Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
The duke laughed. “Not well. We may not have the right climes for it.”
* * *
“Oh, well that’s a pity. It would have been much cheaper than importing it from India.”
* * *
“Indeed. Although I do have small holdings on the Indian subcontinent so it’s no personal loss to me.” Arthur felt just a little bit boastful, but any talk of his father got his back up.
* * *
“Indeed,” Lord Benjamin said drily. “So, what now?”
* * *
“I thought perhaps to raze it all to the ground.” The duke was only half joking. Everyone around the table laughed.
* * *
“I do not think you need to undertake such a drastic solution,” Rhys said, “There’s plenty else you can do with it. Breeding horses comes to mind.”
* * *
“Ah, yes. Lady Janice told me of a race the farrier went off to?”
* * *
“Yes, at Cardiff. I take it you have no interest in gambling?”
* * *
“Indeed, I do. But I simply leave it to the bookmakers to apprise me of the odds.”
* * *
“Now where is the pleasure in that?” Rhys asked.
* * *
Arthur just laughed. He gambled to lose and not for pleasure. He would not be satisfied until every single cent of his father’s money was gone and his name and reputation ruined.
* * *
“In my opinion, gambling is a sickness which sucks you in and bleeds you dry until there’s nothing left,” Lady Emily declared loudly, much to Arthur’s surprise. He could not help but agree with her opinion though.
* * *
“You make it sound like the gambler is helpless to stop,” Lady Janice said. Arthur looked to Lord Benjamin, expecting him to quiet his daughters but he simply forked a piece of meat, a smile on his face.
* * *
“Well…isn’t he?” Lady Emily countered.
* * *
“I do not see why not.”
* * *
“Well, then why do gamblers lose all their money then?” Lady Anne piped in with her soft voice.
* * *
Lady Janice blinked at her, looking stymied. “Because they are fools!” she declared at last.
* * *
“Or they are possessed.” Lord Keith grinned at his nieces cheekily.
* * *
“Which is the same as a sickness,” Lady Emily said triumphantly.
* * *
“In any case,” Lord Benjamin finally piped in, “I’m sure His Grace does not need to hear you speculate upon his state of health as it pertains to gambling.”
* * *
Arthur’s eyes widened in surprise. He had not realized that he might be the subject of the conversation. “Oh no, my gambling is a very deliberate thing. I do not lose any money I don’t want to.”
* * *
Lady Emily frowned at him. “What a peculiar thing to say.”
* * *
“Emily, don’t be rude,” Lady Janice chastised, looking askance at her sister.
* * *
Lady Emily shrugged. “Well, it is,” she insisted.
* * *
“Let us change the subject,” Lady Leticia said in a breathless voice. “Do you know whose puppy you brought back with you?”
* * *
He exchanged glances with Lady Janice. The pup’s parentage had not even occurred to Arthur, but he could see that Lady Janice had thought about it. “I thought to see to his injuries first before finding out where his sire was,” she said.
* * *
“Oh, do you think it might be a stray? I’ve always wanted a pet of my own,” Lady Anne said, sounding, and looking quite wistful.
* * *
Lord Benjamin laughed. “Now, now, let us not get ahead of ourselves. I believe the mutt was found on His Grace’s property. It is up to him what happens to it.”
* * *
Arthur found himself assailed by three pairs of blue eyes. He smiled uncomfortably. “I actually had not given it a thought,” he said blandly.
* * *
“Well, since you don’t know what you are to do with your own property, it’s probably best if we keep the pup,” the middle sister declared.
* * *
“Emily!” Lady Janice gave her a scandalized glance. “Can you not keep a civil tongue in your head?”
* * *
Lady Emily had the grace to look sheepish. “I did not mean to be rude.”
* * *
“It is quite alright,” Arthur hastened to reassure her. He truly did not mind her direct manner. It was quite refreshing after all the obliqueness and prevarication of the Bon Ton. At least he knew exactly where he stood with her.
* * *
To his surprise, Arthur found he was very much enjoying the evening. He decided it was his turn to change the subject since everyone else seemed slightly discomfited.
* * *
“Will you be attending The Season this year?”
* * *
Immediately, there was a chorus of groans from all three girls. “Well, Janice will,” Lady Emily said with a grin, looking at her sister cheekily and Arthur’s heart jumped for some reason. “It’s high time she got married.”
* * *