Page 10 of Always the Lyon Tamer

“—is she, do you know, Helena?”

The woman running the table looked majestic, and Rebecca tried to keep her eyes averted as she replied to the inquiring gentleman.

“Not for you. That’s who she is.”

Rebecca’s smile was small, but she could not force it down.

No one acted like this for little Becky Darby.

There was a swish of skirts, and Rebecca found herself being addressed by Mrs. Dove-Lyon with a serious look.

“Are you ready?”

“What, now?” Rebecca said foolishly, her mouth opening before she could take a moment to think.

Mrs. Dove-Lyon frowned. “Do not lose heart so quickly,Titania. You have much further to go than this.”

There was such truth in her words Rebecca was forced to take a deep breath to calm her stuttering nerves.

She was right.This was the doorway to her adventure, and she was about to step through it. Once she went beyond this point, there was no way back.

Only in that moment did she realize she did not want to go back. She wanted John, and if this was the best way to get him, then she would go forward. She would never be able to live with herself if she did not try everything.

Then, if it did not work… The sudden sharp pain of the thought made her gasp. A life without John. She would not even permit it to occur.

Mrs. Dove-Lyon was watching her carefully. “Well?”

Rebecca nodded. “I am ready.”

She barely noticed the owner of the Lyon’s Den leaving her side. The next thing she knew, the woman was speaking to John—quietly, but clearly enough for Rebecca to hear.

“Would you like to play a game?”

There was some sort of drumming in the room, and Rebecca looked around swiftly for it—only to realize it was the pounding of her heartbeat in her ears.

“A game?” John said curiously, a smile dancing on his face. “What kind of game?”

There was laughter around them. Others had heard Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s words.

“Go for it, my son,” said one of the gentlemen with a leer. “If you have the chance to play one of Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s games, you go for it!”

“I have been here months and have never been invited to my own game,” said another, a little wistfully. “A bride is waiting in the wings, man, and one specially chosen for you!”

A third laughed. “Just make sure you understand what happens if you lose, though—some of the forfeits here are criminal!”

Rebecca glanced at John to see his reaction. To her surprise, his smile had slipped. She had never known him to be unsure of himself in any situation. He was the Lion of the Lennoxes, never showing fear. He was typically the one teasing someone else.

But this was different.

“Ignore the rabble, sir,” said Mrs. Dove-Lyon imperiously. Her words wiped the smiles off the faces of those who had spoken, and they turned back to their tables hastily. “Just concentrate on me, sir. Now, ’tis very simple. A guessing game.”

Despite her desire to remain calm and aloof, Rebecca could not help twisting her fingers in her lap. Yes, a guessing game. She and Mrs. Dove-Lyon had agreed on it as one of the most straightforward approaches to their plan.

Anything too complicated, and Rebecca was concerned she may not adequately manage it. If she was going to win John’s heart, once and for all, then the game they played together needed to be something she could control, even when she thought she would die of love for him.

In the heat of the moment, it was quite possible she would lose her head, especially when so close to him.Breathing in his scent. Close enough to touch him…

Rebecca shook her head. Loving John was dangerous, and on more than one occasion, she had found herself speaking absolute nonsense just to fill the silence, unable to just stand and look at him.