Page 181 of Adored

Give him a pack of crude Marines any damn day of the week.

Only, Poe clearly knew it, and told him not to worry. Someone had a much thicker skin than he did. All Gamble wanted to do was punch some lords and ladies in their pieholes.

Where was Zayn when you needed him?

Now that the tea was over, and the sun was getting ready to start setting, the party would begin.

Drinks began coming out, and the stuffy nobility let their hair down.

Well, as much as they could.

There was undignified laughter, some snorting, and a few public displays of affection that were shocking, considering the sticks up their asses.

Okay, that wasn’t shocking at all since it was him and Poe who were sneaking kisses in corners, but sue him. It was their home, and their wedding day.

When the Duke of Norfolk came over, and for the life of him, Gamble couldn't remember his name, he had three glasses of champagne in his hands.

“Poe, my boy, how are things?” he asked, smiling. “Are you surviving your first party as a Duke?”

Barely.

Poe wanted out of there.

Instead of going there, Poe reintroduced him to Gamble.

“My love, this is Edward Jaccoby, the Duke of Norfolk.”

Gamble held out his hand and shook it. When he did, the man flinched.

“Sorry, we don’t bow as Americans. We shake hands,” he joked. “Sorry if I hurt you,” he stated.

The man laughed.

“Oh, no, you didn’t. I fell off my polo pony this morning, and hurt my arm,” he said, putting his hand over his sleeve.

Then, he focused on the other man.

“Oh, Poe, your father would have loved him,” he said. “He’s got spunk.”

Yeah, no one had ever described him that way.

Oh, he had a gun.

And he had knives.

But spunk?

Nope.

Most of the time, he ran on sarcasm and devious ideas. That’s the way he liked it too.

“Here, let’s toast the happy couple,” Edward said, handing them each a flute of bubbling champagne. “Your father would be pleased as punch that you found someone who made you happy. Let’s drink to your marriage.”

They all clinked glasses off of each other. Then, sipped their drinks.

“So what are your plans?” Edward asked. “I meant with your title, not your marriage,” he said, winking at Gamble.

He didn’t wink back.