Page 61 of Captivating the Countess
Feeling perhaps a little too confident, she noticed an empty chair at the table where Lady Pamela and Lady Dalrymple sat with Salina’s solicitor husband and Sir Harry. They didn’t appear to be playing whist.
Remembering the ladies slighting her earlier, Bell deliberately approached that table. She might be quiet and unassuming, but no one had ever called her shy, and tonight, she was feeling courageous. Or rebellious. As a friend of Nevins, perhaps Lady Dalrymple could explain the regrettable episode this morning. “Shall I join you?”
The ladies looked sour. The gentlemen instantly stood, and being closest, Sir Harry pulled out a chair for her. “Do you play Brag? The others are all vicious whist players, but we’re not inclined to blood-letting this evening.”
She liked Sir Harry. She didn’t appreciate the scowls on the ladies faces, but they could scarcely forbid her a Brag table. The more numbers, the better when it came to this game. “I’ve played with my family upon occasion. Catch me up on which version?”
They explained the rules they were playing by. Bell noticed Lady Dalrymple had few coins left and Lady Pamela had accumulated the larger pot. Of course, in a game that required bluffing, an actress would have the best chance. Unfortunately for Lady Pamela, Bell had a head for numbers, and Brag was simple. The game didn’t require shuffling. The dealer merely slipped the cards beneath the deck and continued dealing.
“How is the duke this evening?” Mr. Lombard asked, chewing on an unlit cigar.
Salina’s husband was a handsome enough man, despite the muttonchops. Bell wondered at his decision to sit with the unmarried ladies and Rain’s bachelor friend. Or had the ladies made the decision? She really needed to learn the guests better.
“His Grace is resting easily. His valet says he has had no difficulty with today’s meals. Rain thinks fattening his father will help tremendously, if we can find the right foods.” Bell didn’t look at her cards. Not having determined the rotation yet, she preferred to make only half bets while she learned the table.
“Sal tells me I’m fattening up too much. I’ll have to take up boxing with Rain.” Lombard checked his cards.
“You’re playing blind, Lady Craigmore?” Sir Harry asked, placing his wager and noticing she didn’t look at her cards.
“I am this round. My stepfather used to cheat, so I learned to be cautious and watch the cards first. Lady Dalrymple, your daughter is a delight. I am hiding her favorite books and making her seek them. She’s quite good.” And walking one small step at a time, but Bell refrained from a comment that might appear as if she were criticizing the mother’s lack of nurturing.
“I’d rather someone of your sort stay away from her,” the widow said stiffly, laying down her wager.
Well, so much for gratitude. Good thing she wasn’t expecting it.
“My sort? You object to twins, stewards, or Scots?” Bell truly did not know what she’d done to offend the lady, but she didn’t intend to take her seriously. “I’m also of the short sort, and Rainford tells me I’m a managing sort. Since he pays me to manage his household, I assume that isn’t a bad thing.”
“Rainford has his sisters who can manage the household. I can’t think that’s why he’s paying you.” Lady Pamela laid her wager.
Ah, so here was the one spreading evil gossip. Bell couldn’t imagine how the actress might know what she and Rain had done. But she saw how the woman was winning.
Biting her tongue on saying Teddy’s mistress was a fine one to talk, Bell stopped the players from revealing their cards with a warning, “Don’t turn them over yet. I think the deck is old. I can spot the high cards.”
To prove her point, she flipped over one card in each of their stacks, revealing Sir Harry’s king, Mr. Lombard’s queen, Lady Dalrymple’s jester, and Lady Pamela’s ace.
While the players expressed shock, overturning the rest of their cards to reveal lesser denominations, Bell gestured for the footman hovering near the tray of drinks. “Bring a new deck, please.”
“Why, I never...” Lady Pamela huffed and pointed at her hand, which was higher than the rest. “It’s my pot. You cannot say it isn’t.”
Lombard leaned back in his chair and frowned as he examined the deck. “Actually, I think we need to forfeit all our winnings and start over. Anyone who notices these marks would have an advantage. Thank you, Lady Craigmore, for not robbing us blind.”
“I like the challenge of bluffing. Stealing is much too easy. As I said, my stepfather was a cheat, and I learned from him. Perhaps Lady Pamela knew my history and that is her objection to my joining your table?” Bell loved a good bluff. She lifted her eyebrows at the actress, waiting for an explanation.
“I will not stand to be insulted by a courtesan.” The actress scooped up her winnings and left in a huff.
Bell muffled a laugh.
Lady Dalrymple merely looked bewildered at the table now empty of coins. “I thought we were to start over?”
Without comment, the gentlemen began dividing up their winnings and pushing a larger share in her direction to make up for the coins Lady Pamela had stolen.
Apparently performing her duty as hostess, Alicia joined them, thus distracting Lady Dalrymple more.
Courtesan, indeed, as if the actress weren’t living with Teddy. What on earth had given Lady Pamela that idea? They’d been more than discreet.
As if summoned by Bell’s thoughts, Teddy left his table to join them. “Pam out of funds? If she wants me to build her theater, she really needs to start saving. I’ve won some, and I’m feeling lucky, if I might join you.”
Lady Dalrymple brightened. “If you would, please. Lady Pamela was winning, so perhaps that’s why she left while she was ahead. She’s quite excited about the theater.”
