“I know. It shouldn’t be romantic, but somehow it is,” Lady Amelia said.
Romantic... and terrifying. What happened if he lost? She held her breath as the play went several rounds, players exchanging cards, putting chips into the pot. Lord Hugstead knocked on the table.
“What does that mean?” Felicity asked Lady Amelia.
“He’s satisfied with his hand and now they all must show their cards. The highest value wins.”
Felicity held her breath as they set their cards face up on the felt, but she couldn’t see.
Chadwick was announced as the winner and her stomach revolted.She couldn’t breathe as her body went hot, and yet her skin turned clammy. She tore off the mask.
Lady Amelia set a hand on her shoulder. “Should we leave?”
“No,” Felicity said. She would be here for Tristan. The outcome didn’t matter. She’d leave with him no matter what.
Chadwick scooped the pot toward him and turned to make a remark at Lord Hugstead and Tristan. He jerked his head toward her and Felicity froze as he caught sight of her.
He grinned and then he blew her a kiss. Felicity spun away from the railing. Out of his sight.
Lady Amelia came to her side. “Are you sure you want to stay? He’ll understand. We’ll all understand if this is too much.”
“No. I have to stay.” She swiped up the champagne she’d set down and threw back the contents, her throat burning as the bubbles seemed to fight their way down her throat, and she had to cough.
“Tally ho, then.” Lady Amelia did the same, clearing her throat once. “It’s meant to be sipped and savored. The widow carries the best of everything.”
“I need the effects more than I need to taste it.” Felicity approached the balustrade again. The cards were dispensed once more, and this went on for several rounds. The next player to knock was Tristan and Felicity held her breath.
The players turned over their cards and Tristan won. Felicity put a hand to her racing heart and closed her eyes.
“Don’t look. He’s looking at you.”
“Who?”
“That worm. All right, he’s stopped.”
But when Felicity opened her eyes, Hugstead had turned to see what Chadwick had been looking at. He half smiled in recognition, and she gave him a little wave.
“He’s really a nice fellow,” Felicity said guiltily. Was he playing to win her, too?
“He looks like it. But you don’t love him, so it doesn’t matter.”
Felicity should be surprised that Lady Amelia knew where her hopes lay, but she wasn’t. She only hoped that they didn’t know about Tristan’s nightly visits to her room.
“Do you think Mrs. Dove-Lyon is watching?” Felicity asked quietly.
“Most definitely. She wouldn’t miss this. She arranged it for a reason.”
“Her own amusement?”
“Perhaps, but I think she has your interest at heart. She just also enjoys making men into her puppets and watching them struggle.”
Felicity huffed out a laugh. “They do deserve it, don’t they?”
“Absolutely. All that freedom and power and what do they do? Make bets on who can piss the farthest.”
“No,” Felicity said in disgust.
“Oh, yes. They want to see whose blood clots the fastest. Who can tolerate the most snake bites. All the while betting wild amounts of money that could be put to much better use. It’s an atrocity they hold all the power over us.”
