A Taste for Scandal Read Online Free PDF Page B

I’m still damned pleased that Wofford entertained my offer instead of taking the horse to auction. I paid a king’s ransom for him, but it was worth every last shilling.”
    He paused and grinned. “I think I may have just named him. Ransom . . . I rather like the sound of it. I only wish I could be there to put him through his paces when he arrives.” The last was said more to himself, but Richard nodded nonetheless. His father chafed at town living nearly as much as Evie did. But he took his responsibilities to the House of Lords very seriously, and never missed a session if he could help it.
    How he managed to handle the workload of his commitments was truly beyond Richard. And it wasn’t for lack of trying—in the beginning, at least. It was years before he admitted to himself that he would never have the business sense his father did. Thank God Evie’s dedication to the stables meant that Richard would have one less thing to worry about when he inherited the title. Pressing his lips together, he forcefully pushed the thought away. Inheritance meant the loss of his father, and that was simply unthinkable.
    “Well, you’ll see the stud soon enough when the Season is over. In the meantime,” Richard said, retrieving his cue stick, “perhaps you’d like to lose a game or two before our presence is required for the ball?”
    “My dear boy,” Father said, setting his cigar in a carved ivory ashtray before selecting his own stick, “there isn’t enough time in the year for you to beat me, let alone in one evening. I will, however, permit you try.”
    “You are my superior in many ways, oh vaunted sire, but in billiards and boxing I shall always prevail.”
    They bantered and chatted amicably as the game proceeded, each needling the other as the score proved them to be equally matched.
    “There you are.” Benedict Hastings’s voice came from the doorway as Richard lined up for what could be the game-winning shot. “I should have known to look here first rather than allow myself to get sucked into a rather detailed discussion of the merits of Lord Andrew’s riding form. Did you know he rides in Hyde Park every day at two o’clock?”
    As Richard’s best friend turned brother-in-law, the man was still adjusting to the flurry of having sisters. He strode into the room, dressed much more regally than was normal, nodded to the marquis, and dropped to the overstuffed sofa by the fire. The night had not yet begun and he already looked exhausted.
    Richard crossed his arms and nodded solemnly. “Indeed. I also know that he has enviable green eyes, a sigh-worthy tenor, and perfectly shaped calves.”
    Benedict laughed and held up his hands. “You win—though I suppose I should say lose . And thanks for putting the damnable image of the man’s calves in my mind. I may never get over that one.”
    “Damn, I hadn’t realized how late it’d become,” Father said, setting down his cue stick and retrieving the jacket he had shed halfway through the game. “I’d best see how your mother is faring. Richard, Hastings.” He dipped his head toward them and headed for the corridor.
    When he was out of range, Benedict sighed. “One would think marrying his daughter and providing him with his first grandchild would be enough to convince him to call me Benedict.”
    “He’s forgiven you a lot of evils, my man—I’d say the use of your last name is a fair holdout. Whiskey?”
    Benedict nodded, probably in acknowledgment of the point as much as in answer to the question. As Richard walked past him toward the sideboard, his friend’s eyes widened. “Impressive bruise. I suppose that means the unlikely story we were regaled with upon arrival was at least partly true?”
    “It’s appalling how effectively the females in this family can spread gossip. Truly, they could have been of great use to you in your former profession—an unstoppable network of information gatherers and distributors.”
    “Of that I’ll