Gabriel’s gaze narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”

Cocking his head, Alan considered him for a long moment. “Yes. I see precisely what Ravenswood is talking about,” he remarked almost as to himself. Then he brightened, his next comment delivered most cheerfully. “Do not despair, my friend. These things do get a bit easier.”

“What things?” Gabriel demanded impatiently. “Speak plainly as I find the mysterious nature of this conversation most annoying.” He forced his hands to relax, suddenly realizing he was crushing Celia’s hat in his irritation.

Alan shrugged. “Let us have this discussion in a more private setting than the foyer.” With a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder, Alan steered him into the drawing room. He then poured two drams of whiskey from a decanter on the sidebar.

Gabriel watched silently then, with a raised eyebrow, reminded his friend to continue the conversation. “As you were saying, Bentley?”

Alan chuckled and waved a hand. “The chase. The hunt. The pursuit. Oh, however you wish to name it, we men both enjoy and despise it. I must say, the two of you make quite the striking couple.”

Gabriel tossed the bonnet into a chair and jerked off his gloves. He then snatched up the glass of whiskey Alan held out.

“Let me understand this. You and Ravenswood believe some manner of alliance exists between myself and Lady Celia?” Gabriel could not conceal his astonishment. Had he been that transparent in coming to Celia’s aid after her tumble on the roadside? Had his attraction for the woman become so glaringly obvious that his friends now considered themselves to be matchmakers? Was it possible others could see this ill-advised weakness?

A faint sense of panic beat in Gabriel’s chest. He had made the most dreadful of mistakes.

“Doesn’t it?” Alan shrugged. “She’s certainly a worthy prospect for a bride. And her family is well thought of. The Earl of Darby is a fine man. One who certainly would appreciate someone like yourself marrying his only daughter.”

“Someone like me…” Gabriel’s words trailed off in disbelief. “Have you forgotten exactly what I am? I’ve no family name. No estate. No real place in society other than the connection Sebastian graciously provides. Even if I owe him my life, his generosity is not without bounds.” Sighing with frustration, he scrubbed his face with his hand. “While I am grateful for my friends’ lack of discrimination in regards to my station, I know others hardly feel the same. I won’t even begin to entertain the preposterous notion that I’ve become involved with Lady Celia, but rest assured her family would not welcome a bastard as a son-in-law.”

Alan calmly sipped his whiskey. So calmly that Gabriel was reminded just how tightly he gripped his own glass.

“Granted, I do not know her very well, but Lady Celia hardly seems the sort to put stock in such things,” Alan said. “Perhaps she wishes to marry for love instead of title? I mean, why hasn’t she wed already? Any number of eligible men are constantly flitting in and out of her orbit. She could have her choice of husband many times over.”