Dangerous Read Online Free PDF Page B

are merely amusing yourself again, Merryweather will become a laughingstock.”
    “Perhaps. That’s not my problem.”
    “The club betting books will fill up with wagers on when you’ll finally get tired of the game and put a bullet in him,” Garrick said.
    “What goes down on the betting books is not my concern, either.” Sebastian helped himself to a small swallow of Garrick’s untouched port. “In the meantime you’ll see that my apologies are conveyed to my worthy opponent?”
    “If you insist. This is a first for you, though, Angelstone. And not in your usual style.”
    “Who knows? Perhaps I’m changing my ways. It’s just barely possible that I am becoming more responsible as I advance into my mature years.”
    Garrick eyed him with some concern. “You’re in a strange mood tonight, my friend. Mayhap it’s time you indulged yourself again in your little hobby. It’s been a while since the last occasion, I believe.”
    “Perhaps you’re right. Then again, perhaps I’m in a strange mood because it’s been a rather strange night.”
    “And getting stranger,” Garrick muttered. His gaze shifted to a point behind Sebastian’s left shoulder. “Your cousin just walked into the room. Odd. He rarely visits this particular club.”
    “Only because he knows I can frequently be found here.”
    “Precisely. So what, one might ask, is Fleetwood doing here tonight?”
    “That’s easy enough to guess.” Sebastian set down his glass. “He has no doubt come to wish me luck on the field of honor.”
    “Not bloody likely.” Garrick frowned. “The opposite, nodoubt. Fleetwood would not weep any tears if someone were to put a bullet in you, Angelstone, and everyone knows it. As far as he’s concerned, you usurped the title, and he’s never forgiven you. He and his overbearing mama both assumed for years that he was next in line.”
    Sebastian shrugged. “As did everyone else in the family.”
    Garrick fell silent as Jeremy Fleetwood came up behind Sebastian.
    “Angelstone.” Jeremy’s voice held the raw, brittle tone of a young man who knows he is facing an older, more powerful male. It was a tone balanced between fear and bravado.
    Sebastian ignored the interested hush that tell over the crowd at the nearest gaming tables. He knew everyone in the room was straining to hear the confrontation without appearing to do so. The entire
ton
was aware of the icy feud between Sebastian and his relatives.
    It was highly unusual for either side to even speak to the other. The fact that young Fleetwood was here in Sebastian’s favorite club and had actually addressed his cousin by name would no doubt fascinate the gossips every bit as much as the rumor of a duel.
    “Was there something you wanted, Fleetwood?” Sebastian turned slowly to face Jeremy. “Aside from my title, that is? Or have you come to wish me good fortune on the morrow?”
    Jeremy’s handsome face flushed. His eyes were a much darker shade than Sebastian’s, brown rather than gold. His hair was lighter in color, a deep mahogany rather than midnight black. Nevertheless, Sebastian knew the family resemblance between himself and his cousin was unmistakable. He also knew that obvious fact irritated the rest of the Fleetwoods. They would have preferred him to have resembled his fair-haired mother.
    “You bastard.” Jeremy doubled a hand into a fist. “One of these days someone is going to put a bullet through your cold heart and it will serve you right.”
    “Thank you.” Sebastian inclined his head politely. “Always nice to know one’s family is behind one in a time of crisis.”
    “It’s true, then?” Jeremy demanded, appalled. “You’re going to subject the family reputation to another round of scandal by engaging in a duel with some country yokel?”
    “You’ll be happy to learn that the rumors of a duel are false.”
    “I don’t believe it.”
    “It’s the truth, cousin.” Sebastian smiled. “Tell your doting mama to