THE BRIDE'S REDEMPTION

a card decid

the thick smoke and dull chatter i

o you agai

with suspici

what, four thous

is winnings with

u to keep tr

aid, his gaunt frame pitching forward in order

an to his left spit, and tossed his moppish brown ha

ld examine your absence of skill." Sebastien kept his voi

ciety, unfortunately the male half o

in his present position, but that had never stoppe

ville. I can have you removed fro

our taint

ur grace alone is my

brown eyes flashed with something approaching animation. Unfortunatel

ppointment

lily-white finger against the parquet table. "Enough. Are

rly. Deville obviously has a tri

or his drink. "Or two even, the way you l

hiver of rage in the m

e something to

od, vultures seeking carnage, speaking of him in harsh, delighted wh

u‟ve become,

s color t

his glass, the smooth edge of the brandy sliding down his throat, t

seems so remote to use the tit

ediately, Benedict‟s hand sh

liver of movement be

, slid through Sebastien‟s gut at the motion, but he turned back to Benedict and gave a sly smirk to the brother he‟d neve

s were dark with loathing, as he saw both the man beckoning and the direction of Sebastien‟s gaz

chair across from him with a casual wave of his bejewel

ss from him, a vision of what he would look like at fifty, rich brown hair edged

acter hardly mattered in a game where the winners posses

e boundaries imposed by their guardians. Allowed to look and flirt, but neve

with the Pl

r eyes, Your Grace?" Your Gra

tien, than to think my regar

were true and th

ly how Sebastien had groveled for

He lit a cheroot, then banished th

race? Will they revoke my social c

No heiress in your pocket. Plumley would hush it up by marrying her to someone like Compton." He waved a

ly a prize. Why would you

Come now, Sebastien, it is not as if w

in his dark son. After all, the duke‟s philandering ways bore

poil these days. Not a di

‟s disapproving gaze followed the as

the twits that often. Little angels wrapped in gossamer bundles

d him. "Then Browett‟

on. I always do." He smiled and

es. If he wasn‟t good enou

word when denied other, deeper pleasur

Saturday last," the duke said. "The banns had

" He watched the smoke curl from the tip with each movement of his hand as he p

even

past the stage for disappointme

e only bastard to matriculate through her hallowed halls, but she tended to be unpleasant to boys like him-anyone who was the slightest bit diff

little bastard, and had g

youngest darling will be out nex

rend you lim

ring of smoke toward the gilded ceiling. "Then

asti

u didn‟t come here to talk about the young flowers. Not w

hey caught the light from a sconce

t up to snuff? And that Benny isn‟t w

careful, Sebastien. That is

hed the duke‟s mouth clench and took another care

imit you

Grace. Haven‟t you realized that I‟ve

he monthly income that I transfer is

ger part of him, his pride, tattered edges of cloth coating steel, smiled in satisfaction. "Do as you wi

an. The dice tumble from the t

nd a little time preachin