Would he take the bet?
* * *
Ken lookedinto Mirabelle’s large hazel eyes, so innocent and sweet, and tried to shake off the feeling that he was being duped.
Perhaps it was the very fact that she’d asked for a boon. Or mayhap it was her quick pivot from one topic to another. But as he stared down into her lovely, innocent face, he dismissed the notion. She was just nervous about entering society.
He understood.
Emily had been frightened as well and she’d struggled through her first few years. What was more, he liked Mirabelle. Honestly, far more than he ought.
She was this combination of lovely and innocent that called to something deep inside him to protect.
Which was why he couldn’t help her. Not only was he attemptingnotto entangle himself with any woman of the peerage for any reason, but he’d just finished a set of brotherly obligations. He’d not be pulled into any more.
He grimaced at the wordbrotherly. The attraction that sizzled through him was anything but—all the more reason to stay away.
His shipped sailed in a fortnight. Three months of debaucherous fun without a single responsibility. And when he got back… He’d dedicate himself to the gaming hell that was a lord’s playtime and an excellent source of income.
Then again, much as he trusted Ace, he’d like to know how Emily fared… He worried about Emily’s adjustment to married life. Especially with the Smith family. Mirabelle was right. They weren’t soft men. Despite being lords, the Smith brothers were hardly gentlemen. And much as Ace loved his sister, he couldn’t control the group of rough and tumble men behind him all the time, could he?
But if he were going to gain information, the wager had to be something that he might actually have a chance at winning.
And betting on her brother’s behavior played in Mirabelle’s favor.
Somersworth and Upton sat behind the Smiths, Upton’s eyes settling on the crown of Anna’s hair as his gaze darkened.
Whatever the man said, he clearly had some sort of infatuation with the youngest Smith girl.
Which gave Ken an idea. “I’d never place a wager on your brothers. They are not men to be trifled with.”
Mirabelle looked up at the ceiling and while her expression was masked, he thought she might have just rolled her eyes. “Don’t be fooled. They are lambs in wolves’ clothing.” The smile she flashed him was the picture of innocence.
He narrowed his eyes. Wasn’t she the one who just said they’d interrupt the ceremony? “Which is it? Are they lambs or trouble?”
She gave her shoulder another little wobble. How did she manage it? This woman who looked so innocent and yet so mischievous at the same time. “Take the bet and find out.”
He looked forward as Ace shifted at the front of the pews, his hands clasped in front of him. The wedding would soon start.
“This is so wonderful,” Anna gushed from behind them. “Rush, scoot over so that I can see better.”
He heard Rush silently comply, the sound of fabric sliding as Anna adjusted to better see. “Better, Anna?” Rush asked.
“Much,” she answered in a breathless whisper. “Another sister. Isn’t this exciting?”
“I’m glad it’s Emily,” either Gris or Tris murmured, he still couldn’t tell them apart. “And not some other snooty woman of theton. Emily’s the sort that has a good head on her shoulders.”
He appreciated the compliment to his sister and what was more, the brothers didn’t seem to be interested in trouble in the least. But why would Mirabelle propose a wager she would likely lose? It made no sense. What was worse, he found himself increasingly curious to know the answers.
The soft dance of her eyes, the pluck of her teeth on her bottom lip, only further intrigued him. What secrets was she keeping?
He let out a small breath, realizing that he was…well…having fun. It was the very thing that he’d set out to do with Emily’s match. And while he hoped to be seeking out this sort of fun with his friends in far less divine places and with far more nefarious people, this was the exact sort of thing he’d hoped for.
Besides, he could use the boon to check on Emily. Make certain she’d settled in before his ship sailed.
“All right, my lady.” He turned to Mirabelle once again. “I accept your terms.”
CHAPTERTHREE