Love's Game

Chapter One

Pawns in an elaborate game of chess. That's all any of them were. At least that's the way Lord Drake, second Duke of Wilshire saw the guests attending society tonight. He was one to normally avoid the London Season, however certain duties could no longer be put off. Finding himself a suitable wife and producing an heir was one of those duties.

He took another sip of his champagne and let his eyes rove over the women on the market. There were certainly some pretty girls among the groups, but they were all flighty, simpering chits that could never hope of obtaining his attention for long.

Still, his title must have a successor and therefore he would have to eventually choose one of these young ladies to court and marry. He found no pleasure in such a notion and wished he could put this whole damn business off for one more Season. The only reason he could not was a simple, yet terrifying one. His mother. The older woman had seen fit that if he would not choose his own wife she would thrust her own choices at him.

He and his mother had two very different opinions on what made a suitable wife. So far all the women she had thrust at him had been dull and not very attractive. She was growing impatient with him and so he had packed himself away to London in the hopes of finding one woman who he would find some interest in.

"Ah Wilshire, fancy you crawling off your prime country land to grace us with your presence!" A deep voice called as it approached. Drake smiled and turned to greet his friend. To most ears, the greeting would sound condescending, or even cutting to the man it was directed. Drake knew otherwise as he clasped hands with Lord Huntington. Viscount Huntington, or Jacob as Drake had always known him, was the second most sought after bachelor. His vast wealth rivaled most of the higher peer; the only man above him would be Drake himself.

The two had been childhood friends and had gone to Oxford together. As they both entered adulthood together they had remained friends and business partners. Now the two made a fortune in the trading industry. They were envied by most investors for their ability to always be one step ahead of the game.

"Did the Duchess Elena finally send you here with your tail between your legs ol' boy?" Jacob grinned at him and Drake chuckled.

"Something like that. Mother has become intolerable with her insistence that I find a wife. So I have finally decided to indulge her and have come to market, so to speak."

Jacob nodded and, taking a drink of his own glass, gazed out over the crowded ballroom. He grunted and gave Drake and unimpressed look which made the man chuckle again. He was suddenly in better spirits, knowing he would have a friend to keep him company during this uneventful Season. Of course it was just beginning, but he doubted something-anything would change his mind.

"Seen anything that keeps your fancy yet?" Jacob asked as he indicated a small group of women standing across from them on the edge of the dance floor. Drake looked over the women and noticed one or two that were pretty, but nothing else about them stood out. He supposed that was all he could hope to find in the city. A pretty wife, who wouldn't cause him too much trouble once he took her to his country estate.

When he didn't respond Jacob chuckled and turned to face Drake completely, a bored expression on his face.

"Yes, I find these young debutantes quite boring as well. However, that is not the problem. The problem is that you my friend, are no longer a young man and need to start counting the months before you are twice these girls' age." Jacob began to laugh at the scowl Drake gave him. Soon the scowl softened though and he found himself laughing alongside Jacob. He gave his friend an odd look and responded,