Luke bet his twenty-five. Catherine bet hers.
Jack studied Luke. Studied Catherine. “I fold.”
Catherine looked so incredibly pleased.
Luke matched the bet. Catherine placed fifty pounds worth of chips in the center. “See you.”
Luke sighed deeply. “Catherine, the maximum is twenty-five, and the only way to win at this game is not to let people know what you’re thinking.”
“And you know what I’m thinking?”
“I do.”
“Then I shall lose.”
“Indeed.”
“I should not have placed the wager.”
“You shouldn’t have placed any of them. At least take the last one back and fold.”
“But once a wager has been made, it can’t be withdrawn.”
“We shall make an exception.”
“I don’t wish to have an exception made. I’m of the belief that a person learns more from his mistakes than his successes, and I’m quite willing to put that belief to the test.”
He sighed again and waved his hand over the chips. “Gentlemen. I’ll allow the lady to learn from her mistake.”
He turned over three kings.
Catherine turned her cards over. Luke stared at the three threes. There was no better hand in brag.
“If I remember the rank of better cards, while it would seem that three kings are better, actually my hand is, and so it appears that all this lovely money comes to me.”
“But—”
“I would venture to guess, my lord, that you did not know what I was thinking.” She stood. “I believe, I’ve made my point. It’s getting rather late and we should be leaving soon.”
Frannie helped her gather up all her chips. Catherine walked out as though she’d just been crowned.
Luke couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing. “Damn, but I do enjoy her.”
His outburst was met with silence, and he was suddenly very much aware of what he’d said. Coming to his feet, Luke gave Jim a hard look. “She didn’t seem to find you familiar.”
“I told you she wouldn’t.”
“Find out who is following her and the reason for it.”
He was smiling when he came to get her. Truly smiling. Not one of his sardonic twists of the mouth. Not one of his mocking smiles. Not a sneer or an insolent pout.
Catherine had not expected this reaction. Hadn’t even thought him capable of it. She’d expected him to be miffed that she’d taken his money, expected to find him in a foul mood. But his eyes were lighter than she’d ever seen them, as though there was suddenly a brightness inside him.
He led her through the now-familiar dark corridor to the back door, where his coach waited on the other side. For the first time since they’d begun their nightly ritual, he kept the coach lantern lit inside. The curtains were in place, preventing anyone from peering in. He settled back in the corner, and while she knew she should be embarrassed by his perusal, she wasn’t. On the contrary, she rather liked it. And she was feeling a trifle smug that she’d duped him.
She was aware of his deep chuckle before his smile grew, and she wondered if he could read her thoughts.
“You don’t care what people think,” he said.
