the boy. Grey, as he’d introduced himself, studied his cards and kept his eyes on the table, watching each play. He never looked up at the players directly, instead choosing to watch their hands. They had different strategies. Roe studied the people, made his plays that way, though obviously, he took the cards into consideration. But he knew how to judge the men he played with, what kinds of cards they held, and what kinds of choices they’d make based on those cards. He worked out the probabilities for every combination of cards. It was those odds and probabilities that he liked most about this game. The cards the other players ended up with affected Roe’s hand.
It had taken him nearly a month to convince Justin to allow him back here. Tonight had been twofold and he could say he wasn’t disappointed in how things were playing out. Grey was a talented player, and now that Cabot had left, Roe could sit back and enjoy the sheer skill of the game. Roe scratched at the table, indicating he wanted another card. It was a five, bringing his total to nineteen. Now it was up to the dealer.
The dealer had twenty, beating Roe, while the boy turned over the coveted twenty-one. He was paid and solemnly collected his coins. And so continued the game. Grey won most of his hands, Roe won most of his. But Cabot’s words echoed in his mind. If he were a true gentleman, he’d invite someone to play at his table out front.
He wouldn’t invite Cabot, because that would be too obvious. But he’d extend an invitation to Grey, as that would have the same affect. For whatever reason, Cabot had decided Roe was unworthy in some regard and therefore, wouldn’t agree to work for him. Perhaps, if the man saw Roe being hospitable to the young man, he’d change his mind. Roe needed to invite the boy to play at his table.
…
Caroline waited nearly a week before returning to the gaming hell. Monroe’s appearance in the back room had spooked her. Not so much that she hadn’t won, of course. In fact, winning when Monroe was at the table had added a certain thrill to the proceedings. Nevertheless, in the cold light of the morning, it had seemed smarter to avoid him in the future.
So she had stayed away from Rodale’s, knowing he’d lose interest quickly enough. She knew better than anyone that Monroe had a very short attention span. The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” might have been invented for him.
“Grey, good to have you back,” Cabot said. “I thought perhaps the big, bad duke scared you away.”
She settled in at her usual table and gave Cabot a tight grin, not wanting to give him a full smile. “No, just been busy.”
“What’s your conflict with Chanceworth?” Finley asked Cabot.
Cabot shrugged. “He’s entitled, arrogant. I don’t much care for these lazy, wealthy men who sit in the convenience and comforts of their homes while the rest of us dig in the hot sand, get bitten by bloody snakes, and the damned titled fool gets all the credit for the discoveries.” Cabot gritted his teeth. “I don’t like that.”
“Evidently,” Finley said with a chuckle.
One of the men who worked at Rodale’s stepped over to the table. Caroline recognized him from her previous visits; he wasn’t a dealer, so she suspected he was some sort of manager. He looked directly at her.
“Mr. Grey, you’ve been invited to play at the Duke of Chanceworth’s table this evening,” the man said. “In the other room.”
Well, she had thought Monroe’s attention span was short. On the other hand, perhaps his memory wasn’t as faulty as she’d expected. She didn’t want to consider what it said about her that she was more memorable as a dirt-covered boy than when she was trussed up in her silken finery.
“That’s quite an honor,” Finley said. “At least the duke will see it as such.”
“You’ll have to come back and report to us,” Cabot said. “Tell us all how it is on the other side.” The men in the room roared with laughter.
Boomer eyed her, but she gave him a quick shake of the head. She knew it would draw more attention for her to decline the invite than to simply accept, so she nodded.
“I’m Clipps,” the man said.
“I’m Grey.” She followed the man through the doors that connected this room with the main room. The difference was breathtaking.
She tried to school her