Silk and Steel by Kat Martin

Author:Kat Martin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Published: 2011-11-08T19:28:16+00:00

THIRTEEN

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Jason Sinclair reined up in front of the huge stone castle just three miles west of Carlyle Hall. Swinging down from the saddle, he handed the reins of his big black gelding to the tall, thin footman who rushed down from the porch.

"Evenin', Your Grace," the young man said, careful to stay back from Blackie's dancing hooves.

"Don't worry, lad, he'll settle down in a minute. Had a good run across the fields, but it never seems to be enough. Take good care of him, will you?"

"Aye, sir." As the footman led the horse off toward the stables at the rear of the house, Jason climbed the wide stone stairs leading into the entry, eager for his evening of gaming with Lucien.

As often as they could manage, the two men met to play chess, sometimes at Carlyle Hall, tonight at Castle Running. Busy with some important papers he'd had to finish, Jason had sent word that he wouldn't be able to join the marquess for supper as he usually did, but was still planning to arrive for chess. Though the air was chill, the sky remained clear, lit by a big silver moon and a bright scattering of stars, making the shortcut he took through the fields easy to traverse.

He'd thought about postponing the game, since he would have to be late, but Velvet had been worried about Lucien and concerned for his bride, and she was determined Jason should discover how things were progressing between the pair.

With a brief nod at the butler, Jason continued past him down the hall to Lucien's study. The door was open, the marquess seated behind his desk, sipping a glass of brandy.

It was obviously not his first.

"For a man who is usually a moderate drinker, you are certainly becoming a sot." Jason grinned. "Then again, perhaps I should pour you another—you'll have a deuce of a time beating me at chess."

Lucien grumbled something beneath his breath, set the half-full snifter back down on his desk. "This is only my second glass. I am hardly foxed, and tonight I intend to trounce you quite soundly."

Jason glanced toward the chessboard, the beautiful carved ivory and ebony pieces waiting on a mother-of-pearl inlaid black chessboard on a table before the fire.

"All right, then, let's get to it… though first I believe I shall join you in that drink." He moved to the sideboard while Lucien settled himself in a comfortable leather chair on one side of the board.

"How is Velvet?" Litchfield asked.

"Busy with holiday preparations. The children love Christmastide, and it is certainly my wife's favorite time of year. Her grandfather has been regaling us with tales of family holidays past. It's amazing the way the earl can remember what happened twenty years ago, but not what happened at supper the night before."

Lucien nodded. He had always liked the aging Earl of Haversham, Velvet's grandfather, even if he was growing more and more forgetful. "My aunt has been muttering about my lack of holiday spirit. Now that my wedding to Allison is a thing of the past, Aunt Winnie grows eager to entertain.

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