Desire Becomes Her by Shirlee Busbee Page B

forced. Smiling down at his friend, Luc said, “I have returned the ladies safely. They are presently changing before joining us.”
    “Good! Good!” Silas indicated the young man by the fire. “Think you met Welbourne’s youngest son, Lord George Canfield, during the Season in London.” At Luc’s nod, he added, “He is a great friend of my nephew’s.”
    Acknowledging Canfield with a slight bow, he said, “How do you do?”
    “Fine, thank you,” said Lord George Canfield, his nostrils quivering as if he smelled offal.
    When Canfield offered nothing more, Luc murmured, “I’m doing well. Thank you for asking.”
    Canfield’s lips tightened. After a second, Luc turned away and winked at Silas. Canfield’s reception, though he acknowledged a slight sting, amused him, and heaven knew this wasn’t the first time he’d been snubbed. He’d already come into contact with other members of the ton who felt that their consequence was so high that rubbing shoulders with the bastard half brother of Viscount Joslyn was beneath them. But not so far beneath them, Luc thought, that they weren’t willing to gamble with him. Canfield had done so and rose from the gaming table after a night of cards with Luc, several thousand pounds lighter in the pocket. But Luc had been aware of Lord George Canfield for another reason—Canfield, along with Lord Padgett, had been cronies of Thomas Joslyn. A connection between Thomas’s friends and Nolles’s gang had never been discovered, but Luc, Barnaby and Lamb had wondered if other seemingly respectable gentlemen might have been seduced by the easy money to be made. Hence, Luc had cast a speculative eye upon them from the moment they had been introduced, but he’d seen nothing to raise his suspicions, except Canfield was here now... . Interesting.
    Indicating the chair next to him, Silas said to Luc, “Sit here and tell me about the ride. Where did you go?”
    “I showed them the Seven Sisters, Cuckmere Haven and the general location of the village,” Luc answered, sitting down next to Silas. “There was no time to explore the village—the hour was growing late and I wished to have them home before dusk.”
    “Capital!” A sly gleam in his eyes, Silas said, “They’re both excellent riders, are they not?”
    Luc grinned at him. “Indeed.”
    Waving a hand in the direction of the refreshments, Silas said, “Help yourself to some mulled wine Meacham just brought in a few minutes ago. Pour me a mug while you’re at it.”
    Luc leaned forward and ladled some of the wine from the big silver bowl set in the center of the tray into a mug for Silas and, after handing it to Silas, helped himself. Settling back into his chair, Luc stretched his long legs out in front of him and breathed in the scent of cinnamon and lemons before taking a swallow of the warm wine. Heady flavor caressed his tongue and he relaxed as the warmth of the mulled wine spread through his body. “Bon!” he said. Smiling at Silas, he asked, “Do you think that Meacham would share the recipe with me?”
    Silas chuckled. “There’s not many he would but I think he’d be pleased to give it to you.”
    “You appear to be quite at home,” Stanley observed. “How often do you visit my uncle?”
    “As often as I ask him to,” said Silas, sending Stanley a sharp glance from beneath his brows. “And I fail to see that it’s any business of yours.”
    Stanley flushed. “I would remind you, Uncle, that you are no longer a young man, and though it pains me to say so, there are people who take advantage of the elderly.” Silas sucked in an outraged breath but Stanley pushed on doggedly, “I would be remiss in my duty as your nephew if I didn’t question your sudden friendship with a stranger.” He glanced at Luc. “Of course, I mean you no insult, but I’m sure you understand my position. I am only looking out for my uncle’s welfare.”
    “I ain’t in my dotage!” snarled Silas, the knuckles of the