Beauty Tempts the Beast (Sins for All Seasons #6) - Lorraine Heath Page 0,64
which card to discard, so the three remaining are more likely to see you with a win.”
“Oh, I shan’t be gambling. I haven’t the coins for it. I’m simply curious. I’ve never been to a gaming hell before. I’m quite looking forward to the experience of seeing everything, absorbing the atmosphere.”
He was willing to wager two of his ships that once they arrived, she would indeed sit at a table in order to try her hand at winning.
“Will the matter you have to deal with take long?” she asked.
“Not long.”
“Perhaps I’ll have the opportunity to observe you at the gaming tables.”
“Then let me explain things so you’ll be able to fully appreciate how very skilled and clever I am at card play.”
Even within the dark confines of the carriage, he could sense her gaze homed in on him as though she’d reached out and touched him with her gloved fingers. “I realize I’ve not known you that long, but I’ve seen you as more modest than braggart.”
He’d boasted about a skill at which he didn’t excel in order to entice her into having an interest in learning how to play. After she’d bid him good-night and he’d headed for the door, he’d realized it was important for her to be with him at the club. “Indulge me.”
Her laughter was soft, and yet it inhabited his soul. “All right.”
He explained how cards in the same suit beat those in a sequence, how three matching cards beat cards in the same suit or a sequence, how a sequence of the same suit beat everything.
“It’s not a very complicated game,” she said.
“No, but it is responsible for fortunes being won and lost.”
It was a dangerous thing to have her within the dark confines of a carriage, with her gardenia scent wafting around him, teasing his nostrils.
With a shake of his head and a long sigh, he pressed his back farther into the cushion, stretched out his legs, and crossed his arms over his chest. Now was not the time to reach for her, pull her onto his lap, and take possession of that mouth that taunted him still, to sample once more a kiss that haunted him. He chided himself. There would never be a time for doing that.
The carriage came to a stop. A footman opened the door, and Beast leapt out. Reaching back, he handed her down.
Her eyes widened slightly. “I’d expected something like White’s.”
The building was brick, stone, and sturdy but was half the size of the well-known gentleman’s club. “Not in this area of London. Stick close so it’s understood you’re with me.”
He offered his arm, and when she wrapped hers around it, he experienced a sense of satisfaction and pride that were not his to own. He led her up the steps. A footman opened the door.
Beast ushered Thea inside and despite the dimly lit interior, he noticed Aiden standing at the end of the short entryway, gazing into the first of several large rooms where various games of chance were being played. After handing the woman at the small desk his greatcoat and Thea’s cloak, he approached his brother. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
Aiden glanced over his shoulder, opened his mouth to speak, stopped, his eyes widening slightly—no doubt at the sight of Thea—and faced him fully. Although in truth he didn’t seem particularly surprised by her appearance. Rather, he seemed pleased, as though he’d guessed correctly that a footwarmer and blanket would be needed in the carriage. “I had my man send word to me when he sent word to you. You didn’t think I was going to miss whatever you had in mind, did you?”
Aiden had always loved nothing more than witnessing or participating in a well-executed reprisal or swindle.
“Thea, meet my brother Aiden. Aiden, allow me the honor of introducing Miss Stanwick.”
Aiden bestowed upon her one of the devilish grins for which he was so famous, took her hand, and placed a kiss against her knuckles. In spite of the fact she wore gloves so his brother couldn’t feel the silkiness of her skin, Beast still had a strong urge to punch him. Which was a patently ridiculous inclination because Aiden was madly in love with his wife. “A pleasure, Miss Stanwick.”
“It’s lovely to make your acquaintance.”
“So how is it that you know my brother?” He was still holding her hand, blast him.
“That’s unimportant at the moment,” Beast interjected. “We need to get to business. Where is he?”