Page 116 of The Lord Meets His Lady
“Don’t forget your bet of a hundred pounds,” Samuel said.
“Of course, how clumsy of me.” The Prussian added a wad of pound notes to the pile and dealt five cards to himself and Marcus. He set two widow cards facedown on the baize before turning the trump card face up.
The ace of hearts.
Marcus set aside his glass, the whiskey’s woody flavor on his lips. Beside him, Samuel’s eyes turned to icy chips.
The cards. Marcus picked them up. A pair of tens. And three heart cards. His heart thudded in his chest. Hecouldwin.
Herr Wolf examined his cards. “Do you wish to discard this hand or not?”
“No.”
Herr Wolf brooded, while his index finger circled the back of the center card. “Do you wish to discard and seek your widow?”
“No widows tonight.”
“And none for me,” the Wolf’s voice rumbled.
A clock chimed half past midnight.
“Shall we show our cards?”
Genevieve wedged her way beside Samuel. She was wide-eyed and pale.
“Please do.” The Prussian’s voice was smooth as he fanned his cards on the table.
Herr Wolf had nothing.
Marcus took a deep breath and laid his cards for all to see. Chairs creaked. Men leaned in.
Lord Barnard announced their hands. “Rotten luck for both of you. A pair of tens, a queen of hearts for Bowles. And a mess of low cards for Wolf.”
Samuel exhaled slowly, his grip on the chair relaxing.
“Nobody won?” Genevieve worried the gold trim at her waist.
Baron Atal smiled at her. “Bowles did…with his queen.”
“Then we can go home.”
“The sooner the better,” Marcus said.
“On the contrary.” Herr Wolf sifted through his cards, revealing the hidden middle card. “I won.”
The king of hearts.
Marcus froze.
The Prussian stood, his massive size causing men to inch back. With a heartless smile, he gathered his winnings and passed the IOU to his host. “Baron, would you be so kind as to send one of your men to fetch my new stallion?”
Mouth pursed, Atal checked the cards and nodded. “I’ll send a man to Pallinsburn in the morning.”
“Now is better. I wish to inspect my possession tonight.”
The baron grimaced at Samuel, but as gentlemen, the bet would be honored.
“I’ll see to it.” Atal waved to Marston.
