Despite everything, she loved her brothers deeply and knew they held her in equal regard. However, at moments such as these, that was occasionally difficult to remember.
“It never ceases to amaze me that given the vast amount of time you waste with your endless gaming and wagering you are both so exceedingly poor at it,” Meredith said tartly. “One would think you could at least improve over time.”
“ ’Tis just a run of bad luck,” Jasper declared stoically. He was the older twin by several minutes, and thus the heir to his father’s title.
That gave him a distinct advantage over his brother, for as the future earl he was afforded more privileges and considerations. Chief among them was a larger line of credit from merchants, moneylenders, and his gaming partners.
“Why, only last week I won a shockingly fine pair of matched bays from Lord Darby,” Jasper continued, “at the turn of a single card. It was the talk of the club for several days.”
“And I won them from Jasper only three days later,” Jason said in a cheerful tone.
“You cheated.” Jasper flicked a small bit of lint off his breeches and glared at his brother. “Though I cannot prove it, I am convinced you marked those cards.”
“Sore loser.” Jason smirked. “You are loath to admit it, but my skill at piquet exceeds yours. It always has.”
“It never has,” Jasper stated emphatically. “The only possible way you could have won was by foul means.”
Jason shrugged his shoulders. Her brother’s total lack of offense at the suggestion he had cheated had Meredith convinced there might be some truth in the charge. She only prayed he practiced such foolishness with his twin and not with other gamesters. Cheaters often came to a swift and unpleasant end.
Though her brothers were nearly identical in face and form, there were distinct differences in their personalities. Jason was by far the more congenial of the twins, quick with a smile, always eager for a new experience, a new challenge. Yet Meredith had recently begun to notice a reckless streak in Jason that worried her greatly.
“If the horses are as prime as you say, then you should sell these magnificent beasts to cover your current gaming debts and wisely hold aside enough coin to make good on this latest wager,” Meredith said, as she diverted the conversation back to the current problem at hand. “If you lose this newest bet, of course.”
“I’m afraid that is impossible.” Now it was Jasper’s turn to smirk at his brother’s expense. “Jason lost the bays only last night. In another game of piquet.”
“Good lord.” Meredith collapsed onto an upholstered chair. “Those poor animals are being shuttled all over London as half the bucks in town win and lose them. Have you no conscience at all for their well being?”
Both men gave her an equally puzzled expression.
“They are fed the finest grain, housed in the cleanest stables, exercised in the choicest fields,” Jasper said. “I daresay those less fortunate souls in the East End of London would envy the treatment these horses receive.”
“A most pitiful comment on the state of our society,” Meredith said dryly, but the blank expressions on her brothers’ faces told her it was pointless to continue in this vein. This was most definitely not the time for her to begin a lecture on the responsibilities and duties of a privileged man in Society toward those who were less fortunate.
“We can discuss your ideas for political and social reform later, Merry,” Jasper said smoothly. “But first we would like to talk about a more pressing problem. Of a personal nature.”
Meredith’s brows arched upward. Perhaps she had underestimated her brothers’ shrewdness. At least they were aware of her opinions, even if they did not share them. “I have already told you I will not lend you any money, and I have no intention of changing my mind, no matter how eloquently you state your case. Therefore, we have nothing to discuss.”
Meredith regained her feet and strode restlessly to the other side of the room, deliberately keeping her back to the twins. When they turned pleading, sincere eyes toward her, it was much harder to stand firm, and Meredith was determined not to relent in this matter.
“We are not asking you for money,” Jasper said in an indignant tone. “You have obviously misunderstood the entire situation.”
“We have come to ask your help in winning a wager that could restore those long-necked bays to us,” Jason added in a righteous voice. “Won’t you at least do us the courtesy of listening to our plan before you dismiss it?”
Meredith sighed as her shoulders sagged. “Jasper initially won these poor horses from Lord Darby, then Jason won them from Jasper, and last night Jason again lost them in still another card game.” She rubbed her temples in an effort to ease the steady pounding in her head. It was not successful. “I fail to see how I can assist you in the matter. I don’t even play piquet.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Merry.”
“I was being sarcastic.”
“Oh.”
Silence fell. Meredith raised her eyes toward the gilt porcelain clock resting on the marble mantel above the fireplace and slowly counted to ten.
“All we ask is that you listen to us. With an open mind. Please?” a voice which could have belonged to either brother entreated.
Against her better judgment, Meredith slowly turned around. Both men immediately flashed her their most winning smiles. Merry gritted her teeth, refusing to be charmed.
Then Jason invitingly patted the seat beside him. Merry’s mouth quirked faintly, but her gaze was sharp as she took the place so solicitously offered by her brother.
