A Gentleman Never Tells(46)

He stopped and looked at her for a moment before they reached the gentlemen. “One thing I would ask of you. My brothers don’t know of your father’s threat to ruin their business. I want to keep it that way.”

“If you wish, but why is it so important to you?”

“Because if they knew, they would move heaven and earth to prove your father wrong and make their business prosper. I would rather not get a war going between your father and my brothers, and I don’t think you want that either.”

“Heavens, no.”

“Then we are in agreement that it won’t be mentioned.”

“Absolutely, and just so you know, I never planned to mention it.”

He grinned and said, “And I didn’t think you would, but I had to be certain.”

The viscount presented Mr. Iverson Brentwood and Mr. Matson Brentwood to her. It wasn’t just the longer length of Iverson’s hair that made him different from Matson. She sensed something about his air of nonchalance that immediately told her this man was a rogue of the highest order. Mr. Iverson Brentwood looked her directly in the eyes and lifted his chin slightly, as if to challenge her to try to figure him out, but she had no desire to do so. She greeted him pleasantly and then turned her attention to the more affable Mr. Matson Brentwood. The last thing Gabrielle wanted to do was to match wits with another roguish Brentwood.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Lady Gabrielle,” Mr. Matson Brentwood said with a much more engaging smile than his twin.

Gabrielle returned his smile. “Would that be from Lord Brentwood, the gossips, or from the scandal sheets?”

He chuckled. “All three.”

She smiled. “Judging by some of the gossip I’ve heard about myself tonight, I can only imagine the kind of wagers that must be going on at White’s and other clubs about me and Lord Brentwood.”

Matson gave a quick glance to Lord Brentwood, as if to ask if the subject was acceptable, before he answered. “It’s true there are quite a few, but Iverson and I are not strangers to scandal ourselves. Perhaps you’ve heard some of the gossip about us.”

“Yes, more than once, but I never put stock in gossip.” She looked over at Lord Brentwood and said, “Besides, now that I’ve gotten a closer look at the two of you, I can tell that both of you look just like Lord Brentwood.”

Matson lifted his eyebrows and quirked his head slightly to the side. “Really?”

Iverson added, “If true, you are the first to think that.” He looked over at Brentwood and asked, “Does she wear spectacles when she’s not at parties?”

Lord Brentwood grinned. “Perhaps that is why I have such a difficult time getting her to see things my way.”

While his brothers laughed at his remark, Gabrielle smiled and took the time to look each of them in the eyes before she answered Mr. Iverson Brentwood with, “How could you not favor? All three of you are tall, powerful-looking, and handsome.”

Lord Brentwood and his brothers laughed again, and Gabrielle was suddenly aware of how natural it seemed for her to be so at ease with these three gentlemen.

“There you are, Lord Brentwood, I’ve been looking for you. I simply must speak with you about a pressing matter.”

Gabrielle turned to see the Earl of Snellingly walking up to them, holding a lace handkerchief in one hand and a small leather-bound book in the other. The points of his collar were so stiff and high, his head was cocked back in an odd-looking position. His neckcloth looked to be tied in a fancy triple bow with wide ends that flared and covered a good portion of his dark pink waistcoat. The cuffs of his shirt had so many layers of lace, his fingertips were barely visible.

After proper introductions to the twins, who promptly excused themselves, Lord Snellingly turned to Gabrielle and, taking her hand in his, said, “Every time I see you, you remind me of a slice of warm sunshine on a cold and dreary day.”

He bent and kissed the back of her gloved hand. Gabrielle worried he might choke himself, because his collar looked so tight.

“Thank you, my lord,” Gabrielle said as she slowly pulled her hand from his grasp.

Lord Brentwood eyed the earl warily and moved closer to Gabrielle. “What was it you wanted to see me about, Snellingly?”

“Oh, yes,” Lord Snellingly said and then sniffed into his handkerchief as he took a step closer to the viscount. “Pardon me for interrupting your tête-à-tête with the most charming Lady Gabrielle, my lord, but her beauty made me forget my sorrow for a moment. I thought perhaps you could help me, as we have the same troubles.”