Page 30 of Whiskers and Wiles

“If we improve medical care for women and children, then they need not perish as they have in the past,” Pollock said as he finished dealing, then set the remaining cards in the center of the table, the deck facing down and one card facing up. “I believe a great many of the women attending Oxford University are studying medicine, which will advance medical science, particularly in the care of female conditions and childbirth.”

“I will grant you that women are the best nurses and midwives for other women,” MacLeod said, finishing with his cards, then throwing a guinea coin into the center of the table.

The rest of them did the same, and the game had begun.

“There you have it,” Pollock said, as if he’d won the point. “If women are best for healing other women, then perhaps women would also be best at defending other women in court. And there you see the need for female barristers.”

MacLeod let out another of his loud laughs as each of the men around the table discarded a spade from their hands. At least, until Gruffudd did not have a spade and was forced to pick cards from the pile in the center until he had one to play.

“Men should always defend women,” MacLeod said, discarding a three of hearts atop the three of spades Gruffudd eventually played. “Just as men should always be the head of a household, and a nation.” He looked teasingly at Pollock, one eyebrow raised, as if in challenge.

“Ah, there you have me,” Pollock said. “I happen to believe women could accomplish a great deal more than we give them credit for. Do you not think so, Mr. Goodall?”

“Are we discussing the Mercian Plan?” Goodall asked, perking up somewhat as he played a heart. “Because I most definitely have opinions about the Mercian Plan.”

Waldorf drew in a breath and tried not to look overly excited. Whether Pollock had known in advance upon inviting the man to the game or not, Goodall seemed to be on their side. Waldorfhad no qualms at all about him being the one to introduce the topic of the evening.

He attempted to move the discussion along by saying, “I’ve thought long and hard about the Mercian Plan myself.”

Before he could get any farther, however, Kat stepped hurriedly into the door way, a searching look on her face. As soon as she spotted Waldorf, that expression turned to one of victory.

“There you are, Lord Waldorf,” she said, entering the room by her own leave. “Come to cause trouble with these kind gentlemen?”

As happy as part of Waldorf was to see Kat, and as excited as he immediately became when he observed that she was in a heightened state of energy, dread also flooded him. Kat did not know the purpose of the card game. And while he could not be certain, he strongly suspected whatever mission she had been charged with for the evening, it was not so very different from his.

“Lady Katherine,” Pollock said, looking as anxious as Waldorf felt. “How delightful to see you again.”

Kat dragged her gaze away from Waldorf, glancing around the table to Pollock and the others. “Gentlemen,” she said, stepping farther into the room. “Don’t you all look as though you are enjoying yourselves.”

“We are,” Waldorf said, intending to continue on to tell her off and to imply they would speak later.

“Oh, we are, we are,” MacLeod seconded. “But we would enjoy ourselves a great deal more with pleasant, feminine company, such as I know you could provide.”

Kat’s smile remained perfectly intact, but Waldorf saw the spark of defiance in her eyes. “What enjoyments are these?” she asked, striding boldly up to the table and casting her eyes over the cards and money scattered there.

“It is a new game,” Blackthorne said, somewhat dismissively. “Mad Eights. It is far too complicated for a woman to understand.”

“Oh, I would not be so certain of that,” Kat said, eyeing one of the two empty chairs at the table. “I daresay I would surprise you all with my abilities at the card table.”

“That truly is not necessary,” Waldorf growled, trying to catch Kat’s eyes so that he could hold them and tell her not to interfere.

Kat did meet his eyes, but the only emotion Waldorf saw there was pure stubbornness. Kat was angry with him, and while he did not have the first idea why, or at least what she could be angry with him for in the immediate moment, his stony expression appeared to have no effect on her.

In fact, rather than leaving, she said, “I would like to be dealt into this game.”

Waldorf let out a heavy breath, scrambling to come up with a way to get rid of her. Yes, they had a thousand things they needed to discuss, but now was most certainly not the time.

MacLeod was the one who set his cards down and said, “By all means, join us. We’ve only just begun this round, and it can easily be stopped and another player dealt in.”

“Thank you, my lord,” she said, taking the seat between Gruffudd and Blackthorne. “You, at least, are very kind.” She glared across the table at Waldorf.

Waldorf wanted to scream in frustration. What was Kat doing, and what was she hoping to accomplish? There was no way to know unless he allowed her to continue with whatever quest she was on. He only hoped he could stop her from damaging the greater mission of the evening.

“Do you know the rules of this game, Lady Katherine?” Pollock asked Kat nervously as he shuffled, then re-dealt the cards. It was clear to Waldorf that he was attempting to speakwith her as one spy to another, though whether Pollock knew who Kat worked for and in what capacity was unclear to Waldorf.

“Yes, of course, I do,” Kat replied, picking up her cards as they were dealt, as the others did. “The purpose is to play the cards one has been dealt, is it not?” She stared at Waldorf as she asked her question.

“It is,” Waldorf answered her. “Cards of a similar suit are played until a card of the same number is played, changing the suit. If an eight is played, the player may change to whichever suit he prefers.”

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