Page 100 of The Gambler Wagers Her Baron

“A horse?” Joy bounced up and down, nearly tumbling from Lady Cartwright’s lap. “Of my own?”

Lady Theo pushed to her knees from her seat on the floor, smiling broadly at Joy. “Yes, of your very own. Lady Harwich brought my horse to London for my fourteenth birthday. Her name is Polly and she is a beautiful grey mare, though she has developed a bit of an attitude as of late. I adore her!”

When Flora glanced between Payton and over to Lady Cartwright, they both could only shrug.

The conversation brought to mind Payton’s disbelief when she’d arrived at Hadlow Estate for Marce’s wedding to find a horse waiting for each of her siblings. It had been unexpected and rather odd to discover that the Duke of Harwich’s mother had known of all of them since they were young babes.

“Horses, you say?” Damon inquired.

“Oh, Father!” Joy slipped from Lady Cartwright’s lap and bounded over to Damon. “Do say I can have one. Please, oh, please, oh, please!”

Damon’s face grew stern, but Payton noticed the smile he worked hard to suppress. Another oddity she’d become accustomed to in recent months. The baron was not as dour and reserved as she’d suspected. “It was my understanding that you had your sights set on a pony, not a horse.”

Joy’s little face scrunched. “A pony is only a small horse. I am nearly a grown woman, Father, and what fine London lady rides a pony about Hyde Park?”

Laughter filled the room, coming from every corner as the men drifted toward Payton, Damon, and the gathered women.

Her chest swelled with a fullness that she’d never experienced before, despite having such a large, close family. It brought her even more joy to see all her siblings happy, content, and thriving—just as her mother had predicted.

And she…she was done searching.

There was nothing outside that very room Payton needed or would ever long for.

She had her family—and all those that had become family over the last several years—Damon, and his children.

Come tomorrow, they would be her children.

They were all perfect because she’d chosen them…and they, her.

Come tomorrow, she would return to Ashford Hall, not as a governess or a gambler, but as Damon’s baroness.

A family.

Her family.

The one thing she’d rebelled against since her youth had been the only thing to make her happy in the end.

“Miss Samuels.” Abram sat on the floor at his father’s knee and looked up at her. “Did something make you sad?”

Payton pressed her hands to both cheeks, brushing away the tears that she hadn’t realized she’d shed as she pondered how to explain her overwhelming elation to the boy.

“I am not sad at all,” she said, keeping her voice low as others continued to talk around them. She glanced at Damon to find him staring at her. When he reached over and clasped her hand, she continued, “I was thinking about all the remarkable things I almost let slip by me, and I am so thankful your father and I came to our senses before it was too late.”

“We wouldn’t have let you slip away.” Joy climbed onto her lap, and Payton noticed that all four of her siblings watched her intently, especially Marce.

Yet, her eldest sister did not look at her as if assessing her every move as she’d done for most of Payton’s life, but almost in a reverent way. Did Payton possess something her family had feared she lacked? Whatever the look meant, Payton would not fret over it nor allow it to dampen their festive mood.

“Well, children,” Damon said with a clap of his hands. “It is time for bed. We all have a very busy day tomorrow, and I would not want either of you to miss a second of it. We should be heading back to Ashford Hall.”

“But, Father…” Abram whimpered.

“We cannot depart yet.” Joy pushed from Payton’s lap. “Do you not remember?”

Payton stared between the children, each donning mischievous grins as they hurried from the room. Damon wore an identical smile. He released her hand and stood, as well, making his way to the door.

“What is afoot?” Flora squawked. “I do not like surprises.”

“I am certain it is not anything to do with you, Lady Wittenbottom,” Lady Cartwright hissed, her brow drawing low.