Page 90 of The Baron Takes a Bet
For two more rounds, the same measured playing occurrence, and by the third round of losses, Holly felt herself begin to sweat. Derek returned and fared no better. The room was uncomfortably warm, and a footman kept bringing them whiskey but had no water available, which Holly found suspicious.
She realized they were losing a great deal of money. If they continued, surely they would lose a small fortune before the night was over. Especially if they included Jasper’s losses,as well. All that money could have been used for something worthwhile instead of lining the pockets of a crook.
Trying to catch Gavin’s eye to signal her desire to leave, she saw that his gaze was locked on the cards, the slight crease between his brow more prominent against the shadows that played across his face in the dark room. He appeared deep in thought.
“Lord Trembley, I expected better from you,” Kilmann said, laying the cards out again. “I’ve only ever heard what a great player you are.”
“I must be having an off night,” he said lowly, displeasure cast all over his face. He turned to Holly fully and leaned towards her. “How goes it, my lady?”
Confused, Holly gazed down at her cards, unsure what she was seeing, but when she tilted her head up, she realized Derek was staring at her intently. The barest lift of one of his brows told Holly to play her part as a sultry courtesan.
She gave Kilmann her most seductive smile.
“I would say my luck has long run out, but I don’t think I ever had any,” she said softly. “Would that you could share some of yours with me, sir? I’d be very much obliged.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a movement on the table. It must have caught Kilmann’s eye too, for he frowned and was about to turn back to look when she reached across the table and touched his arm to distract him.
“My, for a cardplayer you’ve an exceedingly muscular arm,” she said earnestly, earning a somewhat sloppy smile from the man. “Oh, but I should refrain from saying such things.”
“Are we to play or are we to hear this babble all night long?” Gavin said, his tone low and furious.
Kilmann began flipping the cards once more.
“I win, again,” he said, but quick as a shot, Gavin’s hand came over the pot.
“Not so fast. Check again.”
Kilmann’s face scrunched with puzzlement for a moment. Then he turned several shades of red as he stood up, nearly knocking the table over.
“You’ve cheated!” he yelled, his chair kicking to the floor as everyone around them stood.
“Says the man stacking the bloody deck,” Gavin accused. “This whole operation is a scam.”
“One you’ll pay for,” Kilmann said, producing a knife from his pocket.
Holly froze with fear as the man lunged at Gavin, surprisingly agile for his age. She cried out when they collided and fell to the ground, rolling together on the floor. Before she knew it, she was pushed off into Jasper’s arms by Derek.
“Get her out of here, now!” Derek yelled as he narrowly missed being tackled to the ground by a man who seemed to have come out of nowhere.
The entire house abruptly descended into chaos. Fights broke out at every table and the sickening sound of knuckles slamming into skin turned Holly’s stomach as Jasper grabbed her and tried to drag her away. But she fought against him.
“I can’t leave him!”
“You’ll only distract him! We have to go now,” Jasper yelled over the grunts and screams from the others.
Hating that he was probably right, Holly hesitated for only another moment before letting her brother lead her away as a chair flew across the room, splintering against a wall. They rushed out of the brick house to find Holly’s coachman standing near the carriage as they came running up.
“My lady! Oh, thank goodness,” the driver cried, helping her and Jasper into the coach. “Let us be away from this place at once.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Holly said firmly. “Not until Gavin comes out of that house.”
“But Holly—”
“Jasper, if you ever cared an ounce for me in your entire life, you will not move this carriage,” she said, her gaze locked on the brick house. “I will not leave him.”
Jasper gave her a contrite look before conceding to her wishes. Nodding to the coachman, he waited with her as they watched the flood of people leaving the house. Holly thought they looked like mice trying to escape a burning barn. The men scurried away in every direction. After several long moments, Jasper spoke, his tone remorseful.
“I do care about you, Holly. I know it doesn’t seem like it. I know I’m constantly disappointing you, but it’s difficult. You don’t understand what it’s like, not ever having a choice or a say in one’s own life. It’s infuriating.”
