Page 22 of Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses
“What else would I have been doing?”
“You’re a young buck, she’s a young lady.” She arched a brow at him.
“You’re a suspicious wench. She’s family now. I wouldn’t take advantage.”
“See that you don’t.” She lowered herself onto the chair.
He winked at Gina. She gave him a warm smile. He did wish he didn’t like it so much. “Remember what I taught you,” he said sternly, hoping to give the impression that nothing untoward had happened while they’d been absent from the room.
“I assure you I shall never forget.”
He suspected she wasn’t referring to his counsel regarding the need to keep a straight face when playing cards. Three hands later he was rather certain of it because she showed continual delight with the cards she was dealt, completely ignoring his advice. His demonstration had been a waste—
That was untrue. Nothing in his life had ever been less a waste. Nor so unwise. He could still taste her on his tongue, and that kept him in a continual state of distraction. But she was as happy as a lark with her latest hand. Everyone else had folded. It was left to him to call or fold. He’d already put three hundred into the pot. She wanted five hundred more.
She was waiting expectantly, beaming as though she’d found her heart’s desire beneath the tree on Christmas morning. He peered at his two queens. She had to be holding something better. A wise man knew when to cut his losses. “Fold.”
With a victorious smile, she laid down her cards and began collecting her winnings.
“So what did you have?” he asked.
Stopping, she met his gaze. “You’ll never know. You weren’t willing to pay for the privilege of seeing them.”
“Because you looked so bloody cheerful. I advised you to keep your emotions in check.”
“As I’m the one gathering up the chips, perhaps I didn’t need your advice.”
Suspicion roiling through him, he scowled. “I want to see your cards.”
“No.”
“You’re new to the game. If you show us what you had, what you threw away, we can help you determine best how to win.”
“I’m already winning.”
Before she could react, he lunged across the table and snatched up her cards. She shrieked and reached for them, but he held them aloft until he could get a good look at them. He flung them onto the table. “You had nothing.”
“I had five cards.”
“But none of them matched in any way. None of them amounted to anything. You were grinning like a loon—bloody hell. You show excitement no matter what you have.”
“While I realize you lot fold quite a bit, I still get the take, even if it isn’t very much. Small amounts eventually add up to large amounts.”
He barked out his laughter. “You swindler! How many hands have you had nothing?”
She shrugged, an impish smile spreading over her face. “I can’t recall.”
“So there is a method to your madness.”
“I don’t fancy how serious you all look. So I thought if I always smile, you’ll always think I have something of value.” Placing her elbows on the table, she leaned forward. “I will wager five hundred quid right this minute that you were holding at least a pair. Probably face cards, but I’m not wagering on that. Only the pair. Prove me wrong. Show me what you had.”
He could think of things to show her that had nothing at all to do with cards. He glanced around the table. Everyone else seemed to be waiting on bated breath. “I’d be a fool to accept your wager.”
With a flick of his wrist, he turned over his cards. The two queens mocked him.
Dear God, but she was beautiful when victorious. “How did you know?”
“You tap the table with your forefinger when you think you’re holding cards that will beat the others.”
