Sweet Treason by Gail Ranstrom

Author:Gail Ranstrom
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2013-09-22T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

It was well past midnight when Ryan went from the roulette table to faro to vingt et un and back again. He could do no wrong. He won continuously. Disgusted, he finally gave up. He needed to lose tonight—to the right people, of course. Many valuable contacts were made by losing. Odd how having another man’s money in one’s pocket made one more agreeable and willing to talk. He went to the alcove off the gaming room and poured himself a stiff brandy.

“You look pensive, Sutton.”

Ryan turned and raised his glass. “Ah, how are you, Devaux? Have you come to lecture me for my disappearance earlier this evening?”

Devaux laughed. “Did you disappear? I vow I did not notice a thing but Miss Lucy Nevins.”

And Ryan had not noticed a thing but Emily Nevins dancing and flirting with Ed Jennings. He felt his muscles tense and his jaw clench. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. When he got a grip on his emotions, he asked, “Brandy?”

“Aye.” Devaux sat down in a deep club chair with the air of a man settling in for a heart-to-heart talk.

Ryan poured another glass and handed it to Devaux before taking a seat across from him and lifting his glass in a silent toast. After a short pause, he ventured to mention the subject that had been preying on his mind.

“I could have sworn you were quite taken by Miss Emily Nevins. Was I mistaken?”

Devaux gave him a slightly chagrined smile. “Very near to it. But I noted her interest in you, as well. I wondered if we might come to sword point over it before Miss Lucy came along.”

Ryan looked down into his glass. “I have nothing to offer at the moment. I am not a good prospect for a woman like Miss Nevins.”

Devaux gave a short bark of laughter. “Can’t see how that’s damaged your popularity with women, Sutton. Half the eligible females in the ton are sighing over you. And Miss Nevins’s indifference is mere coyness. I’ve seen the way she looks at you when you are unaware.”

Ryan wondered what else he might have given away to an observant man like Lord Devaux.

“But—” Devaux continued with an exaggerated sigh, “I’ve surrendered to the inevitable. Clearly Miss Emily Nevins prefers you and will serve me best as my sister-in-law. I hope they are not old-fashioned enough to believe that the eldest must marry first, because I am beginning to feel urgent.”

Ryan laughed. “Does Miss Lucy know your intentions?

“How could she not? I’ve been told I was not exactly subtle.”

“And she reciprocates?”

“I have reason to believe so. She danced three times with me.”

“Three?” Ryan laughed. “Then it is a fait accompli.”

Jonah dismissed the subject with a negligent shrug. “What do you hear from your family, Sutton?”

“Precious little gets through these days. My mother was not well last I heard,” Ryan admitted. “I’m sick unto death of exile. I am impatient for the war to end so I can go home.”

“Have

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