She is Lord Avalon’s daughter, if you must have it, and no, I am not about to be engaged.”

“Do you like her?” Max persisted, a smile teasing the corners of his lips.

Max liked to taunt him, but he should understand this more than most. He knew from experience that Harlow still had nightmares. How often had they been forced to share close quarters while undertaking a commission together?

“You know I cannot marry.”

“That is not what I asked,” Max replied calmly. “Perhaps the right woman would make a difference in that aspect of your life…but do go on.”

“I am aware of what you asked, and yes, I enjoy her company. I suppose I would not be averse to marrying her, if I were in the market to marry,” Harlow admitted. “Conjecture is worthless, however, for I am not,” he added emphatically.

“And this is because of the nightmares? Perhaps if you were to talk about what haunts you, it could help,” Max asserted in a sober tone.

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