“What does—”
“Yer card is the nine of clubs,” Aden cut in.
Before he could reach forward and turn it, a graceful female arm reached past him to do so. “Nine of clubs,” Miranda said, turning the card so the three of them could all see it.
“Bloody… How did you do that?” Matthew demanded.
“I read it on yer face, lad. The same way Vale did, every time he placed a wager with ye.” Taking the card from Miranda, he looked up at her.
She’d donned the gown he’d selected for her, her hair in a careless knot and the dress’s buttons still open at the nape of her neck.Mesmerizing.No tears from her last night, no lamenting the loss of her virginity, no fretting over her very uncertain future. Rather, she’d been an enthusiastic if inexperienced delight who made him more randy than he could ever recall being, and who had thrice pushed him over the edge before he’d been ready to give up the game.
“Lass,” he drawled, taking her hand and pulling her down to sit on the arm of the chair beside him.
He’d clearly overset Matthew, because her brother didn’t even make a squawk at the appearance of his half-dressed sister. Rather, the lad sat where he was, staring at the remaining deck of cards and wearing an expression on his face that would have saddened a professional mourner.
Finally Matthew cleared his throat. “How did you… find out about all this?”
“I told him,” Miranda supplied. “After you informed me that you’d sold me to Captain Vale, I went to find another competent wagerer who could provide me with some insight.”
“Seems to me he gave you more than insight.”
“And if you say a word about it to anyone, I will wring your neck,” she retorted. “I’ve kept your secret. You will keep mine.”
“But…” Matthew’s face reddened. “But he just told me that Vale reads my every expression like a book. What if he asks about you and Aden?”
“I imagine he will,” Aden put in. “And ye’ll say ye can’t imagine Miranda would allow me near her bed, and Vale will know ye’re lying.”
“And then I’ll still owe him fifty thousand quid, and I’ll be ruined.”
“As ye should be, ye nodcock. Ye couldnae help losing to him, but ye might have stopped wagering with him. That’s on yer head. But nae, he’ll nae call in yer notes. He would have wanted to be Miranda’s first, but as long as Society’s opinion of her doesnae change, he’s nae going to alter his plans. He may even decide punishing her will be more fun than breaking her in.”
“Aden,” she whispered, and he tightened his grip around her hand.
“I cannae stop him from imagining, but I can stop him from acting. If he’s dead he cannae harm ye, Miranda.”
“But then you’ll—”
“I swore ye an oath. I’m nae going back on it. One way or the other, he’s lost ye.”
“You can’t beat him,” Matthew supplied, his shoulders slumping. “Believe me, I’ve tried. And even if you could, I’ll still be destroyed. My entire family’s name will be ruined.”
“Do ye want Eloise?” Aden asked.
Matthew’s face grayed even further. “Of course I want Eloise. She’s my soul, my heart, my—”
“Aye, I ken. Do ye reckon I’ll allow her to marry a man who’s sold away his own younger sister?”
“Aden,” Miranda murmured.
“So that’s it, Mia?” her brother snapped. “I’ve hurt you, and so you’ll hurt me? I thought—”
“This isnae yer sister’s idea. It’s mine. And if ye want Eloise, ye need to prove to me that this was just a moment of weakness, that ye lost yer head this one time and it’ll nae happen again. In order to prove that to me, I’ve a few tasks for ye. And ye’ll do them exactly as I set them out. For yer sake, for Eloise’s sake, and mostly for Miranda’s sake. Do ye ken that, Matthew?”
He slumped again. “It seems I’m a slave to two masters, then. Thank you so very much, Miranda.”
“Thank her later,” Aden stated, wondering if the lad knew just how precariously he was holding on to his temper. “This master has a mind to set the two of ye free.” And to claim one of them forever, but he wasn’t about to say that aloud now. Not while someone else held her chains.
Chapter Thirteen
