My judgments shape both heart and hand,
My rules are firm, yet understand.
Fifty-two may answer my call, but love’s the greatest suit of all.
In my domain, the weak grow strong, I right what’s right and mark what’s wrong. My wealth, once spent, returns to me—what falls may rise eventually. I shuffle fate with gentle care, And deal to each their proper share. When I am just, my house stands tall; When I betray their trust, all fall. Who am I?
“Gentlemen, you have five minutes.”
With that, she nodded to one of her employees, a woman dressed in an elaborate ball gown. The woman bypassed the ropes to deliver a copy of the riddle, a slip of paper, and a pencil to Teddy, and presumably gave the same to Belfry.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the baron grin and set something to paper. He had his answer, that fast.
Teddy thought he knew the answer, as well. And yet…would the crafty Black Widow be so obvious?
He reread the riddle. The number—fifty-two, kings, suits, shuffling, dealing, rise and fall, loss and gain. And, lest he forget, they were in a gambling den. A deck of cards seemed the logical answer.
And yet.
He read the riddle again. Court could refer to a household. Teaching. Love as the greatest suit. Gentle care. Dealing fairly.
He narrowed his eyes on the widow. Shehadbanished the baron from her establishment. She also seemed particularly fond of his wife. Might she wish to send a message?
He read the last lines again.When I am just, my house stands tall. When I betray their trust, they fall.
He closed his eyes. Saw his own father, scowling down at him as he worked on his math, or his Latin, or any other thing for which he could receive a pass or fail. His answer was correct. It had to be.
He wrote his answer.
“Time,” the widow intoned aloud. “Baron, what is your answer?”
The baron grinned. “A deck of cards.”
The patrons cheered and clapped.
The widow lifted her hand. With money on the line, Teddy wasn’t surprised that it took some time for the room to settle. But with the sudden arrival of several burly men, employees all, eventually it did.
“Lord Arlington, what is your answer.”
He held up his paper. The woman employee collected it and delivered it to Mrs. Dove-Lyon.
The widow read, then smiled. “A good father,” she said aloud, articulating, and, to Teddy, by the set of her shoulders and the angle of her head, she seemed to be glaring at Belfry.
“Lord Arlington wins.”
Chaos ensued. Shouts and laughter, whistles and catcalls, the sound of champagne being uncorked and glass being shattered, all congealed.
Meanwhile Teddy rose to his feet and approached his stunned-looking father-in-law. He offered his hand and helped the man to his feet.
“I can’t believe it. It never even occurred to me. A good father? Who would have guessed such a thing?”
Teddy refrained from giving the obvious answer—that he had, and that it did not surprise him that Georgina’s father had not.
“Well, sir, we had a deal. No more gambling, and you’ll start working off your debt first thing Monday morning at the hospital.”
“But…I do not know the first thing about attending a hospital.”
Teddy gave him a quizzical look. “Neither do I.”
