Free Never Been Bit by Lydia Dare Page B

known reprobate and defiler of women.
    Alex could already imagine the conversation they might have. Well, Bexley, you remember that chit you saw with your sister, Miss Ferguson? Well, I want to drink her blood. But I settled for the stores the butcher had set aside. Aren’t you glad you asked?
    He snorted out loud instead. Not very gentlemanly of him.
    Not at all.
    “Are you foxed?” Bexley asked when he got nothing from Alec.
    God, he wished he was foxed. It would be so easy if he could wash his troubles away with a bottle of whisky. But he was doomed to live this life where he couldn’t imbibe spirits, couldn’t eat real food, and couldn’t partake of Sorcha Ferguson. “No, I’m not foxed,” he finally said.
    “What were you doing in the butcher shop?”
    Bexley wasn’t going to let this die, was he?
    “I just got a little turned around,” Alec mumbled.
    “You mistook the butcher shop for the tavern?” Bexley asked and then laughed so hard he bent at the middle, clutching his stomach.
    “So glad you find it humorous.”
    Bexley had obviously enjoyed himself more than Alec had this night.
    “I’m going back to Castle Hythe. Are you coming?” Alec crossed the street toward the stables, with the earl quick on his heels.
    “First Radbourne and his brothers left, and now you?”
    Bexley complained. “I hope the lot of you learns patience sometime soon.” He clucked his tongue.
    Reaching the stables, Alec gestured to the young lad in the yard to retrieve his horse. “Patience?” He glanced back over his shoulder to glare at Bexley. It wasn’t patience Alec lacked. In fact, he had it in abundance. He’d shown it tonight when he’d set Sorcha away from himself.
    “If at first you don’t succeed, you have to try again,” the earl coaxed. “In fact, I have two lovely wenches waiting inside for us. Come and join me for a bit of fun first?” When Alec didn’t respond, a corner of Bexley’s lips lifted in a sideways grin. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the chits.” He faked a look of a shock and gasped. “Don’t tell me you’re an innocent?” He could probably hear Alec’s teeth grinding, because he suddenly sobered. “Fine,” he huffed. “If you insist, I’ll abandon my pursuit of the two barmaids and escort you back to Castle Hythe. Then I’ll get you some warm milk and read you a story to help you sleep.” He muttered something even Alec couldn’t hear, but it sounded like damn them all.
    “You needn’t give up your pursuit of the wenches, Bexley,” Alec said. Then he took a jab at the man. “Some of us don’t need to chase skirts the way you do. Women simply drop at my feet, ready for a tumble. Must be my dark eyes.”
    “So, that’s how it is?” Bexley countered. “You’ve had enough for one night?”
    He’d had enough of Bexley. But not nearly enough of Sorcha Ferguson. He’d most definitely had enough of this conversation.
    The stable boy brought Alec’s horse into the yard and handed him the reins. Alec pressed a coin into the lad’s hand. “Many thanks.”
    “Best get mine too,” Bexley grumbled, sending the boy back into the stables once more.
    Alec sighed as he swung up into his saddle. He would have been happy to ride back to Castle Hythe alone, but he wouldn’t have that luxury now. He couldn’t abandon Bexley, much as he’d like to. Instead, he waited for the earl to mount his own steed, and then the pair of them started back for Castle Hythe in relative silence.
    Apparently, the earl was annoyed about leaving the village earlier than he’d wanted, because he barely made a sound most of the way, uttering only an occasional grunt or grumble.
    After finally reaching Hythe grounds, Alec glanced over at Bexley. The fellow hadn’t needed to leave on his account.
    And if he truly had a lovely pair of wenches waiting for him in Folkestone, that would explain his surliness. “There’s a pretty little maid who works in the kitchens. I could put in a good