She had learned the hard way that there was no such thing as fair play.
There was a suitable amount of ogling from the group assembled, in the place of serious play, and Helen noted with pleasure her opponent’s distraction.
The stranger moved closer, standing almost directly across from her now, behind the dealer.
Helen couldn’t help a small frown of consternation wrinkle her brow. She really couldn’t afford to be diverted at this crucial stage.
And distracted she was, as she flicked her gaze again up to his, the two of them like twin pillars of calm amongst the raucous cacophony of the gaming room.
He stared back at her with an intensity that made Helen want to squirm in her seat, but she ruthlessly crushed the impulse, narrowing her eyes as she boldly returned his look.
The strange man was undeniably attractive, with a roguish glint to his eye and an unruly mop of dark blonde hair, a hint of evening beard glinting along the line of his jaw in the candlelight.
The way he was looking at her sent an unexpected sizzle of excitement through her veins, her belly tightening with something she didn’t care to examine too closely.
A most interesting reaction.
His attire was also outrageously vulgar, the yellow paisley waistcoat and burgundy evening jacket almost seemed chosen to offend the senses. No less than three elaborate watch fobs dangled from his pockets.
Really.
The man winked at her, a brazen expression on his face as his lips curled up into an impish smile, and Helen blinked in surprise, dropping her gaze quickly as an embarrassing wash of heat rose up her neck and flushed her cheeks pink.
Despite the unexpected distraction, she somehow managed to complete her play, winning a sizeable sum with a small smile of satisfaction.
She should have been pleased, but instead, she found herself inexplicably put out.
Never before had she found herself pulled out of the concentration she brought to the game.
Some whispered that Helen must beat the deck somehow, as it was impossible for a woman to be so good at play, or so lucky.
But the truth was Helen was simply good at cards. Whether it was the strange way she could remember the smallest details or the fact that she had a passion for strategy, she did not know.
Perhaps it was the fact that, of everyone here, she had the most to lose… and also, to gain.
Whatever it was that gave her the edge, she intended to use it for long enough to achieve her one desire.
Freedom.
Helen rose from the table in a swish of ruby silk, melting into the crowd as she made for the edge of the room, away from the thick hovering cloud of cheroot smoke that hazed the air above the tables.
She found she was no longer in the mood for cards, and she had learned to pay attention to such things. She couldn’t afford to make a mistake.
Unlike the young dandies and pompous lords who frequented such establishments, she was not here for thrills.
No, Helen was here to win cold, hard blunt. As much as she could.
She was here to build her fortune so that she would never again be at the mercy of fate.
Helen found a convenient couch away from the tables and seated herself with a newly refreshed glass of wine, taking a real sip this time and fanning herself against the heat and smoke that lingered in the stifling air. She idly wondered if Amelia was performing tonight, but the thought drifted away like pollen in a breeze.
She stubbornly resisted the urge to look for her stranger. No matter the attraction she felt.
No, that was certainly not the reason she was still seated here, instead of seeking out her bed.
Her stranger.What an absurd idea.
Sipping her drink, Helen watched ebb and flow at the tables, unconsciously noting each hand dealt and the odds of the cards being held.
