Page 25 of Beth: A Regency Romance Novell

“That is reassuring.” Marcus turned the glass in his hand admiring the way the light caught the facets of crystal tinted ruby by the wine. “How is Beth?” he asked as casually as he could.

“Very tired. She and Jenny are resting.”

Marcus yawned behind his hand. “I grew adept at going without sleep during my years in the army, but I confess to being weary.” He grinned. “Age catching up with me, I suppose.”

“Nonsense,” Andrew said. “You are several years younger than me. And I consider myself in my prime. But even so, you deserve a good rest. You have this trip to Greece approaching do you not?”

“Yes,” Marcus said. “I shall learn more about it shortly.”

“I don’t expect you to accompany me to Twickenham.”

“I’ll come, of course, if you wish it.”

Andrew shook his head. “Better I handle this matter alone. Beth has told me most of what happened, but now, I’d like to hear the rest from you.”

Marcus obliged with what he had discovered and gleaned from Ramsey while they dueled.

“Good Lord. The man is mad! You are known to excel at sword play, but if it had been me, I would have shot him,” Andrew said bluntly. “I’m not entirely sure I still won’t.”

Marcus doubted his friend would resort to violence. “Ramsey told me you accused him of cheating in Paris.” Marcus had wondered if the story was true. Andrew was an indifferent gambler.

“True enough.” Andrew said. “A young Frenchman, Oliver Benoit was my secretary in Paris. It shocked and distressed me when he put a gun to his head and ended his life. A friend had witnessed Ramsey playing Vingt-et-un with Oliver. Ramsey ruthlessly bankrupted him. I was so angry and upset I went to observe Ramsey’s play during several nights. I became convinced he was cheating. I watched as he targeted another unfortunate young stripling who had just inherited a large sum of money. I couldn’t allow that to continue. Dammit. My blood was up, Marcus. I liked Benoit! He was a young fool, but Ramsey was a poisonous blood sucker, who I had discovered, preyed on foolish young men. So I played a few hands with the baron, and

when my luck was in, the blighter began to draw cards from the bottom of the pack. He was good, but I still caught him at it. And accused him of it.”

Marcus was aware that the word of a duke carried as much weight in France as it did in England. Ramsey would have been disgraced and known as a cheat in all the gambling houses in France.

“Ramsey denied it, of course, but many men knew it was true,” Andrew said. “I expected Ramsey to repudiate it, to threaten me with retaliation, but like the coward he is, he escaped Paris with his tail between his legs.”

“Hasn’t he taken up cheating again in London?”

“He wouldn’t dare take that risk in gentlemen’s clubs, but maybe the gaming hells,” Andrew said.

“What do you plan to do?” Marcus asked. “Will you ask the Marquess of Strathairn to accompany you?”

“Tempting. John was remarkably efficient in ridding Castlebridge of a murderous fellow years ago, but there’s no time for that. And I’d rather see to Ramsey myself.” He narrowed his blue eyes. “I’ll enjoy it.”

“Ramsey’s as dangerous as a wounded wild animal,” Marcus said. “Let me come with you.”

Andrew shook his head. “I’ll take Mansfield, a big tough fellow, who is my head groom. In the past he was a pugilist. Maybe we’ll put Ramsey aboard a ship bound for the Antipodes.”

“If you don’t find him at Whittemore House, he might have gone to his castle in the north.”

Andrew shrugged. “Then I’ll go after him.”

“If that is the case, I will accompany you,” Marcus said in a determined tone. “Otherwise, I shall live in regret having failed to dispatch the man to Hades.”

“If you insist,” Andrew said with the hint of a smile.

Marcus put down his glass. “The chestnut I mentioned with the four white feet has a rough coat and I don’t like the look of one of its forelegs. Ramsey’s coachman is a ramshackle fellow and there was no groom. The thoroughbred is too good for the likes of the baron.”

“Like all his cattle, I imagine.” Andrew polished off the last of his wine and stood. “I’d best speak to Jenny and be on my way.”

Marcus walked with him to the door. “I’d like to see Beth when she feels more the thing.” He tried to sound casual, but suspected the tone of his voice gave him away.

Andrew glanced at him. “Shall we see you at dinner, or do you have a prior engagement?”

“I should like that. Thank you.”

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