With His Ring (Brides of Bath Book 2) by Cheryl Bolen Page A

allowed him to win. Then, she took his sport
away when she asked him to see her home when all the patrons left.
He smiled a bitter smile as he realized that within a few hours he
would see her magnificent body unclothed.
    Then, completely unsummoned, he wondered
what Glee's slender body would look like unclothed. He slapped his
counter on the queen of spades.
    * * *
    As the last of Mrs. Starr's patrons was
taking his leave, Gregory and his chums gathered in the foyer to
collect their hats and coats.
    "Excuse me, gentlemen, for not leaving with
you, but Miss Sheila has asked me to accompany her home," Gregory
said.
    Appleton turned to Elvin. "I'll have to owe
you. Mrs. Starr was very inhospitable to me tonight."
    Melvin grinned and spoke with slurred words.
"But I must say her liquor was quite good."
    "And plentiful," his twin added.
    For all he knew, Gregory could be slurring
his words, too, for he had consumed a great deal of brandy. He
watched as his friends left, then a moment later Sheila—wearing a
fox trimmed cloak—joined him, tucking her gloved hand into his bent
arm.
    Her lodgings were only a ten-minute walk
away. When they arrived at the door to her lodgings, she turned to
him. Light from the street lantern fell on her face. "Should you
like to come up?" She moved closer to him until he felt her most
intimate parts rub against him.
    A smile on his face, he put arms around
her.
    She lifted her face to his for a kiss.
    Though brandy made him randy, he could not
bring himself to kiss her. The last woman he kissed had been Glee.
This doxy's kisses would violate the sweet innocence left by Glee's
tender lips.
    Actually, he didn't want to bed Sheila. He
too vividly remembered the illness he had contracted at
Oxford. There was also the fact that he was growing weary of buxom
women. He fancied his next mistress would be petite. Like Glee. Damn ! Why did he continue to think of her? Hadn't she done
enough to make his life miserable?
    "I'm afraid I've had too much to drink," he
said apologetically. "If I went up to your place I'd likely fall
asleep and miss my assignation with my affianced tomorrow morning."
He inwardly rejoiced. There were advantages to being affianced,
after all. Sheila held the promise of becoming besotted like so
many of the others, a prospect he did not relish in the least. One
purple-hued lovelorn woman was quite enough for him right now.
    Her face fell, as did her voice. "Next time,
perhaps."
    He bid good-night, knowing there would be no
next time.
    When he arrived at his lodgings, the sun was
rising over the River Avon. He had to meet Glee at nine o'clock.
Bloody hell, he thought as he fell into slumber, forgetting to
leave a note for his valet to wake him before nine o'clock.
    * * *
    Standing waiting for the attendant to fetch
her second glass of water, Glee tapped her foot impatiently. Her
betrothed was not the only one absent from this morning's social
hub at the Pump Room. Timothy Appleton was not here, nor were the
twins. Her heart drummed. Neither was Carlotta Ennis. Was Blanks
with Carlotta? Had he spent the night with her? Good God, would he
sleep with Carlotta after they were married?
    Glee had thought she couldn't wait until
they were married and she could be with him always. It now occurred
to her that might not be the case.
    Diana came to stand beside her. "Don't be so
morose, pet. Blanks and his friends likely stayed out excessively
late last night. You know how it is with young bachelors. He's
merely sleeping. I daresay, he'll show up at the hotel this
afternoon—all apologetic."
    Glee took her glass. "A pity I won't be
there. I desire to return to Hornsby Manor at once."
    Diana raised her brows in concern. "What of
the things you wish to order for your new house?"
    "I can just as easily select those once I'm
married." If I marry , she thought with disappointment.
Blanks may want to cry off now that he was back in Bath with his
friends.
    And back with Carlotta.
    Diana put a gentle hand