Before Liars Loved (Before Series, Book 3)

Games

Leo stormed out of Scarlett's house feeling irritated.

It seemed to be a pattern lately.

Was it even worth his time? There might be a spark between him and Scarlett, but that was it. Clearly the woman lacked any interest in having Leo involved in her life. Even as an...acquaintance.

Perhaps it was Leo's fault. He was too much a rogue and a flirt for them ever to truly be friends. Perhaps he had destroyed his chance at friendship the moment he began to chase Scarlett three years ago—when the first bet had appeared.

He hopped into his carriage, directing the driver to drop him at White's. If he went back to Aston Manor, his parents would expect a report on his morning lessons with Maverick, and Leo wasn't in the mood to tell them the bad news.

The drive to the gentlemen's club was short. Leo strode through the front door, directing himself toward his usual spot, connecting eyes with the barman on the way to indicate he'd like a drink. Leo required time to sit in this corner with his scotch, alone with his thoughts. He did not wish to talk to anyone, nor did he—

"What the hell is this?" Leo sputtered as he approached his occupied armchair. "What is this...this...collusion?"

Theo glanced up at him with a laugh. "Collusion?"

Leo threw his hands up in the air. "Yes, you seem to be colluding to take my spot as bonafide best friend to Will Graham."

A little smirk grew on Theo's face as he glanced over at Will, who sat beside him. Will rolled his eyes.

"I wished to talk to him about Emilia," Will explained.

Leo threw himself down in the chair across from Theo, who was sitting in his spot. "You can talk to me about Emilia."

"I know I can, Leo," Will said, chuckling. "But I'd still want to talk to Theo. He is her brother."

"Oh right," Leo mumbled. "Forgot about that for a moment there."

"Yes," Theo's deep voice cut in, amusement lingering on the word. "You needn't worry about me stealing the title of best friend, Leo. I have my own—brother-in-law."

"Fine. Perhaps I overreacted," Leo conceded.

Both of the other men raised their brows in a way that indicated they knew with certainty that Leo had overreacted but luckily kept their mouths closed.

"Is there something wrong with Emilia?" Leo asked, genuinely concerned. Even though they weren't blood-related, he would consider Emilia a sister to him as well. When Will jilted her during their first engagement—because unbeknownst to everyone, Will was still being blackmailed by the king—Leo had sided with Emilia. And then tried endlessly to cheer her up in the aftermath of a broken heart.

Will sighed. "There is nothing wrong, per se. She wishes to go to the country for the latter duration of her childbearing. On the one hand, being at Rosecrest Manor would get her out of London to cleaner, fresher air. But on the other hand, the nearest physician is hours from there. I cannot decide what would be best."

"I am trying to convince him to take one of the royal physicians to stay with them at Rosecrest," Theo said, shrugging.

"And I think that's a misuse of royal funds," Will pointed out.

Leo shook his head. "But is it really? Those physicians are hired to care for Adelaide's family. You and Emilia are her family, Will."

Will remained quiet, but Leo could tell he was considering the words. He moved his head back and forth lazily, staring at the amber liquid in his glass. The poor man would do anything to keep Emilia safe and happy, and sometimes he thought too damn hard about it.

"You shouldn't have come here today," Kingfield muttered, and Leo switched his attention to the prince.

"Me?" he asked. "Why?"

Theo's eyes flitted across the room, and Leo's gaze followed them. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Men sat at gambling tables, throwing back drinks and tossing down dice.

But then Leo saw him. Lord Eades.

His brown hair was slicked back from his face, leaving nothing to mystery as he laughed at a remark another gentleman said. There were three empty tables between him and Leo, but the distance still wasn't far enough. Leo could see the crass gleam in his eyes.

"Eades," Leo mumbled under his breath as he glared at the man that had somehow attained the unattainable.

Scarlett.

"I've heard him say your name more than a few times," Theo said before taking a swig of his drink. "They're all talking about you and Scarlett at the opera last night."

"And the article that she published this morning didn't exactly help," Will added. "Madame Mischief made the point that there was no real reason why Scarlett be in the royal box."

"Except for you," Theo said, tilting his glass in Leo's direction.

It hadn't said as much in the article, but the implications were clear. Leo wondered if Scarlett had realized what she'd done.

"So now Eades is over there running his mouth." Will flicked his hand toward the baron with a vexed expression.

Leo could feel anger bubbling up, his annoyance at Eades mixing with his mood from the morning. Perhaps it would have been better to go back to Aston Manor after all.

"What's he saying?" Leo asked.

Will and Kingfield exchanged a look, refusing to answer Leo for what felt like forever.

"It was nothing," Will finally said. He gave a little shrug.

"You're such a shit liar, Will," Leo hissed.

His friend just gave another shrug and muttered, "Lied to you all for years, and you didn't catch on."

Kingfield chuckled, but Leo wasn't interested in that right now. "What's Eades saying, Will?"

Sighing, Will gave in. "It's just as you'd expect. He's going on about Scarlett. Really playing it up that he will win her over again."

Theo had a look of disgust on his face when he added, "It's honestly distasteful."

Eades had spun around, talking to someone behind him, and Leo took the opportunity to glare at the back of his head, boring a hole into his brain.

The next thing Leo knew, his feet were carrying him across the room. He did bother warning Will or Theo because he knew they'd attempt to stop him. Sure enough, he could hear their muttering protests behind him, their feet trailing after him.

"Mind if I play a hand?" Leo broke in as he sidled up to the card table where Eades sat.

Eades' eyes grew wide in surprise as he took in Leo standing there, though his voice was calm as he replied. "Naturally you may join, Lord Farrington." Eades glanced behind Leo. "And what of you, gentlemen?"

"You can deal me in, as well," Will's smooth voice responded behind Leo.

"I shall observe," Theo said, succinctly.

An eyebrow shot up on Eades' face as he took in Theo. "Too good for us now that you're royalty, Your Grace?"

Leo twisted around to see Theo's reaction. The corner of his mouth twitched in a smirk. "I was always too good for you, Eades."

Leo was finding it difficult not to laugh at that as he spun back around to see Eades' blank expression. It was partly humorous because Theo had never been the kind of man to genuinely believe himself better than others due to his title.

Eades drew a deep breath. "Well, then. Let the game begin."