"I had an unlucky streak, that was all."
"I’ll bet good money he cheated you."
The landlord scowled at Rose. "Keep out of what does not concern you."
Lennox continued to look at her. She pleaded with her eyes. Trust me.
He nodded almost imperceptibly before turning back to the landlord. "I will choose when you sit back from the thimbles like she said."
"What? You believe a woman over me? Does honor mean nothing to you?"
Rose took a step toward the table, looking at Lennox. "How about if you lose, I'll play him double or quits."
The landlord looked as if he was going to protest before realizing the entire inn was watching him. "Fine," he snapped. "You’re on."
Lennox smiled, tapping the middle of the three thimbles. "That one."
The landlord shook his head, lifting the thimble to reveal nothing underneath.
"I owe you four boars and ten silver pieces," Lennox said. "Unless she beats you of course."
"I don't want four boars," the landlord said. "I want her. She’ll make a good maid with hips like that. Strength to her back."
"Fine," Lennox said. "But if we win, we eat for free, and she gets your best room for the night."
"Done," the landlord said.
Rose held up a finger. "On one condition."
"Which is?"
"You sit back while I set the thimbles."
The landlord's throat worked, and his mouth moved, but no words came out. He couldn't refuse without revealing how the trick worked. She felt sorrier for Lennox than for him. How many times had he played and lost because of the slick fingers of the landlord?
"Fine," Rodrick said through gritted teeth, sliding the thimbles and peppercorn across to her as she took Lennox's seat.
She smiled sweetly at her opponent, holding up the peppercorn in her right hand for all to see.
She put the peppercorn in her right hand back down on the table, placing a thimble on top. She began sliding the three thimbles around the table, bringing them close enough to the edge to allow the peppercorn to fall into her lap and join the others.
It had been too fast for any of them to notice. A moment later the three thimbles were moving together, all empty, the landlord's eyes fixed on hers, not the table. She lined them up neatly, ignoring his anger. "Time to decide."
The landlord glared at her before sliding a finger forward, knowing what would happen when he chose. "That one," he said finally, tapping the middle of the three.
"Nope," she said, lifting it to reveal nothing. As she went to set it back down she grabbed the peppercorn from her lap with her other hand, slipping it into the left hand thimble as she lifted the right hand one.
She lifted the remaining thimble to reveal the single peppercorn underneath.
A cheer went up as the landlord clenched his fist, swinging his arm at Rose who winced, waiting for the blow to land. Lennox caught the landlord’s hand in midair, shoving him backward.
Rodrick looked furious for a moment before roaring with laughter. "Bested by a lass. I never thought I'd see the day. You must tell me how it was done."
She shook her head. "Tricks of the trade."
He laughed again. "I better start preparing your meals." He got up, slapping Lennox on the back as he went. "I'd keep her if I were you."
He walked away still laughing as Lennox turned to her. "How on earth did you do that? Was it witchcraft?"
