Icy cold fear gripped her at the thought of something happening to the man who had comforted her, protected her, trembled in her arms with wanting.
She’d give him up to another rather than have him meet with any harm.
No one else would believe her, if they even listened to her. Men of thetonlived lives of entitlement, and part of what they considered themselves entitled to included women. Another aspect of their privilege was an unpardonable lack of consequences for their crimes.
Some could even kill with impunity.
Her mother would believe her, but she would likely respond as others would. Flavion was a man. Not only a man, but an earl.
She swallowed hard and attempted to slow her breathing lest anyone approach her before she could decide what to do next.
She knew one thing for certain. This wager must come to a conclusion, and that conclusion would be decided by her and only her.
She pushed some stray hairs behind her ear and searched the room for her mother. It was time to leave.
And tomorrow, well, come tomorrow, she would take matters into her own hands, determine her own destiny, blast them all. She was tired of being subject to what others did, what others thought. She’d not only survive. By God, she’d thrive.
Girls Can Be Boys, Too
First thing this morning, she’d taken it upon herself to make a visit to Prescott House. Sophia had been up already, having fed Lady Harriette in the early dawn hours. Since the babe was down for a morning nap, the two of them sat in Sophia’s favorite drawing room while Rhoda told her of the events from the night before.
Sophia quite agreed. The wager needed put to rest once and for all.
“Dev says the last time he looked, no one had placed any wagers upon Lord Carlisle. He isn’t even listed.”
“That’s a good thing, though, right?” As Rhoda understood the nature of betting, it would mean anyone who placed their money on Lord Carlisle would take the entire pot.
After Lord Carlisle won, that was. And she’d make certain he did. But how? She hadn’t worked that part out yet.
Sophia was nodding. “The minimum bet allowed is a thousand pounds.”
Rhoda bit her lip. Technically, her mother had allotted her that very same amount. “Would I need to have the money present to place the bet?”
“Members are not required to make any such deposits. If you wager in Lord Carlisle’s name, nothing shall be required. But his signature must be true. And there is a man who keeps watch over the book. That’s the tricky part.”
They sat in silence together, both attempting to contrive some plan for this additional obstacle.
“You might be able to create a diversion. Knock something over, pretend to faint: anything to divert attention. And while you do that, I’ll write the bet in the book.”
“Both of us dressed up as gentlemen, I take it.”
“But of course.” Rhoda was already racking her brain to think where she might come up with a waistcoat, jacket, breeches, and a hat that might work for her. And for Sophia.
“Dev forbade me to do this, you know.”
Rhoda’s head snapped up at this. “You mean youtoldhim?”
Sophia shrugged her petite shoulders, a few blond curls dangling around her face. “I tell him everything. And he’s always deigned to give me advice. But he’s neverforbiddenme to do anything.”
Rhoda recalled how she’d felt upon hearing that word from her mother. And then later from Carlisle.
“I’m going to do it, of course.” Sophia tilted her chin up just a notch.
“Of course.” Rhoda understood completely.
“We can watch from across the street for a group of dandies to enter together. I think we’ll fit in best with that sort. It might be tricky, but it oughtn’t be so very difficult.”
“Dev told me that the wager has taken on of a life of its own. A separate ledger has been tucked into the betting book. The betting book sits on a pedestal near the front drawing room. You’ll have to locate it. Once you’ve done so, I suppose I can create the diversion.”
