Oliver frowned.These fools don’t even know what they are bidding on.
“How about you?” Helena pointed at Oliver. “Is the King of Beasts going to join this fight?”
“Lion, Lion, Lion!” the crowd chanted.
Oliver shook his head.
“Lion, Lion, Lion!” the men chanted, but Oliver continued to shake his head.
“One hundred pounds!” Tiger Mask shouted.
The room exploded with cheers. “Tiger, Tiger, Tiger!”
“One hundred and ten!” Oliver’s snake-masked neighbor shouted above the ruckus.
Whistles and applause followed his bid. “Snake, Snake, Snake,” the crowd chanted.
“One hundred and ten pounds to the snake! Does anyone wish to bid one hundred and fifteen? This is your last chance to be a winner! What do you say, King of Beasts? Is it time to step in and snatch your prey from this weaker opponent?”
“Lion, Lion, Lion!” the men chanted, but Oliver continued to shake his head.
“And you, Tiger? Are you going to let this silly little grass snake tame you?”
“One hundred and twenty,” Tiger Mask shouted.
One hundred and forty,” Snake Mask bellowed without a moment’s hesitation.
“Tiger, Tiger, Tiger!” The crowd chanted, wanting to keep the game going, but the gentleman in the tiger mask shook his head and turned out his pockets.
“Then I declare the gentleman snake our winner!”
Cheers and deafening applause filled the room.
“Gentlemen,” Hermia bellowed over the noise, “keep your masks and cloaks in place as you exit through the two back doors. A servant will strip you of your disguises as you pass through the darkened exit room one at a time.”
Just then, Puck and Theseus, two of Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s male wolves, appeared and started herding the men toward the exits. Oliver stayed where he stood, deciding it was wise to wait for the crowd to dissipate before exiting. “This is utter madness. “Oliver said, turning to his snake-masked neighbor as Helena weaved her way through the crowd toward them. “You just paid one hundred and forty pounds for Lord knows what.”
“Oh, I am certain it will be worth my while,” Snake Mask said.
“Gentlemen.” Helena approached them. “Good evening.”
Both Oliver and Snake Mask bowed in response.
“May I escort you to Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s office? she said, addressing the snake-masked winner. “She has some papers for you to sign.”
“Papers?” Oliver remarked, wondering what sort of prize could involve paperwork.
“Indeed.” Snake Mask rubbed his hands together. “And will I be meeting my prize this evening?”
“Of course,” Helena said. “As soon as the money has been paid in full.”
Oliver frowned as he watched Snake Mask follow Helena out a third exit, which no doubt led to Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s office.
Something very odd is afoot, he thought as he turned to leave.Something very odd, indeed.
Chapter Four
He was watchingher. The earl. She was certain it was him—the one Mrs. Dove Lyon had said was perfect for her. The handsome, sandy-haired gentleman whose smoldering gray eyes had locked on hers as they’d passed each other in the passageway upstairs after her first meeting with Mrs. Dove-Lyon. It had only been a moment, but the memory of their brief connection had made her stomach leap. It was the same sensation she’d felt the first time she’d seen Theo, the memory of whom still brought an ache to her throat and tears to her eyes.
