by Phoebe and Max, with Kline lowering the curtain behind him as he joined them.
There were four good-sized round tables set up in the large room, lit only by oil lamps, one suspended above each table. Three of the tables were occupied, the players so intent on their game that not one looked up. The tension here was palpable, the stakes high. On the far side of the room, Phoebe saw Alvanly. His face was relaxed, his posture likewise, but she saw the fist that rested on his thigh beneath the tabletop was clenched. As they moved towards him, his opponent laid out his cards, and Alvanly let out a long, slow breath and then smiled. He leaned in and swept the pile of gaming counters in the centre of the table towards him.
“Tant pis,” he said to the man before him, who got up with a muttered curse and stalked from the room.
The baron chuckled, the sound dying in his throat as he saw who was watching him. He stood then and smiled broadly, though the expression did not meet his eyes.
“Why, good evening, my lords! Miss Barrington, oh, and the lovely Nina. Have a care, Kline, she’s expensive. Can you afford her?”
Phoebe saw Lord Kline stiffen at the insult, but Nina just laughed, and Phoebe’s heart ached for her, knowing she had surmised the truth just as they all had: Alvanly would have cheated her.
“Darling Richard, how like you to say such a thing, when it is you who have cost me money. It’s you who are expensive goods, for I cannot afford to keep you, nor do I find any lingering desire to make the effort.”
She moved towards the table and held out the voluminous skirts of her lavish gown, sweeping the counters he had just won into the lush fabric as he glared daggers at her. “I believe this will pay the debt, give or take a few pounds,” she said, holding the baron’s furious gaze for a long moment before turning to Phoebe. “My debt, at least. I believe you have another to settle yet.”
She smiled as Lord Kline moved to her and offered his arm once more.
“Shall we go and change those into something more useful, Mrs Abercrombie?”
“Yes, please. I have a debt to pay of my own,” she said, her gaze softening as Kline looked upon her and did not look away. Her breath caught, and she gave a surprised little laugh before turning to Phoebe. “Happy hunting, dear,” she said, before allowing Kline to guide her away.
“Well, Miss Barrington, Lord Ellisborough, what can I do for you?”
“A game,” Phoebe said brightly before Max could speak. She ignored the way Alvanly kept referring to her unmarried status. He was only trying to ruffle her, and it would take a good deal more than that to do so. She took the purse of counters Max held from his hand and dropped it on the table with a muffled clatter. “I shall play you.”
Phoebe felt rather than saw Max react to her words, felt his desire to warn her, to tell her not to play such a man. She turned to look at him. Max held her gaze for a moment, and then smiled, pulling out the chair for her to sit down.
Alvanly laughed and held out his hands to display the empty table before him. “But what with? They have denied me credit here and I have nothing left to wager.”
Phoebe tsked at him like she was scolding a small boy. “Now, now, my lord. Do not be obtuse, not when we know you are still in possession of that valuable painting, and Max will lend you… shall we say fifty pounds on my behalf? I shall pay you back of course, Max”
Max stared at her and she could see his desire to speak, to ask what she was playing at, but he said nothing and nodded his agreement.
Greed flickered in Alvanly’s eyes, and Phoebe knew she had him. Her ability to pick locks aside, he had no reason to believe her anything less than a nice young lady who thought she had a fair hand with the cards because she won against her friends and family. She smiled at him, allowing him his illusion. Alvanly chuckled and looked up at Max, his gaze considering.
“You’ll allow this?” he asked. “It’s foolishness.”
Max returned an icy glare that her father would have been proud of. “You did the lady a great wrong, Alvanly. If she chooses