Page 23 of Lucien's Gamble

“Twenty thousand?”she screeched.

“Hush, Jules!” He winced and shot a glance at the door. “Perhaps you should sit.”

“Good heavens,” she muttered, her eyes widening. Julienne began to tap her foot in a rapid staccato on the Aubusson rug. “Tell me that is your largest creditor.”

“Now, Julienne, I realize—”

“Out with it. We don’t have all night.”

“We should discuss this at home.”

“Oh, no. Right here will be sufficient.” She arched a brow. “Who is your largest creditor, and how much do you owe them?”

Hugh’s shoulders slumped. “Remington’s. I owe one hundred thousand pounds.”

Julienne swayed on her feet.“One hundred thousand?”she breathed as the blood drained from her face. “To Lucien Remington?”

He reached out to steady her. “Don’t faint, Jules,” he pleaded. “I’m sorry about all of this, but that bastard Remington kept my accounts open. White’s cut me off at twenty thousand, but—”

“No more!” she snapped, pushing him away. “Don’t blame Lucien Remington for your weakness. I will not have you disparaging him in any way. Do you understand?In any way.He has made something of himself, built an empire.Youhave done this to us. You alone are responsible.”

Hugh recoiled from her sharp tone, one she’d never used with him before. “He could ruin us!”

“And who gave him that power?” she countered.

He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off with an upraised hand. “I’m exhausted, and I don’t wish to discuss your problems anymore this evening. Fetch your cloak. We’re leaving.”

As the door to the parlor closed, the two intertwined figures on the settee separated, and one sat up.

“Fascinating,” Amanda murmured, as she straightened her bodice.

Magnus, Duke of Glasser, brushed aside her dark hair to nuzzle her neck. “Not as fascinating as what I have right here,” he murmured wickedly.

“Glass, for heaven’s sake. Don’t you realize we’ve just met our future daughter-in-law?” She brushed his roving hands away.

The duke heaved a long-suffering sigh and sat up beside her. “We didn’tmeetanyone. We eavesdropped. And it sounded like the chit has her claws in Fontaine. Why would she want Charles?”

“Charles?”She rolled her eyes. “For heaven’s sake, Glass, pay attention. I’m talking about Lucien.”

“Lucien?” he queried, obviously confused. “She’s an earl’s daughter. And from the sound of it, she’s well on her way to being a marchioness. What would she want with Lucien?”

“What woman wouldn’t want Lucien? He’s the spitting image of you, handsome devil that you are.” She smiled seductively. “And didn’t you hear Lady Julienne defend him? There’s something afoot there. Shelikeshim.”

“Lots of women like Lucien,” Magnus pointed out with a good dollop of fatherly pride. “Doesn’t mean he wants to marry them. Who knows if he’s even met the gel before?”

Amanda attempted to restore some order to her hair. “Trust me, darling. A woman knows these things. Lady Julienne took a personal offense to Montrose’s comments. I can assure you, they’ve met. You’ll see I’m right.”

She squealed as she was tackled back onto the settee.

“I’ve got something to show you,” the duke growled. “Right here.”

“You look awful.”

Lucien scowled as he paced the empty hazard room of Remington’s. “To hell with you, too, Marchant.”

His man-of-affairs laughed. “It’s unusually early for you to be here.”

“You’rehere,” Lucien retorted.

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