‘I’ve heard her mother has hired a string of tutors to try to turn that particularly ugly duckling into a swan, but to no effect.’ Bromley laughed again and signalled to the dealer that he wanted more cards.
‘If I was a gambling man, which I am,’ Bromley looked around the table to ensure everyone got his joke, ‘I wouldn’t put my money on any tutor being able to improve that ageing duck before it’s too late. And if she runs away from men who actually want to court her, then there’s not much chance of her bagging a husband this Season, that’s for sure.’
Lucas drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Bromley was almost as much an imbecile as Lord Dallington. ‘If she’s being chased by the likes of Dallington, then one can hardly blame the young lady for making no effort to attract his attentions,’ he said, failing to keep the disdain out of his voice. ‘If anything, it shows that she is eminently sensible for making no effort and should be admired, not disparaged.’
‘Oh, and I suppose if it was the likes of you after her, then the ugly duck would suddenly transform herself into a beauty, full of charm and grace.’ Bromley looked around the table so the other men could share his joke.
Lucas shrugged. It hardly mattered as he was unlikely to be chasing after Lady Hazel or any other young woman in search of a husband. He was after a horse, not a wife. He was just as determined to gain one as he was to avoid acquiring the other.
Bromley stopped laughing and stared at Lucas. ‘I dare you.’
‘You dare me to do what?’ This conversation was becoming increasingly irritating.
‘I dare you to put your money where your mouth is. If you can transform that...’ he pointed his cards at the terrace ‘...by the end of the Season into something that can capture a man’s attention, and not just ones like Dallington who are after her dowry, I’ll make you a gift of that brood mare you so desperately want.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Lucas shot back.
‘What, are you not up to the challenge?’ Bromley smirked at him. ‘You said for me to just name my price. Well, I’ve named it. If you think it’s too hard for you, then it looks as though you won’t be getting my horse.’
Bromley’s smirk became even more malicious as the other men broke into raucous laughter, causing Lucas to grind his teeth in anger. He hated to see a woman mocked in such a manner. No one deserved to be on the receiving end of such ridicule, nor did they deserve to be the subject of such an offensive challenge.
‘Take it or leave it, Darkwood, it’s the only offer I’m prepared to make,’ the Earl said, encouraged by the laughing men. ‘If, by the end of the Season at least, one man has expressed his regard for the girl because he’s smitten with her and cares not a fig for her money, then you can have my mare.’
Lucas glared at him, hardly able to believe that the Earl would stoop so low as to make sport of a young lady in this offensive manner.
‘What’s the problem, Darkwood? Is it that conscience of yours that’s bothering you? Well, why should it? If you succeed, the young lady will have a beau. Something she’s unlikely to get on her own. You’ll be doing her a favour. And you’ll win my mare.’
Lucas looked over towards the French doors. It was an outrageous proposal, but he had to admit the Earl had a point. Would it actually harm the young lady if he helped her find a suitable beau and saved her from men like Dallington?
‘I see I’ve piqued your interest.’ Bromley laughed. ‘But there has to be a penalty if you lose, something of equal value to my mare.’ He thought for a moment, then rubbed his hands together with barely contained excitement. ‘If she doesn’t manage to attract a genuine beau, then you’ll marry the girl yourself.’
The volume of the laughter increased and included much back slapping from the assembled men. Lucas looked around the table at their self-satisfied faces, flushed with amusement and port. Their cruelty disgusted him. But why should he be surprised? He had known many of these men since school days. They had enjoyed taunting younger and weaker students back then and they obviously hadn’t changed one iota. As a boy with no title he, too, had been the subject of cruel taunts. Many had even tried to use violence to put the upstart in his place, something they quickly came to regret.
His sympathy lay entirely with Hazel Springfeld. No one deserved to be mocked the way these men were mocking her. It would serve them right if he did transform her into a desirable young woman, one they admired rather than scorned. But were the stakes too high? If he lost, he would have to marry the girl and one thing he most definitely did not want to do was marry anyone, ever.
But then Lucas never lost to anyone, ever.
‘You’re on,’ he said, reaching over the table and shaking the hand of the surprised Bromley.
Copyright © 2021 by Eva Shepherd
Love Harlequin romance?
DISCOVER.
Be the first to find out about promotions, news and exclusive content!
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Instagram.com/HarlequinBooks
Pinterest.com/HarlequinBooks
ReaderService.com
EXPLORE.
Sign up for the Harlequin e-newsletter and download a free book from any series at
TryHarlequin.com
CONNECT.
Join our Harlequin community to share your thoughts and connect with other romance readers!
Facebook.com/groups/HarlequinConnection
ISBN-13: 9781488071874
Flirting with His Forbidden Lady
Copyright © 2021 by Laura Martin
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are
