The Sugared Game (The Will Darling Adventures, #2)

by K.J. Charles

He wanted to tell her the truth, to have someone who’d give him good, sensible, measured advice, while also being entirely on his side.

Only, while he was around, he’d given Will a taste for starlight.

He said that with his usual light irony. Will had no idea how to take it. He glowered, as an all-purpose response.

Our wills and fates do so contrary run, and you are the most contrary of Wills.”

♥️

Kim sounded smooth and urbane, as if he was discussing something that didn’t matter at all. On the other hand, he was a liar.

Kim might be an arsehole but that didn’t mean Will should become one in his company.

“The best defence is a good offence,” Kim said. “And I am nothing if not offensive.

The fact was, he was bored. He bought and sold books, sometimes read them; he shifted stock around, did repairs, went to the pub or the football or the cinema. He had no projects, no horizons, no plans, just a comfortable life doing the same sort of thing every day.

Kim had stained-glass lamps and original Pre-Raphaelites. Will had whitewashed walls and second-hand furniture.

“It’s bare and efficient. Just how I think of you,”

I have thought of becoming one of those women who goes to Africa to shoot buffalo in trousers—me in the trousers, obviously—

“I know you’ve thought about this,” Will said. “But there are men in the world who aren’t queer or arseholes. Have you considered marrying one of them instead?”

Loving someone doesn’t oblige them in the slightest. It’s not like ‘good morning’, when you have to say it back.”

Only, is there a way to persuade a man to stop proposing?” “A half-decent one would stop as soon as you told him to.” “Darling, how optimistic of you. Or perhaps I don’t know enough half-decent men.”

I’m sorry I can’t help.” “But you’ve listened beautifully, darling, and been on my side, which is all I wanted.

Would it make a difference to know that he asks about you?” “It would make a difference if he talked to me,”

I understand him by looking at the holes in what he says, and you’ve been nothing but holes since New Year.”

“Sadly, one must have a conscience at all in order to have a guilty one.

He didn’t apologise, because they both knew there wasn’t much value to an apology for a thing you’d done entirely on purpose.

I didn’t feel right forgetting.”

“But I really can’t bring myself to regret the man you might have been, given the one you are.”

It wasn’t exactly comfortable but it was comfort, of a sort Will hadn’t realised he needed.

“Did I hurt you?” “Not in any way I wouldn’t pay good money for.”

“I don’t know who you’re arguing with, but it’s not me,”

“You’re sweet to offer, darling, but you can’t punch everyone in the face.” “I don’t mind trying.”

I’m sorry, I brought you here just to moan at you.” “We clearly both needed a moan. It’s a very good thing you called or we’d have ruined two other people’s lunches instead.

“Tea?” he said, because the kettle was on and he was furious but not a monster.

It wouldn’t have hurt so much if it wasn’t real, because that way Kim would have discarded something of no value. Instead he’d looked at everything he and Will might have meant to one another—the truths, the secrets, the care—put it all in the balance, and decided it still wasn’t enough.

♥️

Her life is going to be divided into Before and After by this, whatever happens, and I wanted to make Before as long as possible because After will not be good.

You’re doing your best. So how about you don’t hand him yet another weapon by loading yourself with so much guilt you can’t move under it?

“Be dramatic on your day off.

I’m with you, Kim. I’m in this. Let’s get a war on.”

Clearly being a lord meant not having to justify yourself. That explained a lot.

There was no sneer in his voice, just a warm, friendly effort to put Will at ease. It might have been the most patronising thing he’d ever heard.

“You once told me that girls should never ignore their feelings about men.” “Don’t you quote me against myself.

When people are obliged to keep an eye out for threats, their eyes tend to be sharp. That’s what women’s intuition means, if you ask me: being unconsciously alert for dangerous men.

if there had to be blood, he didn’t need it sugared.

“I’m damned glad you’re with me. I would not be doing well alone.” “You’d be fine.” “Then I’m glad I don’t have to find out.

“Don’t ask me, I just work here.

“Your suspicious nature is occasionally a very attractive quality.

“Let’s disembowel him.”

I suspect he thinks she regards having any man as better than no man. He is quite hilariously wrong,

Will took two paces back, and gave the door—panelled oak, beautiful workmanship, a good four hundred years old—an almighty kick.

Maisie looked at the candlestick she held. “Good manufacture, this. Solid. The factory stuff breaks when you look at it, not to mention when you hit people with it,

I’m afraid this story doesn’t hold water.” “Oh, it does, and enough for you to drown in,”