Beautiful Barringtons 6 - The Making of a Gentleman by Ayers Kathleen

Author:Ayers, Kathleen [Ayers, Kathleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B09XY3JCSP
Published: 2022-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

13

Olivia turned to face the well-dressed gentleman addressing her and Phaedra. He was garbed all in black. Even his waistcoat was devoid of color except for a bit of crimson thread along the edges. He smiled, but it did nothing to dispel the cruelty hinted at in his lips.

“Excuse me?” she regarded him coolly.

The gentleman ignored her, his attention focused solely on Phaedra.

“Lord Daring.” The palest eyes Olivia had ever seen, like the brush of winter frost across a windowpane, lit on Olivia for only a fraction of a moment, before returning to Phaedra. “Did I not speak clearly enough? Or can you not hear me over the fists flying about below.”

Olivia stiffened and took Phaedra’s arm, pulling her closer. “I fear you have us at a disadvantage.”

“How do you do that? Given my height, I would have assumed you’d have trouble looking down your nose at me.” The breadth of his shoulders rolled in a careless shrug before doffing his hat to both her and Phaedra with a sweeping gesture. A spill of close-cropped, golden-brown hair fell over his brow before he straightened. All the while, those pale eyes never left Phaedra.

“Allow me to introduce myself, Miss Nelson. Morgan Stewart.”

The gravel tone was flat. Nasal. American. Olivia noted that he didn’t introduce himself to Phaedra.

They are already acquainted.

Stewart jerked his chin absently toward the ring. “I do enjoy watching Twist. He’s always been deadly with those fists of his. Good to see he hasn’t gotten soft.”

It took a moment for Olivia to realize he wasn’t speaking of O’Leary, but Ben.

He drew one blunt finger absently over the end of a wicked scar where it curled across his chin. “You should see him wield a knife.”

Stewart also had a knot in his nose, but even if he hadn’t, Olivia sensed him to be a man who was no stranger to fists or knives. There was an innate brutality to Stewart, though he’d tried to disguise it behind his manners and expensively tailored clothes.

Very much like Ben.

Stewart sidled closer to Phaedra, his rough features softening just slightly as he took her in from head to toe. His hand lifted from his side as if to touch her before retreating. “I’ve put my own bet in Elysium’s Red Book, Lady Phaedra Barrington.” He enunciated each word in a gentle, raspy tone. “Page seventy-eight.”

Phaedra’s brows drew up to her hairline, but if his words distressed her, she gave no sign. She leveled a defiant gaze back at him. “I hope you didn’t wager a great deal.”

A dark sound came from Stewart. “There’s my girl,” he whispered so quietly, Olivia nearly didn’t hear the words.

Phaedra’s willowy form arched just slightly in Stewart’s direction.

Dear God. What had Phaedra done?

Olivia moved, deftly sliding her body between the two. “You’re American, Mr. Stewart. New York would be my guess. Are you acquainted with Lord Daring?”

“You’ve a good ear, Miss Nelson. Unfortunately, I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Lord Daring. I’m told he doesn’t care for Americans.” His upper lip twitched.

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