Lord Libertine (Harlequin Historical #868)

London, July 2, 1821"What are we doing cooling our heels at a masquerade when we could be kicking them up at a witches' Sabbath? 'Tis summer, Hunter. There's got to be something better to do. Some prank, some diversion."What, indeed? Andrew Hunter yawned and scanned the crowded ballroom at the Argyle Rooms. A masquerade, and he and his friends had not bothered to wear costumes or even dominoes. What a sad state of affairs, when he could not think of anything at all to interest himhere or anywhere else. Well, it was bound to have come to this sooner or later. He had not left much undone, untried, untasted.Henley nudged him again. "There's going to be a black mass in the tombs beneath the chapel at Whitcombe Cemetery. If you know of another..."Andrew took a deep draught of his brandy and then shook his head. "None better than the Whitcombe Sabbaths. Go on without me, Henley. I think I'll make an early night of it.""Early night? Are you ailing, Hunter?"Ailing? Is that what one would call boredom to utter distraction? Aye, then, he had a bloody terminal case of boredom. "It's all hogwash, Henley. Pretend and make-believe. Witches' Sabbaths, cock fights, bear baiting, whoring..."His friend gave him a sage appraisal. "We need to find you an interest, Hunter. A cure for the doldrums.""Lord save me!" Andrew laughed. "You are going to suggest a woman, are you not?""Nothing like a willing lass to lighten your cares, eh?" He considered the suggestion for one brief moment. Then even that palled. How many women had he had in the last year alone? How many assignations and seductions? How many illicit flirtations? God help him, he'd lost his appetite for even that.When his older brother, the Earl of Lockwood, had married barely four months ago, Andrew had taken a small town house. He had no wish to hang about the family manor and watch Lockwood's domestic blisscomical as it was. His brothers, James and Charles, had also rented flats to grant the couple their privacy. Whatever restraint had been placed on Andrew by his elder brother's presence was now gone. Perversely, the freedom to indulge his slightest whim had robbed him of the pleasure.All the same, he felt an odd restlessness tonight, an air of expectancy. Something unusual was in the offing, but he suspected he wouldn't find it in the usual places. "No," he said at length to Henley's suggestion of female companionship. "Think I'll see what's afoot at the club, then stumble my way home."The look on Henley's face was amusingas if he could not believe his ears. "Have you become that jaded, Hunter? We used to live for nights like this. Why, look! All around us, men and women are looking for mischief."Once again, Andrew surveyed the crowd. Spirits were high, it was true. Hiding identities behind costumes and masks gave license to lewd behavior. Or was it summer and the long warm days that loosened one's morals? Whatever it was, it was present at tonight's gathering and would likely be present at the many balls, soirees, musicales, fetes, fairs and pleasure gardens in the days ahead. But..."None of it is new, Henley. Just the same old thing wearing different guises." Lord, how he wished for something newanything that would drag him from his constant state of numbness."Pshaw! There's plenty of variety. Why, this is the first year Lady Lace has made an appearance.""Lady who?"Henley inclined his blond headRanstrom, Gail is the author of 'Lord Libertine (Harlequin Historical #868)', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373294688 and ISBN 0373294689.