Page 42 of Crimson Kingdom
My traitorous sister barely suppressed a smile.
“Indeed. And so tall,” she added.
“You’re both the worst,” I muttered.
Gwyn threw a sweaty arm around me, laughing.
“I have no interest in marrying, period, but if I do, please allow me to assure you it will not be to a laird my cousinhas no claim on.” Sarcasm coated the last part of her sentence. “Now, if you’re finished being ridiculous, we can get ready for dinner, and then I think I’ll keep my winning streak going with a game of cards.”
In spite of myself, I laughed, too.
A game of cards with my cousins sounded perfect right about now.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
As was true of most nights the twins were at Chridhe, we all found ourselves congregating in Davin’s rooms.
All of us except for my two suitors, thank the stars.
My entertainment duties for them ended at dinner, and I wouldn’t have Evander accusing me of playing favorites and not giving his proposal fair consideration. Besides, I liked this time with my family alone.
Davin had a velvet-covered card table in his sitting room and a bar stocked to the side, though he graciously brewed a pot of tea for Gwyn since she couldn’t stand the taste of alcohol.
Gallagher set out some desserts he had smuggled from the kitchen while Avani poured drinks for Gwyn to hand out, and I shuffled the cards. We could have sent for everything, but it was worth our privacy to take care of things ourselves these evenings.
Even though Davin’s manservant would have fainted from the impropriety if he found out the Marquess was brewing his own tea.
“Kings and Arselings?” I asked as everyone took their seats.
“No,” Avani said quickly, and I flinched at having suggested playing Mac’s favorite game.
“Let’s go with Wharf,” Gwyn offered, and everyone heartily agreed.
As I dealt the cards, Gallagher spoke up.
“So, Row,” he began. The overly conversational tone already had me bracing myself. “Care to share how you came back from Socair with two...how was it you put it, Dav?”
“Pieces of man meat?” It was Gwyn who answered.
“I would,” I shrugged. “But I wouldn’t want to take up all of Davin’s storytelling time of how he became known throughout Socair as the Eunuch Guard of Lochlann.”
Gwyn threw her head back and laughed heartily, the sound filling up the room.
“A myth I’ve spent weeks putting to bed,” Davin said. “Literally.”
That only made Gwyn laugh harder, while Avani and I rolled our eyes.
“Laird MacBay’s going to be putting you to death, literally, if he finds out.” Avani chuckled under her breath.
“Don’t think we didn’t notice that little bait and switch, Row,” Gallagher broke in, scooping up his cards.
“At the moment, I technically have no...man-friends,” I said more casually than I felt. “Let alone two.”
Gal shrugged. “Well, if you’re considering them both as potentialman-friends, we should make a list of pros and cons.”
“I’m not considering them both,” I countered. “Only one. I just have to get through this week.”
Davin cleared his throat, a rare bit of seriousness on his features. “Maybe you should... consider them both.”