Part 10 (2/2)
”Animportant message.”
Jack blinked blearily around the room, noting with faint surprise that the company had greatly thinned.
”What time is it?” he asked.
”It is almost ten o'clock, sir.”
Jack squinted at him again and recognized the livery. ”You're one ofmy fellows?”
The footman gave a sigh of relief. ”Yes, my lord.”
”Well, then, what's the message?”
The footman again glanced at the other gentlemen, then bent near Jack's ear. ”It's aprivate message, my lord.” ”Ah!” said the duke of Devons.h.i.+re, filling his and Jack's brandy snifters again. ”Aprivate message, is it?
Then by all means, tell it!”
The footman looked pleadingly at Jack. ”Perhaps we could retire to the hall?”
”h.e.l.l, no,” Jack said. ”I'm winning!”
The duke nodded. ”He's right. He is winning.”
Lord Kennelsworth shook his head. ”Aye. He can't leave with all of our money.”
”Andmy new jeweled buckle,” the duke said.
”Sir,please, ” the footman said in Jack's ear, his expression growing desperate. ”We should leave.”
”I can't,” Jack said. ”I'll get wet.”
The footman blinked. ”But...the sun is s.h.i.+ning.”
”As if that b.l.o.o.d.y matters!” Jack snarled. ”Just give me the message and be done with it.”
The footman bit his lip. ”But my lord...this is not a message you'd like repeated aloud.”
”Oh-ho!” Lord Kennelsworth looked up from his cards. ”You'd best be ready, Kincaid-here it comes!”
Jack eyed Kennelsworth blearily. ”Here what comes?”
”You have a new wife, don't you?”
Jack nodded.
”And you left her at home,” Devons.h.i.+re interjected. ”Now here is your man, telling you he has a private message for you.”
”So?”
Lord Kennelsworth shook his head. ”You don't see it, do you? Poor b.u.g.g.e.r! Do we have to spell it out for you?”
Jack knew he was missing some great truth, but his mind would not focus. ”Spell it out.”
”Good G.o.d, Kincaid!” the duke said. ”It's obvious your lovely wife wants you home.Now. So she's sent this young fellow to fetch you.”
Kennelsworth tossed his cards to the table. ”I'm done here, anyway.”
”Poor Jack.” Devons.h.i.+re shook his head sadly, throwing his own cards down as well.
Jack pushed his cards across the table, then pulled his winnings forward. ”You are all mistaken. Fiona would never call me home.” Kennelsworth pocketed the coins on the table. ”I think you're wrong, Kincaid. Ask your man for the message.”
Jack looked at the footman. ”Very well. Tell us your message.”
The footman took a deep breath. ”The message is from the woman you left at the house. She says she is your wife-”
”Aha!” Kennelsworth said, grinning broadly.
”I knew it.” Devons.h.i.+re chortled.
”And her ladys.h.i.+p requests that you come home as soon as poss-”
”Ha!” Kennelsworth banged his hand on the table, sending brandy slos.h.i.+ng onto the felt cover. ”I should have asked you to wager on it, too! Come, Devons.h.i.+re. Shall we go to White's and have a bit of breakfast?”
The duke nodded, clambering to his feet, and the two men wove their way out the door, arms around each other for support.
”My lord? Should I call for the carriage?”
Jack scowled. His d.a.m.ned damp carriage. ”No. I think I'll walk home.”
He rose, stuffing wads of notes into his pockets. ”You may accompany me if you wish.”
”Yes, sir,” the footman said, looking none too happy.
Half an hour later, they reached the house. Jack staggered as his boot hit a loose cobblestone at the curb.
The footman immediately rushed forward, but Jack waved him off. ”I can walk by myself, thank you.”
The footman bowed. ”Yes, my lord.” He stepped out of the way, but not so far back that he couldn't catch Jack's arm if he stumbled again.
Jack noted that but decided to be magnanimous. It wasn't the footman's fault that he didn't understand Jack's superior ability to drink and remain unaffected.
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