The Scoundrel's Wager (Tricking the Scoundrels, #4)

by Laura A. Barnes

  Dallis sighed. Her Grace stood correct. Dallis’s behavior appeared highly improper and could cause its own scandal. But the duchess was wrong on the reason behind her visit. Dallis wasn’t here for herself, but for Kathleen. She hoped to convince Holdenburg to speak the truth of his involvement with Kathleen’s father.

  “Duchess, you are mistaken on my reason for visiting Devon.” Dallis continued to use Devon’s name to show she wouldn’t be so easily dismissed.

  “How so?”

  “Kathleen is the reason for my call. I have news Devon would like to hear. They had a minor spat and I want to help him win Kathleen back.”

  “What has he done now?”

  “I cannot divulge that information, Your Grace. Kathleen swore me to secrecy. I can tell you they must admit to their genuine feelings and share complete honesty. Their relationship is a web of deceit.”

  “Lady Beckwith and I were positive they had moved past their differences. We thought they finally saw the love they had for each other.”

  “Half-truths have blinded their love.”

  “I apologize, Dallis. I jumped to conclusions about your visit. Devon has not been himself today. He never came home last night, and when he returned it was before the sun rose. After he changed his clothes, Devon left for a spell and returned shortly thereafter. Since then he has paced the house with a restless energy I do not understand. He won’t even speak to me. I am worried over his state of mind.”

  “They had a falling out and Kathleen has refused to forgive him. I came today to urge him not to give up.”

  “If you can reach him where I cannot, then I will seek him out. My manners were remiss when you arrived. I told the servants Devon was unavailable and I would speak to you instead.”

  “I understand.”

  “Please wait here.”

  Dallis understood the duchess’s confusion, but this outing had lasted longer than she expected. Dallis hoped no one was wise to her disappearance.

  Devon arrived. “Lady Dallis, what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “Devon, stop with the Lady Dallis nonsense. We need to talk about Kathleen.”

  “The lady no longer requests my suit and therefore I will not discuss her with anyone.”

  “Bollocks.”

  Devon raised his brow at Dallis’s vulgarity. Yes, he would make a fine duke one day with his expressions. However, Dallis listened to the pain in his voice when he mentioned Kathleen’s name. He held himself too stiffly, and a nervous energy crackled with his movements. Devon didn’t know what to do with himself.

  She said, “What secret do you hold that you cannot share with Kathleen? If you do not answer my questions, then I will confront Rory when I return home.”

  “As I told you before, it is not my secret to tell. I do not want to cause Kathleen anymore pain.”

  Well then, Rory would hold her attention this evening. She was determined to hear the truth. Today would be a lengthy one. Already she felt sleepy from the babe. Dallis rubbed her stomach, the stress from the day wearing on her.

  Devon knew upsetting Dallis wasn’t good for her or the babe. He needed to reassure her and then see her home. If Rory discovered Dallis had called on him, then all hell would break loose. Rory wouldn’t stop until he destroyed Devon. The last time they fought, Rory had taken it easy on him. He wouldn’t be so lucky the next time. He wouldn’t put up a fight. His guilt spoke volumes. Devon had hurt Kathleen, and for that he would take what he deserved.

  “Kathleen witnessed you cheating on her with the actress from the theatre. Is this true?”

  “No, as I tried to explain, I am innocent. The actress needed my assistance with her costume. When Scarlet tripped over her gown, my arms came around her so we would not end up on the floor. I tried pulling away from her when Kathleen and Rory appeared in the doorway. I swear I did not touch her. There is no other woman I desire to touch but Kathleen.”

  “I thought that might be the case. The actress made her intentions very clear of her interest toward you. I noticed you kept your distance and only had eyes for Kathleen. Also, I suspected you did not do what they accused you. After you left this morning, I managed to convince Kathleen what she saw was false. Once she opened her eyes to the accurate picture, she came to the same conclusion. But then she made mention of another incident where you were not faithful. That you took another lady to your bed who was not Kathleen. It was another woman by the name of Scarlet you have become enamored with. Is this true?”

  Dallis had no need for Devon to answer. The guilt in his eyes spoke the truth.

  “Devon, how could you? Kathleen loves you.”

  “And I love her.”

  “Then why betray her for a moment of lust?”

  “Because it was not a moment of lust. It never has been, nor will ever be. Scarlet is the other half of my soul, the same as Kathleen. I live for Scarlet’s attention. Kathleen is the companion I crave. I love both ladies as if they were one.”

  “Tis impossible,” Dallis said even though she knew it to be true.

  “Is it?” Devon asked.

  “What are you implying?”

  “They are one and the same.”

  “You know?”

  “Yes, but the question is, how do you know, my lady?”

  “Belle.”

  “Ah, the infamous Belle. I suppose Sidney and Sophia are also aware of Kathleen’s secret identity?”

  Dallis cringed. “Yes, we tried to assist in our own way for the success of your courtship.”

  “Is that so? May I ask how?”

  “Well, Sidney has kept Rory occupied with a project at Lord Hartridge’s. I must say it started out as a fluke, but they came across some interesting findings. Why—”

  “Dallis,” Devon growled.

  “Yes, of course ... Sophia hosted the dinner party last week you escorted Kathleen to. You two were not aware, but she held the dinner in your honor. If you recall, it was only a small gathering of family and friends. And perhaps a member or two of the ton who would gossip what a charming couple you made.”

  Devon remembered that dinner. Kathleen had gazed upon him with adoration. There was never a more perfect evening in their courtship.

  “And your assistance?”

  “I worked to convince Kathleen of your magnetic attributes and to open her heart to you. Then when Rory was present, I tried to keep him away. I know how Kathleen values her brother’s opinion. I had to convince both of them that your pursuit was pure.”

  “And Belle’s hand in all this?”

  “Her job was to make sure no harm came to Kathleen. But the greatest harm of all came to her, did it not? Her heart became broken by her own duplicity. She believes you were not aware of her deception as Scarlet.”

  “Do you think I would not notice how Kathleen presented herself? That woman only needs to be within a few feet from me and I would sense her very presence.”

  “Then why not reveal her identity?”

  “Because when Belle came to me with the news of Kathleen’s interest, I choose to allow Kathleen to amuse herself. I never imagined it would spiral out of control. I had hoped she would see past her plans to ruin Lord Velden and myself. Once we moved past her revenge and I won her hand, fate played a cruel twist on us. Now I have lost her and hold no clue on how to regain her love. Her goal is again to destroy me.”

  “Why did you make love to her? She believes you betrayed her in the worst way.”

  “Because she tempted me in a manner I could no more resist than I could not breathe. I only meant to play her game, but, well ...”

  “Never mind, I get the general idea. How will you fix this? You need to express your utter devotion to her.”

  “How can I without betraying my knowledge? Kathleen would think I played a game with her emotions. Can you not see that I also suffer? The woman I love does not trust in my love. Kathleen believes I would betray her with another. How can we continue, if trust does not lie between us? Also, Kathleen has ar
ranged a card game on Saturday evening against Lord Velden and myself. I received an invitation to join their game this morning. She plans to ruin us then. However, Lord Velden will ruin her. He will see her attempts at cheating a mile away.”

  “You must try.”

  “When I left her this morning. I sensed her watching me from the window. I made a promise I would keep returning day after day until she forgave me. But when she pulled her hand away from the window and closed the curtains, I realized right then it was hopeless. No, it would be best for Kathleen to find somebody else.”

  “But you ruined her. When Rory discovers this, you will not be safe.”

  “I am tormented by my actions. I have thought of nothing else.”

  “We must do something to end this madness.”

  “Dallis, you have never offered me anything but your gift of friendship. Every day since I met you, your acts of kindness have humbled me. However, you must stop. I have made my decision, and Kathleen has made hers. I need you to respect our wishes. Perhaps, in time, we can continue our friendship, but for now we must put a halt to it.”

  “I understand. I will respect your decision for now. But you must understand this, I will not relent. I will figure a way for you two to be together. It may not be today, or tomorrow, but it will happen. I will keep your and Kathleen’s secrets for now. But secrets always come to light and when they do, there will be nothing either one of you can do but to admit to them. Then you will have to deal with your problems. Until then, I hope you will reconsider your decision.”

  Devon helped Dallis to her feet and called the carriage. As he helped to settle her in the seat, he smiled. The best thing he ever did was to befriend her. Dallis became feisty over her passionate causes. It warmed his heart that she considered Devon one of them. Life would have been so much easier, and so less painful, if he'd pursued Dallis and married her. But Dallis’s heart did not lie with him, nor his with her.

  Devon reached inside his pocket and pulled out the two tokens that started this complete mess. Devon stared at them for a moment. Part of his conscience urged him to give the coins over to Dallis. If there was any hope to be reunited with Kathleen and for their secrets to be divulged, these coins held the key. Dallis would demand the answers to them.

  Dallis watched the indecision cross Devon’s face as he stared at the objects in his hand. He stood with the carriage door open, contemplating something. When Devon’s gaze rose, his look beheld a determination Dallis hadn’t seen earlier. Then, when Devon displayed his charming smile that sent all the women in the ton a flutter, Dallis realized he'd changed his mind. And it had something to do with the two coins.

  Dallis held her hand out, and Devon placed the tokens in her gloved palm. He folded her fingers over them and squeezed her hand.

  “Present these to Rory and Kathleen together.”

  Dallis nodded. With another charming smile, he closed the door and gave instructions to the driver to see her home. Dallis relaxed back, opened her palm, and examined the two coins. While similar in shape and texture, they held unique images. One of a boxing ring, the other a deck of cards. These coins held the answers to the questions Dallis would ask this evening.

  Chapter Nineteen

  After dinner, Dallis requested that the family to join her in the library for a short spell. She had something she wished to share. None of them ever refused Dallis. She had brought much light to their family in a time of darkness, and for that reason, Kathleen followed everyone and settled in a chair near the fire—although Kathleen wished nothing more than to continue up the stairs to her bedroom where she could be alone with her misery.

  After the afternoon spent with Mama in the garden, Kathleen wanted to hear the name Devon Holdenburg no more. Her mother praised his attributes and pleaded with Kathleen to forgive him. When Kathleen could no longer stand listening to his glorious character, Kathleen revealed that Devon cheated on her with another. Her mother denied his actions, pleading his innocence, but when she realized Kathleen spoke the truth, she stopped. She held her arms open for Kathleen. Kathleen ran into her mother’s embrace and cried as she hadn’t cried since she was a young girl. Her mother settled them on a bench and held her, not saying a word. She didn’t reassure her with false promises that would never come true. She only rubbed Kathleen's back and dried her tears. Then Mama led Kathleen into the house and made her favorite blueberry scones. Her mother and Agnes bantered back and forth, drawing laughter from Kathleen. Even when Rory came home and wanted to berate Devon, his mother led him away.

  Dallis announced, “I have asked you in here because we must discuss what happened the fateful night of your father’s last card game. The secret is damaging those we love. Rory, when I married you, I realized you carried many burdens of your father’s past sins. The ultimate sin is still kept quiet by you and your mother. After we got married, you swore you would no longer hold onto your secrets. But you have not been honest with me, even after you promised you would be.”

  Rory and Mama exchanged glances betraying a secret still lay in the dark. It was time for them to speak. When neither one of them made the effort and remained silent, Dallis knew she would have to present the coins. She'd had hoped her speech would prevail and prevent having Kathleen suffer more heartache.

  Kathleen looked back and forth from Dallis, Mama, and Rory. What secret did Dallis imply still stayed hidden? Which sin of her father's did they keep from her? Kathleen knew her father had cheated on her mother and gambled their money away. What else?

  “Mama? Rory?”

  “It is time we tell her, Rory.”

  “No, our family has gotten rid of Holdenburg, and he will never step foot in this house again. You may have forgiven Holdenburg, Mother, for what he did, but I never will. Dallis, I forbid you to continue your friendship with him.”

  “Rory, you will forbid me no such thing,” Dallis spoke quietly.

  The tension in the air kept everybody from speaking. Still, no one confessed the secret.

  “Very well, you leave me with no choice. On my visit with Devon this afternoon—” Dallis began.

  Everyone in the parlor spoke at once, asking the same questions. When? And why?

  “As I was saying, at the end of my visit, Devon asked me to return to our family two items.” Dallis slipped a hand inside a pocket and withdrew the two tokens. The colors stood out as beacons on her palm. From their reactions it would appear everyone understood what the coins represented. Everybody but Dallis.

  “How did Holdenburg gain those coins?” asked Mama.

  Kathleen stayed silent, watching the color drain from her mother’s face. Mama knew the story behind the tokens. If Devon gave them to Dallis, then he ...

  Her face paled along with her mother's. Devon knew Kathleen was Scarlet all along. When he spoke those passionate words last night, he wasn’t declaring them to Scarlet, but to her. Kathleen closed her eyes and remembered the desire in his eyes when he'd stared at her naked. Oh my. Devon had never betrayed Kathleen; he worshipped her and her alone. What had she done? Kathleen had thrown Devon’s love right back into his face.

  Dallis said, “From the expression on everybody’s face, you understand what these coins represent. Since we are a family, perhaps one or all of you would like to fill me in on what they stand for?”

  Dallis sat down on the couch and waited.

  “Mama?” Dallis asked.

  “The green token was my late husband’s coin to gain access into his favorite gaming hell. It was a place he would frequent on a nightly basis, where he lost all our money and gave away a precious gift that was not his to give away.”

  “What gift was that, Mama?” Kathleen asked.

  Rory said quickly, “Mother, say no more. I will confide in Dallis with the truth of Father’s sins. Please do not tell Kathleen.”

  His mother said, “Rory, you have protected our family from your father’s indiscretions long enough. It is time for Kathleen to learn the truth. This farce can
no longer continue. It is time to end your hatred toward Devon. He was not at fault.”

  “Father should never have made that bet. Holdenburg taunted Father with a prize, knowing Father would lose. Can you not see Holdenburg has brought Kathleen nothing but pain? If Kathleen hears the truth, it will be a heartache she will never recover from. She had to learn of Holdenburg’s scandalous character. Do not ruin the memory of our father too. Father was Kathleen’s hero.”

  “Yes, but even heroes have flaws. And your father had more than his fair share. He was only human, a human who could not resist a temptation he should have avoided. While your father hid his extra-marital affairs well, I will not have Kathleen believing all gentlemen act in the same manner. She has already placed Devon in the same category of your father, and the boy is nothing like him.”

  “He is worse,” growled Rory.

  “He is not. Do you think your best friend would betray your friendship on the mere whim of a bet? If your answer is yes, then you never deserved Devon’s friendship.”

  By then Rory’s anger had grown further with his mother’s adoration of Devon Holdenburg. The man set out to ruin his sister’s reputation, and Rory would make sure Kathleen understood who Devon Holdenburg truly was.

  “Yes, I do. Devon led Father into laying a bet on Kathleen’s virtue and he took great pleasure in winning the bet.”

  Kathleen and Dallis gasped at Rory’s declaration. Each with a different reason, but both knowing Devon didn’t make the bet out of spite.

  “Is this true, Mama?” Kathleen asked. She didn’t trust Rory to speak anything but hatred toward Devon.