Chapter 7 #3
Metcalfe eyed him, looking as worried as if Richard had confirmed the suspicions. “You might not want to be showing the lads that, Thanet.”
Richard wanted to take this lightly, but he couldn’t. An accusation of cheating could be a serious blow to the dukedom—no one would ever trust Cecil again. Even young Stephen would carry the stain on his honor.
“So a man can’t practice to improve his skills?” Richard asked lightly.
“I never thought you wanted to improve,” Metcalfe said. “You always said what fun was money unless you were practically giving it away.”
Cecil could be such a fool, Richard thought tiredly. Once again, he was going to have to take care of his brother’s problems.
“Metcalfe, I can’t be having my honor questioned—what I’ve got of it, anyway. Let’s go.”
“But Thanet—”
Richard swaggered into the card room, and he noticed that Metcalfe hung back.
So the man could warn Richard, but not associate with him in too obvious a manner.
Things were bad indeed. Cecil was not a man people hated—he didn’t have enough principles to take a stand.
Therefore, someone had to be deliberately making the duke look suspect.
Would their cousin Charles feel that this helped him somehow in obtaining Stephen’s guardianship? Was this the initial salvo of a war?
First things first. There were several different card games going on at various tables. Richard made a decision on his plan of attack.
“Gentlemen, could I have your attention?” he bellowed, cutting through the raised voices. His grin was genial, his posture relaxed.
Several men gave him their immediate attention; he was a duke after all. It rather annoyed him that a local baron didn’t even turn his head.
Richard headed for the baron’s table first, “accidentally” stumbling over the man’s chair to distract him. The baron looked up, and his grimace faded when the Duke of Thanet peered down at him.
“Do I have everyone’s attention now?” Richard asked.
The sound of voices finally faded away. Some expressions were friendly, others wary, some cunning, and more than a few looked disappointed.
“Gentlemen, it has come to my attention that someone has decided to spread a rumor that I cheat at cards.”
There were looks of surprise, even approval. Several heads came together as a low buzz hummed throughout the room.
Richard spread his arms wide, his drink in one hand.
“I have come to protest my innocence. I am available to play any who wish to attempt to prove me false. You can all watch me for signs of cheating. I am simply a man who decided to improve his card skills, because a duke should play better than his six-year-old son.”
Several men laughed. One called out, “So the ladies aren’t as distracting as they used to be, Thanet?”
Richard grinned. “I didn’t say that. But you don’t see any here now, do you?”
A Whist player asked if he’d like to partner, and Richard was in business.
He won in Whist, broke even in Vingt-et-un, and in Commerce his choices proved correct more often than not.
The tension in the room eased, and Richard risked a glance at Metcalfe, who wiped his brow and nodded his approval. Crisis averted.
Metcalfe escorted him out of the room as news of Richard’s triumph at cards spread.
Richard was feeling a little cocky, a little too in control of the situation, so he thought nothing of seeing Miss Shelby on their side of the Assembly.
She stood demurely near the children’s party, far too short to see much.
He thought she might be standing on her toes, and he realized she must be looking for him.
There could be no good reason why she’d invade this room, much as he had fantasized about taking her in his arms for a waltz.
Richard started toward her.
“Who’s that?” Metcalfe asked.
Richard hadn’t realized that Metcalfe was still with him. The man was ogling Miss Shelby like she was fresh meat on market day.
“My governess.”
Metcalfe yanked on his elbow, pulling Richard to a halt. “So she’s the one you’ve chosen? I can see why.”
Richard wanted to frown his confusion. Chosen for what? Instead he gave Cecil’s usual disarming grin and hoped for the best. “I chose her to be my son’s governess, yes.”
Metcalfe elbowed him in the ribs. “You know what I mean. So you haven’t chosen her? Then why’s she here?”
“Because my son is here?” Richard elbowed him in return. “I don’t see him with her. I’ll be back.”
Metcalfe leered in Miss Shelby’s direction. “Take your time.”
As Richard crossed the crowded room, he could perfectly see the effect that Miss Shelby’s presence caused, as if a pebble had been thrown into a pond, and ripples spread outward.
Men watched her with interest, while the women’s dismay was palpable.
Richard felt a sense of possession he wasn’t entitled to, and he was relieved when Renee Barome stepped in front of Miss Shelby and began to talk to her.
When he joined them, Renee was looking about, trying to hide a frown. Richard’s feeling of well-being vanished.