“His trading ships carry slaves?” John’s blood ran cold. That trade was a stain on human civilization. England’s efforts reflected the best of their country. The noose was tightening, slowly but surely, on slavers. Creating chaos between nations would only make it easier for arseholes like Sudworth to evade prosecution.
Sutton nodded. “Dunkeld has learned much from the men he picked up.” He turned his narrow-eyed gaze on Sudworth. “But the night is young, and there is much more your friends are eager to tell.”
Sudworth slammed his glass onto the table, amber liquid sloshing over the rim.
“What?” John chuckled. “You didn’t think you would get away with it, did you? That I would be so desperate for my mines that I would betray my country? You did? How droll.”
Sudworth and his men tensed. Sutton tensed. Everyone in the room was as stiff as blocks of marble.
John stretched languidly. “Even now Liverpool is sending people to arrest you. Your legal fees to fight the charges will be immense. And my friends are ensuring that your other investments are soon to take a turn for the worse. You want to make this bet.”
“I don’t know that I believe you.” Sudworth leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head. “My investments are many and varied. It will be hard to take me down. Besides, what evidence is there of any wrongdoing on my part?Youplanted a letter.Youstole from the Dutch embassy. What have I done?”
The bastard smirked, and John’s fingers itched to smack the expression off his face.
“In fact, with the information I can provide to Liverpool in service to our country, I just might earn myself a medal,” Sudworth said. “I’m aware of many plots against the nation, have learned of many criminal enterprises. I think the prime minister would be happy to trade for that information.”
John flapped his hand dismissively, but inside he burned. Liverpool had made such deals before. Information for liberty. The prime minister’s first concern was the smooth management of the nation, and sometimes that meant letting Justice hide her eyes.
“Does that mean you no longer wish to play?” John loosed a dramatic sigh. “And here I thought you were a man after my own heart, one who relished a bit of risk-taking.”
“How right you are.” Sudworth waved two fingers, and one of his men sauntered over. “We are men of similar interests.”
“Don’t play with him, John.” Robert strode into the room, and John blinked, trying to hide his surprise.
What in the bloody hell was his brother doing here?
Robert rested his hand on the back of John’s chair. “The man cheats. And I finally figured out how.”
“Well, of course he cheats.” John pushed from the table and stood, not liking the way the hand of one of Sudworth’s men drifted towards his inner pocket. He positioned himself between his brother and the rest of the room. “That doesn’t mean I don’t still intend to win.”
He lowered his voice. “What are you doing here?”
Robert tugged at his scarf, exposing the bottom edge of his scar. “Wil sent me a note. Said you might need me.”
John clenched his fist. Damned Wilberforce. Just as interfering as Netta when it came to attempting family reconciliations.
“Is Robert joining us?” Sudworth shook the cup of dice. “Good. I enjoy beating him almost as much as I do you, Summerset.”
“For the deed, I’ll play.” John turned, knocking his walking stick to the floor. He squatted and smoothly uncapped the nob, removing the dice he’d specially ordered and tucking them up his sleeve. He replaced the nob and stood. “I’ll play, but we’ll use a fresh pair of dice.” He nodded to Sutton, who took a clean pair from a drawer in a bureau.
Sudworth would use the fresh pair. And if John needed it, he would use his. “You won’t cheat again. Robert and Sutton will ensure it.”
Sudworth chuckled. “You think you have it all worked out. That you have me in a box.” He held up his hand, and his man dropped something into it. “I’ve survived too long to allow that. You’ll play, but you won’t play for the deed. That’s mine. You’ll play for this.” He tossed the object into the middle of the table.
It landed with a small clink, the gold chain of the necklace glinting in the lamplight.
John froze. It couldn’t be. She hadn’t been wearing it that night. Had she?
He grasped the emerald pendant. The deep green stone warmed his palm, seeming to hold the warmth from Netta’s skin within it.
Sudworth raised his hands palm up, grinning broadly. “When I said we had similar interests, I didn’t mean gambling.”
Chapter Thirty
The gemstone cut into John’s palm. “Where did you get this?”
“Our pretty little friend gave it to me.” Sudworth leaned back and hooked his thumbs under his braces. “Did you know she and I were once betrothed? She did me a favor by calling it off. She is a bit on the shelf now. I will be happier with her younger sister.”
