Page 21 of A Duke for Adela
Finally, the men joined the ladies in the music room that had been converted into a gaming parlor. He strode directly to Adela, not surprised to find her standing alone against the wall. He stifled a grin, for she was a very pretty wallflower. “What’s our game to be, Miss Swift? Whist? Piquet? Or would you like to try your hand at gambling?”
Her eyes widened. “I have never gambled before. Would you mind if we tried that first?”
“It shall be my pleasure to corrupt your morals.” He gave a smooth bow. “I am at your service.”
Smiling, she placed her arm in his when he held it out to her. “Where should we start, Your Grace?”
“You might enjoyvingt-et-unwhich is sometimes referred to as pontoon. Have you ever played it?”
“No.”
“It is a simple game that requires a little bit of mathematical skill. You play against the dealer and must beat his hand but not go over twenty-one points. Each card is equal to its value. So a nine would be worth nine points and a four would be worth four points, for example. Face cards are worth ten points each. Aces are valued as one point or eleven points.”
“Why are they the only cards to be assigned different values?”
“That’s just how the game is played. So, if I dealt you a ten and an ace, you would have twenty-one points and be a winner. If I dealt you a ten and a five, leaving you with only fifteen points, you might ask for another card, especially if you knew I, as the dealer, held cards worth sixteen or more points. If you drew an ace, you would then have sixteen points because if you treated it as an eleven, you would be over twenty-one and immediately lose.”
She nodded. “Sounds easy enough.”
“It is. There are a few more intricacies, but I’ll show you what to do if those arise. All you need to do right now is pay attention to the cards dealt and the probability of your receiving a card that willnottake you over that magical twenty-one points.” He fished into his pocket and withdrew several coins. “Here, I’ll stake you.”
“All right. This is quite exciting.” She had such a sweet, open-hearted look as she took a seat beside the other ladies and gentlemen playing at her table.
Her delight at this new endeavor was quite refreshing and gave Ambrose reason to smile.
He hoped she would be as enthusiastic about the other things he intended to teach her.
Starting with kisses.
He watched her lose the first two hands before she fully picked up on the tactics. Although he did not play, he drew up a chair beside her and watched her nibble her fleshy lower lip as she concentrated on the cards.
It was not long before Adela was winning most of her hands.
After winning her final hand, she beamed with pride and held out her pile of coins to him. “Will you have a turn now or shall we give way to others who may wish to play?”
“Let’s give the space over to others.” Ambrose shook his head when she tried to place the coins in his hand. “These are your winnings.”
“But you gave me the funds to get started, so should they not be yours?”
He tucked the coins in her reticule. “Use your winnings to purchase more research books for yourself.”
“No, I think I will donate them to the Huntsford Academy soyoumay purchase more books for your library. Or apply it to giving free admission for children. After all, they are the young minds who should be inspired and encouraged.”
He arched an eyebrow as he briefly pondered the notion. “I like that idea.”
“You do? Would you be open to another idea?” She was nibbling her lip again, so she obviously doubted he would go for her next suggestion.
“Of course.” If it came from her, then he was eager to hear it.
“I have been so impressed by the Huntsford Academy and it got me to thinking…most museums concentrate on attracting scholars, the Upper Crust, and the wealthier in the middle classes. But I do not know of any museums in England that design exhibits specifically for their children. Of course, you would want to locate such exhibits away from the library or other sensitive exhibits not meant for rambunctious hands. But would it not be something special to introduce children, any and all children, to various areas of scientific learning?”
He thought back to his childhood when his father had been alive. They had spent summers turning over every stone, twig, and seashell on their Devonshire estate near Thurlestone. They explored caves, some abandoned and some not, climbed up to nesting grounds for migratory birds on seaside cliffs, found a sunken pirate ship, and all manner of other wonders his father had seen fit to show him and his younger brothers.
“Oh, you are saying nothing to me,” Adela remarked. “Do you find the notion foolish?”
Those summers had been some of the happiest times in his life. Perhaps this is why he had felt an attraction to Adela when they first met. He knew she had to be someone special the moment she spoke of her cave findings in the area of her Devonshire home.
Had their paths ever crossed?
