“Round one is finished!” the croupier mouthed. “A break.”
Rhys leaned back in his chair and gazed across the hazard table at Hardy and the other man. Hardy appeared relax as he chatted with a gentleman to his left, while the thin man seemed completely focused on Louisa’s shoes, which were barely visiblebeneath the velvet hem of her evening gown. In fact, he was breathing heavily for someone sat at a table. Rhys wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t particularly care for the man and when Louisa shifted her feet to become completely covered by her dress, he looked up.
Louisa appeared as frightened as a bunny caught in the mouth of a spaniel, but she had noticed the thin man’s infatuation with her feet and was quick to cover them. Just then, a member of the staff delivered a glass of scotch to Rhys.
“I didn’t order this—”
“Compliments of the house,” the man mouthed slowly as he set the drink in front of Rhys.
Glancing around the room, Rhys spotted Bessie, talking and touching the lapels of one of two strapping young men who seemed thrilled to be able to entertain a lady like Bessie. She seemed to notice Rhys at that moment and held up her glass of champagne, which only made him frown.
What was she playing at?
“Round two!” the croupier yelled, though Rhys barely heard it.
Hardy was handed the dice and with a wink to Rhys, he rolled.
“Two and four! I’m sorry sir, you’re out.”
Raising his hands and shrugging, Hardy pushed his chair back and stood while the thin man took the dice from the dealer and rolled.
“Five and four,” the croupier said as he gathered the dice with his long stick and handed them to Rhys.
Rhys rolled.
“Five and four again. Gentlemen, final round.”
The croupier’s hands were fast and though everyone was focused on the prize standing on the table, Rhys couldn’t help but focus on the dealer. Before handing the dice over to eachplayer, he would roll them back and forth in his own hand, before tapping them on the table twice. Then, he’d hold them up so that everyone could see them. It was a small ritual, one every good hazard dealer did to show the game was fair, but Rhys could have sworn there was a sleight of hand before he handed the new dice to the thin man.
The man rolled and two threes came up, causing the man to slam a fist on the edge of the table.
“Bloody rubbish.”
“Sir, the game is still open,” the croupier mouthed as he moved his hands across his waist, before handing them to Rhys.
Taking them, Rhys felt as though all eyes were on him, which was more than just uncomfortable. It set him on edge. Not being able to hear properly had come with a particular anxiety when more than one person looked at him, waiting for him to respond or react.
Rhys exhaled slowly before tossing the dice.
“Double fives! Lieutenant Carlyle has won.”
A muffled barrage of noise and congratulatory pats on the back surrounded Rhys as he stared at the dice. It was as if his mind was moving through molasses. He had barely played five rounds and yet, here he was, the winner of not only the game, but the prize.
A wife. And a poor one at that.
Among the unintelligible chatter around him, Rhys looked up to see Louisa, her mouth slightly open as if she too could not understand it.
“Congratulations, Lieutenant!” Bessie’s words vibrated against his left ear. She moved past him and held her hand out, addressing Louisa next. “Come, beautiful Citrine. Your soon-to-be husband awaits.”
A series of undistinguishable jeers and awws surrounded them as Citrine carefully took Bessie’s hand and began to climbdown, off the table. The moment her feet hit the floor, Bessie placed Louisa’s hand in Rhys’s, and a spark bit the two of them, causing both to pull back.
“None of that now,” Bessie murmured as she brought the two hands back together as she turned to address the crowd. “May I present the decorated war hero, Lieutenant Rhys Carlyle and his fiancée, Miss Louisa May Babcock!”
The crowd cheered, with arms raised and clapping hands abound. But Rhys only glared at Bessie.
“Have you lost your mind?” he tried, but she was already waving them off.
“You’re free to go. Snug will show you to your room.”
