Page 6 of The Wager of a Lady
“I play at times.” Leo didn’t look pleased. “How is Lady Dunley?”
The other gentleman was studying Georgina as if she were of great interest. “Tedious. Looks like you’re having much more fun.”
“Mr. Murphy has been kind enough to instruct me on gaming.”
His eyes widened just slightly at the sound of her accent. “Introduce me, Leo. I’d like to properly meet the woman you haven’t bored to death with your talk of numbers.” He winked at her. “She hasn’t even nodded off yet.”
“Lady Masterson,” Leo nodded to her, “may I introduce Lord Welles.” Murphy stood and waved his brother into the seat he’d vacated. “My brother.”
Ah. Obviously. The two looked very much alike in addition to the eyes.
“Lady Masterson.” Lord Welles took her hand. Dressed all in indigo, a perfect foil for such masculine perfection, Welles really was incredibly appealing. But he didn’t cause a flutter inside her chest as Leo Murphy did.
“I had heard Masterson wed himself to a young American, and here you are.”
“Yes, directly in front of you.”
Leo’s lips twitched.
“How interesting.”
“Not really,” Georgina said. “I can’t imagine I’m the only one roaming about London. There’s bound to be one or two more. Americans, that is. Not young ladies married to Lord Masterson. I’m the only one, as far as I know.”
Welles looked at her a moment longer and then burst into laughter. “You’re delicious, Lady Masterson. I’ll keep you company for a bit, if you don’t mind. I like faro.”
Georgina had the feeling he wasn’t asking her permission but Murphy’s.
“Careful, Tony. She bites,” Murphy said smoothly, relinquishing her to his brother’s company. Taking her hand, his fingers curled protectively over hers, thumb rubbing gently over her wrist. He bowed and whispered, “It has been a great pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Masterson. Should you require anything, you need only ask.”
You.She almost whispered.I require you.
Lord Welles watched the exchange between them with open interest. His mouth, just as wide as his brother’s, spread into a smile.
“Good evening, Lady Masterson. I’ll leave you in my brother’s care.”
“Mr. Murphy.” She inclined her head. “I enjoyed our conversation.”
He paused and took her in. “Then I’m certain we’ll have another.” Nodding once more, Murphy strode off, the ever-increasing crowd on the gaming floor swallowing him until she couldn’t see him anymore.
1
London, two years later
“Iunderstand you won me in a game of cards.”
Leo looked up at the beautiful young woman standing outside his office, unsurprised to see her. She slammed the door behind her, hard enough to make the small painting on his wall tremble. Lady Masterson appeared as if she were about to launch herself at him. Even her fists were clenched.
Georgina had a temper. Leo had witnessed it a time or two. Lord Browden could also attest to her ability to throw a punch. To be fair to Georgina, Browden had tried to grope her in one of Elysium’s many hallways. A mistake on Browden’s part in more ways than one. The earl had since been informed that Lady Masterson was under the protection of the owner of Elysium and Lord Welles. If he meant to keep his membership, Browden should give her wide berth.
“I absolutely did not,” Leo replied, returning to the papers on his desk. “I’m very busy, my lady. If you’ll show yourself out.” He discreetly slid the letter opener on his desk beneath one of his ledgers. Just in case.
It wasn’t an unusual occurrence for Leo to have someone in his office accusing him of all sorts of disreputable things. Such was the life of a gambling hell owner. He’d already had to explain to Lord Nivens tonight that the cards at the piquet table weren’t marked, he was only a terrible player. Yesterday, it had been Lord Halifax who’d wagered, stupidly, that his grandfather, a duke, wouldn’t see another winter and now wanted the wager erased from the Red Book in which it was recorded. Earlier, Lady Lowell had appeared to announce that someone had told her husband she was using one of the rooms on the second floor to service her lover.
Leo had been the lover in question.Had.He thought the lady more upset he’d lost interest in her so quickly. But very few women held Leo’s attention for very long.
Except for the one before him.
She’d had his attention and that of his cock every day since he’d met her.
