The operator tapped the table. “Your Grace, it’s your roll. Is this gentleman bothering you?”
“He is.”
The operator waved his hand, and two footmen came on either side of Markham. “Eject him.”
“I’ll go. Wait, what’s moving in—”
“Quiet, Markham.” Busick smiled. “Take him away.”
The men gripped Markham by the arms and dragged him away.
Markham twisted and struggled. “This isn’t over, Duke.”
“But it feels like it. Take him and toss him out on his ear.”
Soon, the fiend was a memory. Busick shuffled the dice in his palms while the operator apologized for the disturbance. He let the cubes roll down the table.
Boots stomped and congratulations sounded as he hit his nick again, lucky number twelve.
But one jeer was missing.
When he glanced at LaCroy, he frowned.
She sat with the barrister.
Busick turned back to the hazard table. He wasn’t done winning, and he wouldn’t allow jealousy to snatch it from him now.
CHAPTER 25
A RAKE’SSURRENDER
There’s a moment in your life when you wonder how you arrived at the point you are at. I glanced at the duke and my baby’s bread basket. I sat near Mr. Thackery at a table covered in white linen, trying to figure out how I’d gone so wrong. Agassou couldn’t help me. Mama’s wiles, Papa’s money and brawn brought no answers. Repington and his Jove were winning. They’d even defeated Markham for the moment.
This was punishment, and I was angry, fearful, and sticky.
Smelling the thick onions and gravy on Thackery’s beefsteak made my stomach rumble. I wished I could bathe in the gravy. Never again would I fail to eat before cavorting about in menswear with a mocking duke giving chase.
“You doing well over there, LaCroy? You look a little green.”
“My headache of yesterday returned, and I’m a little tired of being punished on these shores. If I brought you my trust documents, could you arrange passage for three to Demerara?”
“Three?”
“Myself, Lionel, and Mrs. St. Maur.”
He shook his head, even grunted a little. “Would this passage be done with the duke’s permission?”
I lowered my eyes to the nearly empty plate. “That wasn’t my question.”
“It needs to be. I survive by upholding the laws and rulings of the Crown. I’ll not knowingly break the provisions of a will. The duke is Lionel Jordan’s guardian. He sets the rules. It would have to be extraordinary circumstances for me to break my oath.”
Where were these honorable men when I sought to marry? “Then forget what I said. Perhaps your aunt has someone else who could do what I need.”
Thackery forked the last bit of his meal, bits of gravy spilling on his chin. “Maybe you need to rethink what you need.”
I handed him a napkin. “Are you done? Jemina’s still waiting outside. You go on and take her. Knowing the duke, your aunt might be outside, too.”
He took the cloth and wiped at his mouth, patting his mouth. “You have transport? Repington seems to be in good spirits.”
