Page 5 of Enchanted By the Lyon
Lucius once more took a quick glance at his cards before he placed them on the green felt table. “I fold,” he muttered as his gaze went to the others at the table.
Simon, Earl Rockliffe, was the brother of the Marquis of Wickes’s wife, Josephine. Captain Gideon Tyler was Asher’s younger brother, although why he wore a patch over his right eye when Lucius knew he could see perfectly well was anyone’s guess. The bit of cloth certainly didn’t hide the fact that a scar ran from the middle of his forehead down his right cheek. Valentine Pierce, Earl of Carrington, was another friend of Asher’s and Lucius had found him pleasant enough company.
What sounded like an amused snort left the only other man at the table causing Lucius to hide his own opinion to himself. He could do without the company of Forbes, Viscount Hollingsworth. The man was a complete arse and always full of himself. It was hard to believe that he considered this man his friend in his youth. Lucius’s opinion of him had fallen even further when it was rumored Forbes was rough with his mistresses. Even a lady fallen on hard times didn’t deserve to be mistreated.
“Won’t take a chance on your hand, eh Blackthorn?” Hollingsworth sneered before tossing a stack of coins into the center of the table.
Lucius took up his drink. Not bothering to answer the viscount since he wasn’t worth the effort, he instead turned his attention to Valentine sitting to his right. “Care to find otherentertainments once you collect your winnings?” he asked the earl with what he knew to be a sly grin.
Val laughed. “Most definitely,” he declared, before tossing in his bet. “What did you have in mind?”
Lucius nodded toward the stairs leading to the women on the third floor. He had an appetite to fill and had no desire to return to Virtue tonight. He needed something to get Cassandra Vaughn out of his head or else he’d be giving Virtue a substantial settlement and seeing if Mrs. Vaughn might be amicable to an arrangement with him.
Hollingsworth waved his hand in the air. “Are we playing cards or not?”
Gideon also folded his cards. “I’m out. I can’t afford to lose much more, or I’ll never hear the end of it from my brother.”
Mustardseed’s gaze went around the table. “Anyone else care to place a bet, gentlemen?”
Simon chuckled before he also threw his cards on the table. “I believe I’ll let Val finish Hollingsworth off.”
Mustardseed nodded to the remaining men in the game. “Show your cards, gentlemen.”
Hollingsworth quickly fanned his cards out and grinned, thinking he had the winning hand. But as Val slowly flipped one card over after the other, the viscount’s smile evaporated. He slammed his fists on the table with a howl of disappointment. Standing quickly, he overturned his chair, yelling for a brandy as he left.
Lucius chuckled. “Well… that was most satisfying. I cannot stand that fool and am happy we no longer have to deal with his presence.”
Val began to gather his winnings. “I’m not sure how Hollingsworth even made it through the front door. Are the standards slipping here at the Lyon’s Den?” he inquired with a frown.
Simon chuckled. “I doubt it, but if Hollingsworth can gain entrance, maybe they’ll just let anyone in these days.”
Val nodded toward the disgruntled viscount. “Didn’t you know him back in your days at Oxford?”
Lucius scowled as his past came back to the forefront of his mind. “Unfortunately, yes. We were good friends when we first met. Had the same interests, or so I thought at the time. Forbes tried to convince me to invest in something I had a hunch was a scam. I tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen. He lost almost everything and then blamed me, for some absurd reason. There were other things about him that ended our friendship but I won’t go into details here.”
Val nodded and Lucius was thankful he didn’t push the matter. “I think we can find someone upstairs to turn the evening around for the better.”
Simon stood, pulling on the fob in his waistcoat and then flicked open his watch. “Since you gentlemen appear to be heading to the third floor to avail yourself to the pleasures found there, I’ll leave you to it. My mistress is expecting me, and I’d hate to keep the lady waiting any longer.”
Lucius waved his hand in the direction of the stairs. “Plenty of choices upstairs to… satisfy you.”
Simon smirked. “Maybe another time.”
Lucius shrugged turning toward Gideon. “Care to join us in the fun?”
The younger man glanced in the direction of the stairwell but quickly shook his head. “I’ll beg off… this time.”
Val laughed. “Looks like it’s just you and me, Blackthorn.”
“Let’s find my brother Leopold. He’s always up for an adventure,” Lucius proclaimed as he began making his way through the crowded room in search of his brother. He finally spotted him and frowned, knowing this particular table tended to have unusual bets. Just then a round of glasses brimming witha green liquid was set before the players by a servant. Before Lucius could reach his brother, all the men had downed their drinks, then began coughing at whatever the concoction was that they had swallowed.
“Egads!” Leopold bellowed when he could finally breath. “What the bloody hell did you just serve us?”
Lucius reached his brother and bent over to whisper in his ear. “This is one table you shouldn’t be placing your bets at, Leo.”
Leopold waved his hand and Lucius realized his brother was far into his cups. The green drink had probably helped in that matter. “I can drink any of these fools under the table. Come join us,” he slurred.
“I think not, and I can see that my evening is coming to an end,” Lucius said as he grabbed his brother under one arm before motioning to Valentine. “Help me get him into my carriage, will you?”
