Free Three Heroes by Jo Beverley

she couldn't be sure what she'd seen.
    "Perhaps it is I who am jealous, Mrs. Celestin. You are exceptionally beautiful." Ah. Blatant fortune hunters she could deal with. Smiling, she said, "No, I'm not."
    "You must allow me to know my own mind, ma'am. Beauty is not the same in every eye."
    "Strange, then, that some people become acknowledged beauties." He looked around and discreetly indicated a young brunette surrounded by men. "I don't know who she is, but I assume she is a toast."
    "Miss Regis? Yes, she is much admired."
    "I'm sure she is perfect to many, but I cannot admire a turned-up nose, and her smile is far too wide.” He looked back at her. "Your mouth, however, is perfect.” Her not-too-wide smile was making her cheeks ache. Did he know she didn't want to send him off with a flea in his ear?]]>
    "Perfect," she echoed. "How lovely. What else about me is perfect, Major?
    I'm thirty-three years old and must hoard any compliments that still come my way."
    "You're barren,” he said. "And that is not a compliment.” Her breath caught. "And you are an uncouth swine, but you probably can't help that either.”]]>
    They were both smiling, hiding their battle from those around.
    "Van's marrying you for your money. If he needs money, I'll find a way to get it for him."
    "Are you Midas, then? He lost ten thousand in one night.” She watched in satisfaction as his smile disappeared. "Now, escort me back to my box.” At the door he halted, smile absent, hostility unmasked. "He deserves better than to marry for money, Mrs. Celestin. And he needs a family.”]]>
    She agreed with him, but she couldn't let that show.
    "I want his happiness, Major Hawkinville. For that reason, you are welcome to call at my house.
    You will understand, I'm sure, if I try to avoid you." She went into the box alone.
    Van was finding shy Miss Embleborough hard work, but he kept an eye on Maria and Hawk at the same time. He might not have seen a great deal of his friend over the past ten years, but he could still read him.
    He was in a hawkish mood.
    Doubtless he thought Maria a heartless harpy and was riding to the rescue. As the bell sounded and people flowed back into their boxes, he managed to pass Miss Embleborough on to her brother, and paused with Hawk outside the box.
    He closed the door, leaving them alone in the corridor. "You can't fight with Mrs. Celestin without picking a fight with me, you know. And I always win." He said it lightly, but Hawk would understand that he was serious.
    "Only because you've always been a madman." The tense look eased, however.
    "I probably did go a bit beyond the line."
    "Why?"
    "She said you lost ten thousand in one night. What the devil have you been up to?" Van hadn't wanted any of his friends burdened with his problems. "My father left debts."
    "And you decided to add to them?"
    "I was trying to recoup them. You know I've always been lucky. Hawk, why were you picking a fight with Maria?"
    After a moment, Hawk said, "I suppose it's mostly because of her husband."
    "Celestin? You knew him?"
    "Only as a name. He was one of the worst suppliers of shoddy goods and short measure, but we could never pin anything on him. Very clever use of middlemen. It galls me to think of all that money on a woman's back."
    "Will it help to think of me benefiting from his ill-gotten gains?” Hawk laughed. "Zeus, yes! Can't think of a better use at this point.” After a moment, he added, "Look, don't throw a punch, but is it worth the money to marry a woman so much older?”]]>
    Van thought of explaining. He didn't mind revealing his follies to Hawk, but he didn't want to put Maria in a worse light. Then he recalled an amber light, and a ravishing kiss that hadn't been repeated . . .
    "So," Hawk said, smoothing over the silence, "at least you'll be able to restore Steynings to all its former glory."
    If Hawk thought this was a love affair, all the better. "That's the idea. Look, I'd better go back in. Come ‘round tomorrow