Tale Of Vengeance

17. Dance and broken nose

Chapter 17

Asher laughed at a conversation that he shared now with his brother and a couple of peers, "I believe expanding the machine business to America would be a satisfactory indeed once we have that meeting with the Brown and Smiths," one of the businessmen spoke and one could think they were at a business meeting rather than a ball season,

But economic talks and business was far more important than marriage, well if one didn't search for a suitable wife like his brother who observed the ladies like a man observed an empty bottle of whiskey, dreadful, "For gods sake brother, have your rake ways gone rusted and old? Go and approach the ladies, you wont be married by inspecting the way their hair is pinned or the angle of the foot they lift,"

That made his brother laugh, and so the men who gathered, "I suppose your right," but Asher knew the true reason why his brother was dodging, because he wasn't ready for the reality it would bring, Luke departed and excused himself, taking the glass with punch Asher swallowed the drink and although he liked gatherings and society mostly he didn't like this kind of occasions, but it was beneficial for the company to gather around with society links, and there was another part where he wanted to accompany and see who the lucky lady his brother choose,

He saw the plenty of perfect polished ladies where waiting for a man to grasp their hands,

It made him feel dreadful for the future, he knew one day he would be married and may god forbid the day to come soon because Asher would want to live his rake life to the fullest before he becomes a married man, then there was those few days and very odd times where he felt the securement marriage could bring, a loving woman, children sparling around, it made his heart ache for something he didn't know he wanted, and he convinced himself it wasn't what he wanted, because love or whatever foolish things marriage brought was temporarily, all those devotions and emotions would fade in to ashes that never seemed to be there, it would turn into a cold marriage, that would leave them both miserable, he had seen it far many times to know.

Turning his attention back to his peers he put the notion very far back where it ought to be, "Lord Hartwick that besotted fool now, I heard he had inherited the title after his seventy year old father died, one could think the man was dreading his own death," One of the men changed subject catching the attention of Asher now, "Hartwick?" Asher felt the name have a ring to it, perhaps the people his father had been involved with, "Your acquainted?"

Asher shook his head briefly, "No, although I believe I have heard of his father,"

Walter nodded briskly, "His father could be spoke highly about, the man was a honourable man least to say, and now when his son gained the title he has filled himselfs with debts and god knows what, that explains why he is here to seek a lady, get a dowry and pay off," A man snickered making Asher follow his gaze and looked over his shoulder to see a man and a woman on the dance floor, the tall lanky man who must be Lord Hartwick was resting his head against the ladies shoulder, "One could think he is robbing her innocence here and now," that set Asher off because once her body turned in an angle the fiery strawberry red hair came In sight, pinned up high on her head that seemed difficult to held for her slim neck

Felicity

It possible couldn't be...

His hands clenched into fists and not sparing the men any word he found himself striding toward the dance floor, walking past all the blushing ladies, when it he came near he could see him leaning away, thousands of question was swarming in Ashers brain, but had the man not moved Asher would have knocked him cold,

He could hear the smug chuckles, "Forgive me, I am normally not like this, but you are to blame miss, your beauty has struck me"

"How about I give you something to struck,"