Chapter Thirty-Four
The following night, at six p.m. sharp, at the Lyon’s Den on Cumberland Row, Teddy prepared to face off with Lord Belfry before the entirety of the Den’s occupants.
Evidently Mrs. Dove-Lyon had decided to make a spectacle of tonight’s event.
Teddy and Belfry each occupied a satin-covered, wingback armchair which the den’s proprietress had positioned in the center of the gambling floor, on a roped-off, raised platform. She presided between them, holding court behind a gleaming wooden podium.
None of the myriad games and entertainments for which the Den was known were taking place. Instead, onlookers comprised of patrons and employees alike swarmed the platform. Excited murmurs and a palpable air of expectation filled the air.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon lifted one black-gloved hand. Abruptly, the muted strains of an unseen symphony went silent. In an instant, the crowd ceased its prattle.
The widow smiled. Her head swiveled as she, seemingly, took in the throng of spectators.
“Gentlemen, welcome, and congratulations on choosing this auspicious night to take your entertainment at the Lyon’s Den.
Behold Lord Belfry, the Baron of Gladstone, and his challenger Lord Arlington, the Viscount of Helmsley. ”
At her pronouncement, a rolling din of excited chatter spread through the crowd. Teddy had to give it to the lady. She knew how to put on a show. No doubt she’d worked out a way to make money on this venture, as well.
She raised her hand once more and silence descended. With the air of a practiced orator, she went on. “In lieu of a duel over a matter of some honor which shall remain nameless, the viscount and the baron have agreed to a competition—of the baron’s choice.
“Lord Belfry, do you wish to engage the viscount in a shooting match, a knife toss, or a riddle?”
Belfry displayed no anxiety whatsoever and Teddy gave thanks his wife was not here to witness her father’s true colors. His eyes, alight with the zeal of an avid gambler, met Teddy’s. “I choose a riddle.”
As Teddy had known—as Georgina had feared. They both knew the man was once a noted puzzle master. Evidently, Mrs. Dove-Lyon was also aware. The woman’s well of intelligence concerning the whole of London society was nothing short of mind boggling.
But what Teddy knew, and, he would guess no one else here did, was that he was also adept at logic. He’d had to be, to survive his childhood. The earl regularly tested his reasoning skills—and he brooked no errors. Not without serious consequences.
“Lay your wagers,” she told her patrons. “The riddle will be read in two minutes.”
Mayhem exploded through the arena as bookies accepted bets and odds were tallied and then tallied again.
In exactly two minutes, the widow’s hand went up, again.
She slipped her hand into a hidden pocket and withdrew a piece of folded parchment. Unfolding it, she lay it before her on the podium. Then, she read aloud:
I hold a court, though wear no crown, where kings may rise or be cast down.
I teach the art of loss and gain, yet seek no profit for my pain.
My judgments shape both heart and hand,
My rules are firm, yet understand.
Fifty-two may answer my call, but love’s the greatest suit of all.
In my domain, the weak grow strong, I right what’s right and mark what’s wrong.
My wealth, once spent, returns to me—what falls may rise eventually.
I shuffle fate with gentle care, And deal to each their proper share.
When I am just, my house stands tall; When I betray their trust, all fall. Who am I?
“Gentlemen, you have five minutes.”
With that, she nodded to one of her employees, a woman dressed in an elaborate ball gown. The woman bypassed the ropes to deliver a copy of the riddle, a slip of paper, and a pencil to Teddy, and presumably gave the same to Belfry.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the baron grin and set something to paper. He had his answer, that fast.
Teddy thought he knew the answer, as well. And yet…would the crafty Black Widow be so obvious?
He reread the riddle. The number—fifty-two, kings, suits, shuffling, dealing, rise and fall, loss and gain. And, lest he forget, they were in a gambling den. A deck of cards seemed the logical answer.
And yet.
He read the riddle again. Court could refer to a household. Teaching. Love as the greatest suit. Gentle care. Dealing fairly.
He narrowed his eyes on the widow. She had banished the baron from her establishment. She also seemed particularly fond of his wife. Might she wish to send a message?
He read the last lines again. When I am just, my house stands tall. When I betray their trust, they fall.
He closed his eyes. Saw his own father, scowling down at him as he worked on his math, or his Latin, or any other thing for which he could receive a pass or fail. His answer was correct. It had to be.
He wrote his answer.
“Time,” the widow intoned aloud. “Baron, what is your answer?”
The baron grinned. “A deck of cards.”
The patrons cheered and clapped.
The widow lifted her hand. With money on the line, Teddy wasn’t surprised that it took some time for the room to settle. But with the sudden arrival of several burly men, employees all, eventually it did.
“Lord Arlington, what is your answer.”
He held up his paper. The woman employee collected it and delivered it to Mrs. Dove-Lyon.
The widow read, then smiled. “A good father,” she said aloud, articulating, and, to Teddy, by the set of her shoulders and the angle of her head, she seemed to be glaring at Belfry.
“Lord Arlington wins.”
Chaos ensued. Shouts and laughter, whistles and catcalls, the sound of champagne being uncorked and glass being shattered, all congealed.
Meanwhile Teddy rose to his feet and approached his stunned-looking father-in-law. He offered his hand and helped the man to his feet.
“I can’t believe it. It never even occurred to me. A good father? Who would have guessed such a thing?”
Teddy refrained from giving the obvious answer—that he had, and that it did not surprise him that Georgina’s father had not.
“Well, sir, we had a deal. No more gambling, and you’ll start working off your debt first thing Monday morning at the hospital.”
“But…I do not know the first thing about attending a hospital.”
Teddy gave him a quizzical look. “Neither do I.”
“What has that to do with anything, Arlington?” Belfry asked looking vexed.
Teddy smiled. “I’ll be right beside you, Belfry. I intend to volunteer my services, as well, for Drake. We both owe it to his memory.”