Page 105 of When the Marquess Was Mine
Dashwood nodded once. “Lord Wakefield, if you lay a hand on a female guest at my club, I’ll see you thrown out and delivered to gaol.” He glanced at Georgiana, and she almost thought he winked at her. “Well played, my lady. Good evening.”
“I’ve a carriage waiting for you, Lord Wakefield,” said Mr. Forbes, the burly manager. White-lipped, Alistair brushed past her. She didn’t hear what he said in a low growl; she could barely hear anything.
She started when Rob took her hand. “Did we—was it enough?”
“Enough?” His eyes danced. “Not only is there close to eighty thousand pounds in the pot, there are hundreds of shares of Forester and Philips. My darling, you may own the company.”
“Which means...” She could barely speak.
He nodded. “You can close it down.”
Lord Heathercote came around the table and bowed to her, sweeping her limp hand to his lips. “A bravura performance, ma’am,” he said grandly. “I’m quite tempted to fall to one knee and beg for your hand.” He glanced slyly at Rob. “Perhaps another day. But I applaud you for your excellent play.”
She gave a shaky laugh and caught sight of Sterling, watching her from a few yards away, leaning against a table with his arms folded. Sobered, she walked to face him.
He regarded her quizzically. “Impressive.”
She flushed. “Thank you for telling me Alistair had invested my money with that vile man. Do you know what his company does?”
He sighed. “I’ve heard rumors. Butyou.” He shook his head. “Have you nothing to tell me?”
She blinked. “What?”
Sterling glanced over her shoulder at Rob. “Charles Winston lost his deed to Westmorland, the deed to the house you were visiting at the time. Westmorland then disappeared from town, and Winston worried he’d gone into Derbyshire to see the house, but then it seemed he hadn’t. Westmorland did, however, turn up in London not long after you came back, earlier than expected, along with his brother, who was curiously belligerent about our betrothal. Tonight I learned Westmorland called on you the other day, and when Wakefield tried to refuse him a few minutes ago, you told your brother off as I’ve never seen before. I’m not the brightest chap but I’m not an idiot.” He gave her a wry look. “Have younothingto tell me?”
She fidgeted, then gave in. “Perhaps something. Lord Westmorland did come to Kitty’s house, but he was beaten and left in the road to die. I—I nursed him back to health.”
Sterling shook his head. “You couldn’t leave him to rot in the road, could you?”
“No.”
He looked at Rob again. “I should call him out.”
“Don’t you dare!” she exclaimed. “If you want to call out someone, it should be me. But Sterling... he’s not why I broke off our engagement. I hope you can believe me, because it’s true.”
“I still don’t like the fellow,” he muttered, then heaved a sigh. “I wish you great joy, even with a rogue like Westmorland.”
Her smile was wide with relief. “Thank you, Sterling.”
He bowed his head and walked off.
Rob came up beside her. “He took it well.”
“I knew he would.” She turned to him. “And now I feel completely free, since I’ve won back my inheritance—”
“Several times over,” he murmured.
“—and Lord Heathercote has got Forester in a vise. Sterling knows about you, and I’ve told off my brother.” She sighed. “Now what shall I do? I’ve lost my longtime fiancé, my house in London, my home in Yorkshire—not that I wanted to return—and everyone will think me a cardsharp.”
“I think your best choice is to start anew. A new home, a new name, a new fiancé...” He cupped her face in his hands, despite her surprised gasp; most of the members had left, but the club was not empty, even though it was coming on to five o’clock in the morning. Three employees were still tallying the pot from their game. “Marry me, my love?”
“Yes,” she managed to say before he kissed her, ignoring a few whistles from his friends, loitering at a discreet distance.
“Tomorrow?” he asked between kisses.
She goggled at him. “So soon?”
Rob smoothed his thumb over her cheek. “I knew the first time I kissed you, in Macclesfield, that you were the only woman for me. Tomorrow is not soon; it’s beenweeks. Will you be scandalous with me once more?”
