Won By the Viscount (Legendary Lords of the Ton #2)

Chapter 1

VISCOUNT KENDRICK

The cards were in my favor tonight. I almost felt guilty for the man seated across from me who hadn’t had the sense to fold. Honestly, I was doing him a service by pushing him to give up. Brag was not his game, and he was clearly out of his depth.

I raised the stakes. The air in the gaming room at King’s was tense with expectation as people stopped to watch the two of us. The other players had long since tossed in their cards since my victory was all but certain. Only a fool would continue.

I could tell by the way Baron Weston’s jaw tightened ever so slightly that he knew he was about to lose. But then he forced himself to relax and leaned forward. “Will you take something in lieu of money?”

I shouldn’t have found it shocking that he was so stubborn.

If he was in his cups, I’d deny his request. But as far as I’d seen, Weston hadn’t had a drop to drink all night.

I wasn’t about to take his townhouse or be fooled into accepting a piece of property that turned out to be entailed and beyond my reach.

I leaned back in my chair. “That depends on what it is.”

“A jewel,” he said, a gleam in his eye. “A rare family jewel that is highly valued.”

I watched him carefully, wondering which female family member he was about to deprive of a prized bauble.

I should have denied his request. But the sly expression on Weston’s face daring me to fold made me hesitate.

If he was foolish enough to give away a family heirloom, perhaps this was a lesson he needed to learn.

Viscount Fairfax, who sat to my left, leaned in close. “I don’t think you should agree.” When I raised a brow, he lowered his voice and continued, “I thought you only accepted money.”

I shrugged. “It’s a jewel. I can sell it.”

Fairfax’s eyes narrowed. He looked at Weston then back at me. “I don’t think you’ll be able to sell this.”

“Why? Because it might be a family heirloom?”

Fairfax’s concern seemed unwarranted. “I’m not as soft-hearted as you. If the fool is willing to bet something that is precious to his family, it isn’t my concern.”

“I think you should listen to me on this,” Fairfax said.

I couldn’t understand why the man was being so squeamish about a jewel. “Are you still bitter that I’ve been trouncing you all evening?”

Fairfax raised his hands in surrender and leaned back in his chair. “Never say I didn’t warn you.”

I ignored him and met Weston’s gaze. “What type of jewel?”

His expression was intense. “A diamond.”

A few gasps from the spectators told me they knew something I didn’t. Did his family possess a diamond valued so highly?

I nodded to the baron. If he wanted to lose it, I would give him that opportunity.

I motioned to one of the footmen standing at attention, and he handed Weston a piece of paper, a quill, and an inkpot to write the promissory note.

Weston scribbled a few words, signed the note with a flourish, then tossed it onto the large pile of coins between us.

“That is all I have, if you’re thinking of raising again.”

I shrugged. “No need.”

I showed him my hand, grinning when Weston swore and tossed his cards face down on the table.

I signaled for the footman to collect the coins and stood. “Perhaps next time you should stop before you give away something you don’t want to lose.”

His eyes narrowed on me. I had the feeling he was about to say something, but he merely nodded. “Call on me tomorrow at one.”

He turned, and I watched him leave.

Fairfax clapped me on the shoulder. “I don’t think you should have done that.” He plucked the promissory note from where it rested atop the collected coins and unfolded it. “I knew it,” he said, shaking his head. He handed me the small paper.

I scanned the words.

To Viscount Kendrick:

As promised, I am giving you the rarest jewel I possess. The diamond of the season… Miss Caroline Edwards.

You may call on me tomorrow afternoon, and we can discuss this matter further.

—Baron Weston

I stared at the words for almost a full minute. “This can’t be real.”

I turned to Fairfax, who had wisely stepped back. He raised his hands in surrender. “I tried to tell you that you didn’t want to accept his note.”

“Did he actually…?” I couldn’t say the words.

Rexford was going to be furious when he found out what had just transpired in his club.

Fairfax nodded. “He gave you his sister. The woman who refused to have a season last year and had to be forced to come to town this year. The woman every other man wants. Now she’s yours.”

I swore and stormed from the card room.