Page 4 of Claiming his Cursed Duchess
“Your cards are on the table Henry; you have shown your hand,” Adam replied, forcing his voice to remain steady even as frustration rolled off him in waves, radiating out so the other players shrank back. “Besides, you have already gambled the night away, and we have obligations this morning morebefittingof our status.”
Henry tried and failed to shrug Adam’s hand off his shoulder.
“Not now, Adam, tell those obligations that ourstatusmeans we can be as late as we want.” He took a deep swig from his glass and banged it down on the table. “I am in need of another whiskey, which will take me at least two rounds of cards to finish.”
Henry gestured sloppily to a man in the shadows, who stepped forward to refill the glass, but Adam froze the man in place with a glare.
“Oddly enough, brother, I find an empty glass and a fumbled hand to be an excellent time to leave the table. We should be off.” Adam’s stony gaze swept over the other men at the table, who nodded nervously in agreement, all except Redmond Heron, who smiled like a viper ready to snap its fangs over the neck of its prey.
“Where’s my whiskey?” Henry ignored the way the duke loomed over him, frowning around and gesturing again to the man for more.
“It is terribly rude to leave a table without settling one’s debts, as well.” Redmond finally spoke up, his voice oily as it slithered through the dimly lit air.
The drunks at the table all flinched to attention when he spoke.
“Don’t you agree, Your Grace?” The moneylender seemed to be the only sober man gambling, which didn’t surprise Adam one bit.
“Has my brother accrued any debt at this table, Mr. Heron?” Adam asked evenly, his grip tightening on Henry’s shoulder, making the younger man wince and squirm.
Fool,Adam thought, his jaw clenching.Always getting himself into trouble.
“He has, and not just over this current evening, I fear.” Mr. Heron’s dark beady eyes glimmered in the low light as he sat back in his chair.
“It is not all that bad, Adam,” Henry waved unsteadily, as if it were some trivial matter. “I have been courting Lady Luck with the best of them, they’ve been telling me so.”
He winced again and fell silent as Adam’s grip tightened on his shoulder.
Idiotic boy,Adam thought, resisting the urge to shake him.If only he could see the danger he’s in.
“What debt has my brother accrued?” Adam’s words were slow, his growl almost reluctant.
How much of a fool has Henry made of us this time?
“In all standing, given the unpaid debt and … interest, which only seems fair,” Redmond smiled, his words oozing with smugness as he sized Adam up, taking in his fine, tailored jacket and freshly shined leather shoes. “I think it would be best to say one thousand and three hundred pounds.”
Adam’s vision flashed red, a primal rage igniting within him. His grip on Henry tightened, a silent warning to the younger man to stay out of this.
Henry yelped, and Adam released him immediately, his jaw clenched so hard that a muscle twitched and shivered in his cheek.
He took a deep breath, attempting to quell the storm brewing inside him.
Adam forced his tone to remain civil, though frustration crackled beneath the surface.
“Your math is faulty, Mr. Heron. I do not pay my debts based on fairness, but on facts and sums.” He shifted his weight, a subtle display of dominance, wishing the pain in his leg would subside.
I cannot afford to make a mistake with this shark,he reminded himself, his eyes narrowing.He may be untitled, but he is not without influence.
Redmond placed an elbow on the table, leaning forward, a smug grin plastered on his face.
“Apologies, Your Grace, but my bookkeeping is of the mental variety, so I believe we will have to honor the full amount, for fairness’ sake.”
The duke blinked, feeling the tenuous thread binding him to civility finally fray and snap.
Enough is enough,he thought, his eyes narrowing.
“You forget yourself, Mr. Heron,” Adam’s voice was low and hushed, the men at the table suddenly becoming very uneasy, shifting in their seats, holding their breath to better hear him.
“And you forget your station,” Adam continued, his broad shoulders set squarely, authority clear in the sharp lines of his jaw and brow, blue eyes dark. “I tire of entertaining your games.”
