Page 83 of The Pleasures of Passion
The saucy girl sashayed over with a smile that said she knew Sir Kenneth was most interested in a tipple from her nipple, and she meant to satisfy his thirst.
“Then it’s probably just as well you’re sitting this out,” Raines drawled as Sir Oswald began to deal the cards. “With a distraction like her, you’re bound to play badly, eh, Pitford?”
Pitford winked at the barmaid. “Ah, but it would be worth the distraction.”
“Not if we lose,” Raines said irritably.
“If you don’t want to partner me, step out so my cousin can step in,” Pitford said. “Otherwise, let me have my little enjoyments.”
Raines hunched over his cards. “Fine. Just see that you pay attention to the game.”
Interesting. Why was Raines so determined to play? Perhaps so he could pass off some counterfeits?
The game began, and Niall had to fight to keep his mind on his cards. He didn’t necessarily have to win this time. He’d brought plenty of assorted banknotes so he could switch out his good ones for those in play, no matter how he and Sir Oswald did at the tables.
Now he just had to pray thatsomethingturned up. He was tired of waiting for things to happen. This group could go for weeks without his so much as seeing a fake pound note, which was maddening.
Several hours of play later, Niall finally got his wish. Or he thought he did, anyway. Sir Oswald laid down a twenty-pound note that looked slightly off, though it was hard to tell in such dim light. Fortunately, Niall and his partner won that time, so he raked the note over to his side and made sure to mark it and then exchange it for a good one, sliding the suspicious one into his coat pocket.
He would have to show it to Fulkham to be certain, but if it were indeed a counterfeit, then Sir Oswald was probably part of the criminal enterprise.
Damn it all to hell. Niall had been praying that Sir Oswald had merely passed on counterfeit notes he’d received from someone else at these games. But Niall had seen the man take the note out of his own purse. Since it was highly unlikely that the man had received such a large note in change somewhere, and equally unlikely that he’d picked it up at his bank, Sir Oswald was at best distributing the notes and at worst producing them.
Either way, it was getting harder to believe that Sir Oswald didn’t know they were counterfeit.
So that must be the next step in Niall’s investigation—learning where Sir Oswald had gained the notes. With the exception of Sir Kenneth, who hadn’t been in town long enough, any one of these men could still be a suspect, since they were his friends.
The rest of the game went by in a fog, with Niall scarcely caring whether he won or lost. Because now he had a decision to make, one he hadn’t anticipated having to make before.
Should he tell Bree?
She was on this mission with him, so he ought to tell her. But how would she react? Sir Oswald was still her father—she might not be so sanguine anymore about seeing him arrested.
Edwin’s words kept clattering about in his head:No matter what Fulkham promised, if her father proves guilty, there will be a trial and, no doubt, a conviction. She’ll have to endure gossip and rumor. . . .
Damn Edwin. And Fulkham. And bloody Sir Oswald, for being a bastard who didn’t give a farthing for his family. Niall wished them all to blazes.
“You’re not playing as well tonight, Margrave,” the arse had the nerve to complain. “Mind your cards, for God’s sake, or we’re going to lose the pot.”
Niall grunted some answer and tried to concentrate.
But it was no use. A short while later, they lost it all.
“Shall we play again, gentlemen?” Sir Oswald asked hopefully as Raines gathered up the winnings and began to split them with his partner.
“I’m done in for the evening.” Pitford grinned. “As my cousin here says, it’s always best to quit while one’s ahead. Eh, Sir Kenneth?”
Sir Kenneth didn’t answer, too busy nuzzling the ample breasts of the barmaid who sat giggling on his knee.
Raines frowned. “I’m surprised you could keep your mind on the game, Pitford, with your cousin making such a spectacle of himself. Might as well end the night. I can’t stand one more minute of this nonsense.”
“Indeed,” Niall said. “Ah, well, Sir Oswald. Perhaps tomorrow night we can get some of our own back, eh?”
Sir Oswald glared at him. “Only if you promise to play better.”
“I’ll play better if you bring enough luck for the two of us,” Niall said mildly. “I had abysmal cards.” He rose. “Well then, fellows, I’m off.”
“Me too.” Raines stood up. “I’ll walk out with you, Margrave.”
