a care. The Pig is notorious for the strength
of its ale."
Do not fret, Lucas. I shall not get so
foxed that you will be obliged to carry me
out of here," Victoria assured him.
Good God, I should hope not."
Victoria took in the scene around her
as she stood sipping at the contents of the
tankard. Her eye was caught by a rather
depressed-looking man being led upstairs
by a sympathetic serving girl. When he
returned a short time later, the game ster
appeared eager to return to the fray, all
signs of depression vanquished.
Victoria was fascinated.
This is amazing,
Lucas. Quite unique. Totally different from
anything I have ever witnessed before."
Lucas eyed the crowd.
I am not
so certain of that. It bears a certain
striking resemblance to that crush at the
Bannerbrooks the other night, don't you
think?"
Victoria nearly choked on her laughter
and a sip of ale.
If Lady Bannerbrook
overheard that remark, I swear it would
be weeks before you received another
invitation from her."
If Lady Bannerbrook knew where you
were tonight, you would wait until the
crack of doom for another invitation from
her. What's more, you wouldn't get one
from anyone else in Society, either."
Now, do not try to terrorize me or
depress me, Lucas, I am having a
wonderful time. This is much better than
the restaurant and a thousand times better
than Vauxhall. Tell me, why on earth do
those men keep trotting upstairs with the
barmaids?"
Lucas glanced briefly toward the narrow
staircase at the far end of the room.
Those
are losers who are being consoled and
encouraged to try their luck again."
Consoled?"
There are several small bedrooms up
stairs, Vicky."
She blinked, aware of the heat rising in
her cheeks.
I see." She turned to peer
more closely at the newest couple on the
stairs. The man was staggering drunkenly
and had to be supported by his companion.
Victoria frowned.
I do hope you have
never had occasion to climb those stairs,
Lucas."
His teeth flashed in a rare, quick grin
around the rim of his tankard.
Never,
I give you my word. I told you once I
have always been extremely discriminating
in certain matters. In any event, the stairs
are primarily for losers."
And you always win," Victoria concluded
with a sense of satisfaction.
Really, Lucas,
I cannot wait to throw the dice. My aunt
and I taught ourselves how to play hazard
when we were investigating a certain area of
mathematics that relates to chance. Quite
a fascinating game. Did you know that it
is far easier to throw some numbers than
others?"
I am aware of that." Lucas's tone was
exceedingly dry.
Oh, yes, of course you would be aware
of such things, wouldn't you? Well, then,
let us find ourselves a table."
Control your enthusiasm, my dear, You
do not want to throw the dice here. There
isn't an honest pair in the house."
Nonsense. You are merely saying that
to put me off. I came here to have fun
and I intend to play. I am quite a skilled
game ster, if you will recall."
Victoria, you are not quite as skilled in
such matters as you believe."
Her eyes widened innocently.
But I
must be very good at gaming because I
won the night we played cards."
Victoria
."
The only other possible explanation for
your losses that evening is that you did not
play fair. But I hesitate to insult you by
making such an odious accusation."
Wise girl," Lucas said coolly.
If I did insult you, would you call me
out?" Victoria asked.
Hardly. I have a great dislike for pistols
at dawn or any other time."
An odd thing for an ex-soldier to say."
The only reasonable thing for an ex
soldier to say if you ask me."
You carry a pistol," Victoria pointed out
softly.
He shrugged.
This is London and you
will insist on dragging me out into the
streets at night. I don't have much choice."
Victoria took another sip of ale and then,
feeling deliciously bold, she leaned closer.
Did you cheat that night we played cards,
Lucas? I have been dying of curiosity ever
since."
It does not signify."
Hah. If you are going to be that way,
I shall find another fashion in which to
amuse myself." Victoria started toward the
nearest table.
Victoria, wait
."
But Victoria was already making a place
for herself near the action. Half-crushed by
the press of hot, sweaty masculine bodies,
she leaned forward to peer at the play. She
was aware of Lucas moving into a position
behind her but she paid no heed. The dice
were already being handed to her. They
clicked in her palm as she shook them
and then hurled them lightly down onto
the green baize.
The young nob's got
imself a main o'
seven," someone called. Instantly bets were
placed on Victoria's next roll.
Victoria felt a thrill go through her.
Seven was an excellent number for a main,
she recalled. She could almost ignore the
smell of the male bodies that crushed her
now. Knowing Lucas was at her back gave
her a heady sense of invulnerability. She
was quite safe and having a wonderful
time. She rolled the dice again.
Eleven, by God," a man yelled gleefully.
The cull's nicked it." Shouts of triumph
went up around the table.
Under cover of the din, Victoria turned
to whisper to Lucas.
Nicked it? What's
that mean? I thought I'd won."
You did win. That's what
nicked it"
means. Collect your stakes, Vicky. You've
had enough play," Lucas announced.
But I am winning. I cannot possibly
leave now."
A swaying, red-faced man in a threadbare
coat and a dirty cravat overheard Victoria's
remark. He rounded on Lucas, eyes glaring.
Here now, the boy's got a right to play.
You can't be draggin" him off."
The man is perfectly correct, Lucas. I
have a right to play."
Lucas ignored the man and leaned closer
to Victoria. He was clearly annoyed now.
Vicky, the management will let you win
for a while until you're hooked and then
you'll start losing. Heavily. Trust me, I
know what I'm talking about."
Well, I shall just play as long as I am
winning," she assured him cheerfully, and
turned back to the table. She thought she
heard Lucas swear softly and succinctly as
she returned to the fray, but the shouts of
her enthusiastic fellow players drowned out
the words.
Ten minutes later her excellent luck
turned with a vengeance, just as Lucas
had predicted. Victoria watched in shock
as she lost all her accumulated winnings in
one throw of the dice. Angrily she turned
to whisper again to Lucas.
Did you see that? How could that
happen? I was winning, Lucas. I cannot
believe my luck would suddenly alter in
such a fashion."
Lucas led her away from the table.
That's the thing about luck, especially
in a place such as this. I did warn
you."
You needn't look so smug, you know.
I was winning. Furthermore, I
."
But Lucas was no longer paying any
attention to her. His gaze, which had been
unobtrusively scanning the room, stopped
abruptly on a group of card players in the
corner.
Damn it to hell."
What's wrong?" Victoria glanced at the
card table.
I chose this place because I was fairly
certain we would not run into any of your
acquaintances here, but it appears I was
wrong. We must leave at once."
Lucas, do stop fretting so. No one will
recognize me. One sees only what one
expects to see and no one I know will
expect to see me here dressed as a man,"
Victoria argued.
I am taking no chances. Come along,
Vicky." Lucas started toward the door.
Reluctantly she followed, casting one
last, annoyed glance at the card table.
Good grief, that's Ferdie Merivale, isn't
it?"
None other."
He appears quite drunk, Lucas. Look
at him, he's barely able to sit in his chair
and yet he is trying to play cards," Victoria
noted, concerned.
So he is. With Duddingstone, no less.
Which means that Merivale will no doubt
part with a large portion of the fortune he
recently inherited. Stop dawdling, Vicky."
What do you know of this Dudding
stone?"
He's an excellent player, a brilliant
cheat, and completely without conscience.
He's not above taking advantage of a
young fool like Merivale. Does it quite
regularly, in fact."
Victoria halted abruptly.
Then we must
do something."
I am trying to do something. I am
trying to get you out of here before Ferdie
Merivale recognizes you."
He is in no shape to recognize me or
anyone else. Lucas, we cannot leave him in
Duddingstone's clutches. I am friends with
Ferdie's sister, Lucinda. I simply cannot
stand by and let poor Ferdie be fleeced
by a notorious player. He's a nice boy."
We are not going to stand by and
watch. We are going to leave at once."
No, Lucas. I must insist we do
something."
Lucas turned around and glowered at
her.
What, exactly, do you suggest we
do?"
Victoria considered the problem.
You
will simply have to interrupt the play and
persuade Ferdie to leave."
My God. You don't ask much, do you?
What if Ferdie doesn't wish to leave?"
You must make him do so."
Impossible. That will cause a scene and
that is the last thing we can afford."
Do not worry about me, Lucas. I shall
wait here near the door. Ferdie will never
see me. All you have to do is fetch him
out of here and put him in a carriage and
send him home."
You are the one I intend to put into
a carriage and send home," Lucas said
through gritted teeth.
I knew this was
going to be a mistake. I should never
have allowed you to talk me into bringing
you here."
Hurry, Lucas. They are about to begin
another round of play. You must rescue
Ferdie."
Now listen to me, Victoria
."
I am not leaving here until you have
rescued poor Ferdie. He's a very sweet boy
and he does not deserve to get chewed to
pieces by this Duddingstone person. Go
on. Save him." She gave Lucas a slight
push in the direction of the card table.
I
promise to stay out of sight."
Lucas swore softly, but like any good
soldier, he appeared to recognize defeat
when he saw it. Without a word he
turned on his heel and started back into
the crowd.
Victoria could see very little of what
was happening, but a few minutes later
Ferdie Merivale emerged from the throng,
Lucas directly behind him. Victoria noticed
that one of Ferdie's arms appeared to be
twisted at an odd angle behind his back.
The young man did not look happy as he
preceded Lucas out into the street.
Victoria caught Lucas's commanding
glance and followed the two men at a
discreet distance. Outside she could clearly
hear Ferdie Merivale complaining loudly in
a slurred voice.
Damme, stone vale, you can't do this.
My luck was about to turn. Just a few
more hands and I'd have had the man."
A few more hands and you would be
obliged to leave town tomorrow to rusticate
indefinitely in the country. You would not
care for that, Merivale. You are a city
creature. How much had you already lost
to Duddingstone?"
Ferdie muttered something indistinct
and Lucas shook his head grimly.
I
know you don't much appreciate this
at the moment, Merivale, and I am not
particularly enjoying myself, either, but
neither of us has much choice. Perhaps
tomorrow you will be grateful." Lucas
signaled a passing coach.
Bloody damn, stone vale, I don't want
rescuing. I can handle the play," Ferdie
wailed drunkenly.
Do us both a favor. Next time you
decide to throw away your inheritance,
do it someplace where I am not likely
to witness it. You have been a greater
nuisance than you know tonight." Lucas
tossed the young man into the coach and
gave instructions to the driver.
The coach rattled off down the street
and Lucas stepped back. He turned to
look at Victoria.
Satisfied?"
That was very well done of you, my
lord." Laughing with relief and pride in
his rescue efforts, Victoria stepped off the
sidewalk to join him.
I swear, you have
my undying gratitude even if you do not
have Ferdie's."
She
saw him
open his
mouth to
say
something in response, saw the startling
change in his expression as his eyes went
to a point behind her, and then she heard
the clatter of horses" hooves on stone and
the rattle of carriage wheels.
The wheels sounded much too close.
Victoria turned around to see just how
close and saw a black carriage drawn by
two black horses bearing down upon her.
At that moment the safety of the walkway
seemed miles away, and the scream that
began in her throat disappeared into the
pounding hooves and the screeching wheels
of a carriage.
Then something heavy struck her, carry
ing her back out of the path of the hurtling
carriage. She sprawled under Lucas's full
weight as hooves and wheels went past
scant inches from her booted foot.
Some drunken idiot showing off his
lamentable driving skills, no doubt," Vic
toria said from the opposite side of the
carriage.
No doubt."
She tried to see Lucas's expression in the
shadows. She was still somewhat shaken
from the near miss, but mostly she was