In no time, coins and notes covered the table, each man with a glass of liquor at his elbow.
Predictably, Nicholas was the first to surrender. “This game is too high-stakes for my blood. In the future, I will stick to whist with the ladies. I fear you lads from London are too skilled.”
“Maybe you’re just distracted by the upcoming nuptials,” William responded, affably.
“That could well be. I appear to have used up all my good luck attracting your sister.”
“Well said. You two should have a very happy life together.”
“It is my greatest wish. With that, I will adjourn, gentlemen. Tomorrow promises to be a more fortuitous day.”
At the sound of the door closing, William said, “Nice fellow, Nicholas. Caroline is a fortunate girl. It’s too bad Nivvy hasn’t made such a match.”
“I suppose she’s the only one unmarried now, eh?” Joseph observed. “Does it bother her much?”
“She’s holding up well, but with Caroline being so much younger, it must sting. All those years on the marriage mart and not so much as a nibble. It’s a shame. She’s always been good with children. I’m sure she’s keen to have some of her own.”
More interested in the game than the conversation, Dare stated, “Why not find her a widower or lonely vicar and make him come up to scratch?”
William shot him an insulted glare. “Come, now, Nivea deserves better than that. She’s a good sort and the Horsham name should ensure her a title. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Dare had begun to enjoy himself and had no interest in being drawn into a discussion of marriage. “Maybe she’s better off as she is. After all, marriage is naught but a prison.”
He should have known better. All he did was stir up a heated reaction.
“Ho, ho! I don’t think that theory holds much water here,” William proclaimed.
“That’s right. We are quite content with our lives,” added Thomas.
“Ah yes, I’m sure you think so now. But the thrill will burn out soon enough and you’ll be joining me in rakish pursuits in no time. Of that, I am certain.” Then turning to his left, he added, “Well, not you, Godwin. You always have been a bit of a stick. Now you’re just a sappier stick.”
Thomas shrugged his shoulders. “I have no regrets. In fact, I think I’ll retire and join my wife for some marital bliss.”
“Ha! There is no marital bliss, just people in heat.”
Thomas didn’t rise to the bait. He scooped up his pile of coins and took his leave.
Dare threw back another drink, warming to the subject. “Come now. You know marriage is no more than a business relationship. Even if it begins with some attraction, the hands of time cause it to sour.”
Joseph shook his head. “That is not true. You’re just bitter because Constance threw you over.”
With a scornful snort, Dare answered, “I only pursued her because she would have been an obedient wife who stayed in the country, bearing my heirs, while I continue my lifestyle. My heart was never involved.”
“That may be why she chose someone else,” Joseph pointed out.
“Ridiculous. There is obviously a flaw in her character. It is just as well I didn’t introduce her blood into my family.” He banged his glass down on the table.
William growled, “Be careful now, Dare. You forget that blood is now in my family. Amelia was the best thing to happen to my father.”
Dare waved his hand dismissively at his friend. “Yes, well, she won’t be bearing you any heirs, will she? You’ll be the next earl, and your son after you. All I can say is that I must be very selective when finding a wife to carry on my bloodline. It will be a business decision, not anything as illusionary as love.”
“Illusionary? Landis, you couldn’t be more wrong. I love Briar,” Joseph protested, with William joining in.
“And I, Betsy. Surely, you can see if you stopped treating women like interchangeable playthings, you might be able to form an attachment.”
Dare glared at them. “But why would I want to? They are interchangeable. The only difference is how long it takes for me to find their cloying behavior to be a bore.”
“You need to consider the possibility that the right woman is out there,” Joseph urged.
“The right woman, meaning faithful and obedient? It’s not possible.”
“There are any number of happy marriages.”
“Bah! My parents cannot tolerate each other, with good reason. My sisters? They just hope their children’s parenthood is never called into question. Do you know how many women come to my bed, bemoaning the fact that their husbands are too old or difficult, or unable to satisfy? It’s a stifling union that is guaranteed to tarnish with time.”
He shoved back his chair to get another drink. Spotting a laggardly lump in the corner, he called out, “Wilshire, how much time do you spend with your enchanting little wife, Elizabeth?”
George raised his bleary eyes from his glass, as though awakened from a deep sleep. “Eh, my wife? I keep her in frills and she leaves me alone.”
Dare waved his glass in the air. “There, you see.”
“That means nothing,” Joseph said. “Someday, you’ll think differently. A woman will catch your interest, and God help you when she does. You will never let her go.”
“The only thing I’ll never let go is my gold,” he announced, sitting back at the table, running his fingers over a stack of coins.
George muttered, “If you want to keep hold of your gold, definitely don’t wed.”
They laughed, but he continued, morosely, “Lady Wilshire is striking, but she’s an expensive piece. As if clothing isn’t enough, she’s always wanting to buy damned jewels. I gave her my grandmother’s rubies and she acted insulted. Said they looked old. Old! Of course, they’re old. Ain’t that the point? But no. She wants to go out and drop all my coin on her own baubles.” Following that outburst, he slumped back into his chair. “I make her wear the demned rubies to remind her she doesn’t need others,” he mumbled before lapsing back into sodden silence.
Dare smirked and tossed back another drink. “My point exactly. Marriage is an institution that pleases no one.”
“But don’t you want somebody to talk to? To discuss your day’s events?” asked Joseph.
Dare stared at him. Discuss things with a woman? Why on earth would that be an incentive to marry?
“Come, now. Surely you’ve had conversations with women,” he prodded.
“You mean ones that didn’t involve begging for compliments or hinting at marriage? No, not a one.”
Suddenly, the image of Nivea sitting on the rock as they pleasantly chatted over a picnic lunch came to mind. Chalking that up to an aberration, he continued his argument. “Much as this conversation bores me, I’d much rather be sitting around with you gentlemen, drinking and gambling, than spending more than five minutes with a woman. Any woman. Although once her skirts are off, I’d happily reorder my priorities.”
With that, he turned his attention back to the cards.
Chapter 11
The day of Caroline’s wedding dawned sunny and warm. Nivea once again arose with the sun and snuck out to the stables for her daily ride. The stable hand was less surprised to see her this time. She didn’t ride