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

by Laura A. Barnes

  “Not the full truth. Yes, he won the hand on where your virtue was at stake. But he was not the one who placed the bet.”

  “Papa?” Kathleen asked.

  “No, Lord Velden.”

  Kathleen sat confused more than ever. She never even met Lord Velden until this season. Why did he make a bet concerning her virtue when he had never met her?

  Her mother explained in a heavy voice, “Lord Velden noticed you with your father one afternoon and he wanted you for himself. Father denied Lord Velden’s suit when he offered for you. When your father wouldn’t even allow Velden to call on you, this angered the lord. So, he tempted your father after he was well into his cups to a game of cards. As the evening progressed, the bets became more outlandish. Devon urged your father to walk away from the game. But your father was stubborn and tried to win his money back. When your father had nothing left to lose, Lord Velden threw down the gauntlet. If he won the next hand, then your father must consent to a marriage between you two. If Velden lost, then he would walk away and never try for your hand again. Devon watched Lord Velden cheat throughout the evening and realized your father was too drunk to win. So, Devon inserted himself into the game. When they showed their cards, Devon held the winning hand. Not only had Devon won the hand, but all of your father’s fortune and you. Devon called on me the next day and tried to explain about the game. The guilt the boy has worn on his sleeve every day since then has ate at him. Then, when Rory refused to believe his reason for injecting himself into the game, he has been miserable ever since. He tried to return the money, but I refused. I told Devon the truth would come to light and for him to show patience. When Kathleen allowed Devon to court her, I thought we had put the past behind us. But I feel something transpired last night, destroying our happy ending.”

  Kathleen sat in shock. What a fool she had been. She'd never imagined her father’s demise resulted from him giving his daughter away for nothing but a chance at a win. She looked around the room. Her mother held a look of regret. Rory sat in the same shock as herself. When Kathleen’s glance moved onto Dallis, it was to find her friend—nay her sister—smiling with a look of determination.

  Could she win Devon back?

  When Kathleen looked at Dallis, Dallis nodded yes.

  “How?”

  “You already know the answer to that question, my dear,” Dallis answered.

  “How what?” Rory growled.

  “Nothing, dear brother.”

  “Kathleen ...”

  “Mama?” Kathleen inquired.

  “Whatever you must do, I will support your decision.”

  “I require a new dress.”

  “What?”

  They ignored Rory, discussing what Kathleen would need to wear to win over Devon. Her brother sat confused, staring at the women in his life.

  “Rory, I will need your escort to Belle’s on Saturday night.”

  “No,” he roared. “Where did you learn of Belle’s?”

  All the women raised their eyebrows at his ignorance. They laughed.

  “I do not enjoy being the subject of my family’s humor. You are not stepping foot inside Belle’s, nor will you commission a new dress. In my opinion it would be best for you to visit Mama’s family in Ireland.”

  Kathleen rose and went to her brother’s side.

  “Rory, my dear brother, you have been my rock my entire life and I will always depend on you. But this is something I must do. I must prove to Devon my love. I only hope I am not too late. By not placing my trust in him, I have betrayed him in the worst way possible. I have arranged a game at Belle’s between Lord Velden, Devon, and myself. At one time I had hoped to ruin both of them, because of the game that destroyed Father. We were both clueless to the details of the bet. Can you not see we both have misjudged Devon? Does he not deserve more from us? With you escorting me, he will see it as an offer of renewing your friendship. Please Rory, I love him so.”

  Rory sighed. He could never deny his sister. This was another instance where his father created a mess that he must clear away. Holdenburg had tried to explain the scope of Rory’s father’s bet and why he had intervened. But Rory’s rage wouldn’t allow him to see reason. Rory had seen the attention Holdenburg paid towards Kathleen and realized his friend desired more. When he heard Holdenburg wiped out his family’s finances and won the virtue of his sister’s innocence, Rory only wanted to beat the man senseless—and he did. Holdenburg stood there taking Rory’s pounding fists, never once deflecting a blow. Even when Rory knocked him down and wrapped his hand in a death grip with his bones cracking, Holdenburg never fought back.

  To Rory, that only proved the devious workings of his friend’s mind. That was the day Rory no longer called Holdenburg a friend, but an enemy. His sister’s innocence was her own to give to whomever she loved. His father’s bet went against every grain Rory believed him to be. While he was alive, his father protected and coddled Kathleen as a precious daughter. Rory questioned what brought his father to those depths of depravity? Maybe only Holdenburg could show insight to an answer.

  Then shortly thereafter his father passed away in his mistress’s bed. A scandal bringing shame upon their family. Soon invitations stopped, and nobody called. It was only upon the good graces of the Hartridges’ that the scandal became swept under the rug. Lord Hartridge’s standing with the Crown caused many in the ton to turn a blind eye to Rory’s father’s affairs. Before long, the invitations returned, and their parlor filled once more. They weren’t shunned for very long. The only sad part of the entire ordeal was that his family still suffered for a while. His father left them destitute with not a shilling to their name. With his quick mind, and the brute of his fists he helped them recover. After he married Dallis, they settled into a comfortable lifestyle. They used her dowry to invest in some wise business ventures, and they were now stable.

  Looking back, Rory realized he'd blamed the wrong man. Even throughout Rory’s anger, Devon still called on his family, offering his friendship. Yes, Kathleen stood correctly. They had both wronged Holdenburg. Only his mother regarded him with care. When Kathleen spoke of Devon, her eyes reflected the love she felt. The same love he shared with Dallis. Once again, Rory wouldn’t deny Kathleen’s wishes.

  “All right. This goes against every rational argument I might have, but I will help you. Only on the condition that Sheffield and Wildeburg accompany us. You do not comprehend the nature of Lord Velden’s character. He is a dangerous chap. He will have his own men spread throughout the gaming hell. Do not think for one second you will be safe.”

  Kathleen said, “I disagree. You are wrong on Lord Velden’s character. He is perfectly harmless. The two times I have been alone with him, he has acted the perfect gentleman. Well, except for that one kiss.”

  Kathleen flinched when her brother suddenly towered over her in anger.

  “What kiss?” he growled.

  “At the theater when I became lost. He attempted to kiss me.”

  “And you allowed him to?”

  “He kissed me before I even realized his intent. Then he apologized.”

  “Is Holdenburg aware of this kiss?”

  “No,” Kathleen winced.

  “When he finds out, he will be furious.”

  “There is no need for him to find out.”

  “Kathleen, this only proves how naïve you are. Lord Velden will make Holdenburg aware of the nature of your kiss. Please tell me you slapped the reprobate for taking what you did not offer?”

  “No, I ... might have told him his kiss was pleasurable.”

  “Why the hell would you do that?” Rory bellowed.

  Dallis said, “Rory, calm down. Shouting at Kathleen won’t solve the problem we have to contain.”

  “My sister has no clue what Pandora's Box she has opened. And she imagines a simple card game will solve all her problems. She does not understand the full extent of this dilemma. Mother, would you care to explain to Kathleen and Dallis the implication of
Lord Velden’s affections?”

  His mother said, “Yes, I see I must be completely honest. I had hoped to avoid this subject. But if we are confessing our secrets, then I must tell them the reason for Lord Velden’s attentiveness.”

  Kathleen told them, “You think he is the evil villain in this story, but both times he only came to my assistance. At the Camville Ball I became lost in the garden maze. Lord Velden helped me to find my way out. The next time, I became separated at the theater when somebody stepped on the back of my dress, and Lord Velden stopped my fall and saw me to safety before I fell flat on my face. Then he walked me to the actress’s room. Like I said, both times a perfect gentleman.”

  “Kathleen, a perfect gentleman is not the term most would speak of this particular fellow. For you to do so, only proves we have been lax in watching over your welfare. You cannot even call Lord Velden a scoundrel, for he is the devil in sheep’s clothing.”

  “You are mistaken, Mama.”

  “No, Kathleen, I am not. Lord Velden has wanted possession of you for many years. Not to marry you, but to own you. He offered marriage because that was one way to get his hands on you. But once he married you, you would be under his devious control. Your father refused his offers and kept him away. However, Lord Velden devised a plan to have you. In time, he acquired all of your father’s markers from his losses spread around town. When your father had no more to give, Velden waved an offer in your father’s face. Your father, the fool that he was, thought he could beat Lord Velden at his own game. He tried every trick in the book to beat the man. Only your father lost. Then on the last hand Velden offered your father all his markers and the chance for you to keep your virtue. If not, then he would own all. Well, we know how that card game ended. Devon has since kept Lord Velden at bay all these years, keeping him away from our family. Devon holds more power than Lord Velden ever will. However, now you have tempted Velden with your innocent kisses, he will never relent.”

  “I never imagined what I had unlocked by visiting Belle’s.”

  “So that is the reason Devon had those tokens. Why the hell did you go there?” Rory demanded.

  Kathleen said, “I had hoped to help to ease our family’s financial burden, but my ultimate goal was to see those two men ruined. Along the way, I fell in love with Devon.”

  “Why the hell did Belle not inform me of your hi-jinks?”

  “Perhaps because she informed me instead,” Dallis said. She was the one who winced now.

  All eyes swung to Dallis. Mama smiled with approval and Rory glared his disapproval of Dallis having anything to do with Belle’s establishment. With Belle herself, he had no problem—hell, Belle needed more friends. And if his wife was one of them, he wouldn’t object. Belle had been more than a friend to him during his time of need.

  Kathleen’s look was one of confusion.

  “You knew the entire time and never once divulged my secret?”

  “It was not my secret to tell.”

  “I will agree to any plan you come up with, Rory, as long as I can prove to Devon of my love and our family’s forgiveness. Call upon your friends while Mama and Dallis help me to design a dress.”

  Rory agreed and sent word to Sheffield and Wildeburg to come over and to bring their scheming wives. Sophia and Sidney were two of the most devious women he knew.

  Before Kathleen offered her suggestions, she flipped the two coins in her hand. She had already devised a plan to prove her love and forgiveness to Devon. Kathleen smiled, hoping she'd receive the reaction she imagined.

  Chapter Twenty

  With a sense of doom, Devon entered Belle’s gaming hell. The evening didn’t hold for a promising ending, but one that must be met. He heard no word from the Beckwith residence. Devon had at least hoped Dallis would tell him the reaction from the two tokens. But nothing. When his mother tried to reach out, Lady Beckwith replied with apologies, explaining how their family was dealing with a personal crisis and she would respond soon.

  Belle had greeted him when he arrived like she always did. She never uttered a word of anything unusual in play. Belle didn't mention Kathleen either, now that he thought about it. He was sure Belle would have least inquired as to the status of their relationship.

  This evening would be his last spent with Kathleen. By now she knew that he had known of her identity the entire time. That when he seduced Scarlet, he'd made love to Kathleen. Devon’s words of utter devotion were for no other woman but Kathleen alone. Holdenburg would play the game of cards and protect her from Lord Velden. After Kathleen won her victory, Devon would turn his back on her forever. With no word from her this week, it only meant one thing. Kathleen didn’t forgive him, and she never would. Devon could no longer endure remaining in London and watching Kathleen from afar. He'd acted the part for too many years already. Devon would retire to his home outside of London, the same home he'd purchased for them to live their lives together. He would reside there and become a country gentleman—a lonely country gentleman, because no lady but Kathleen would do. Devon would find comfort from the memories they shared on their one fateful afternoon—memories that would have to last him a lifetime.

  When Devon walked into the noisy room, the tables were full as usual and the drinks stayed filled. A few of Belle’s girls were draped across the gentlemen’s laps, offering words of encouragement among other things. Belle had sequestered a table near the back of the hell for their game. She posted Ned and a few other guards near the wall. As Devon walked to the table, he noticed Lord Velden already held reign with his lackeys near him. Velden commanded the chair resting against the wall so he could see the viewpoint of the entire room. The only chair remaining at the table sat with its back to the room. It would appear Devon held the disadvantage this evening. He could sit on either of the sides, but only one chair sat in the middle. It must belong to Kathleen, because a drink rested next to a reticule. She'd already arrived. Why did Belle keep Kathleen’s arrival a secret? Where was Kathleen now? Lord Velden held a smirk of satisfaction of his time spent alone with Kathleen. Devon tightened his fist, wanting to take a page out of Rory’s playbook and slug the bastard. But Holdenburg needed to show his calm façade if he were to get through this card game. No, he wouldn’t give Lord Velden the satisfaction.

  Devon turned, searching for any sign of Kathleen. Perhaps he should find her and convince Kathleen to stop this madness and explain what Lord Velden really wanted. Something he should have explained all along, instead of caving into her need for a sense of adventure. Now Devon was too late. Or was he? Devon started back for the door, not stopping even when Lord Velden called out his name.

  Devon stopped mid-step when Kathleen appeared in the doorway. She left him speechless. There standing before him was the vision he had dreamed about. A fantasy she'd never fulfilled until now. A gown of the darkest sapphire adorned her body, draping her curves in silk. The gown rested off her shoulders, leaving her creamy shoulders bare and rested low. Kathleen’s breasts pressed high, begging to be released with one deep breath. She'd styled her hair loose, the long dark tresses brought over one shoulder and held with a bejeweled clip. Kathleen wore the dress for him. Devon raised his gaze to find what he wished for, but his wish was instantly replaced with fear. Kathleen gazed at him with love—however, her face lay exposed.

  She didn’t wear a mask.

  Devon advanced on Kathleen with a purpose she hadn’t expected. She wanted to see his gaze filled with passion, perhaps the love he spoke of, since she wore the dress to spark his desire. Kathleen only saw fear and anger in Devon’s eyes. She took a step back then stopped. No, Devon wouldn’t intimidate her. She had a plan, and he wouldn’t stop her from achieving it. Instead, Kathleen lifted her chin and sauntered toward Devon. When they met, she looked him in the eye. He didn’t back down and tried to grab her arm to steer Kathleen out of the room.

  The appearance of her brother halted Devon’s intent when Rory stepped in front of Kathleen.

  “Holdenbur
g.”

  “Get the hell out my way, Beckwith. Are you both mad?”

  “It would appear so,” Rory answered.

  Kathleen tugged on Rory’s arm to move him out of the way. She heard the tension in Devon’s voice and he showed an intensity she'd never seen before. It would appear she had much to learn of Devon Holdenburg. Kathleen always took him for granted. Devon had always been a calm figure in her life. She had misjudged him. After talking with Dallis, Kathleen realized she owed Devon so much more than an apology and her love. Kathleen owed him devotion and passion from her soul, because that's what Devon had given Kathleen all these years without her knowledge. The time had come for them to get this card game over, so she could repair the hurt she caused.

  “You are late for our card game, Lord Holdenburg. Shall we?”

  Kathleen didn’t wait for his reply and walked to the table, Rory following closely behind. Devon looked around, wondering if he was in a play. Was he the only sane person in this gaming hell? Why did everyone act that her appearance was the norm? Kathleen sauntered around the gaming hell as if she was born here. Yes, she could play a game of cards better than any gentleman here. But the scandal of an innocent debutante playing with the degenerate gentleman of the ton inside a brothel would ruin her from ever entering a ballroom again.

  Devon paused, taking a closer look at the gentlemen sitting at the tables. They were not Belle’s usual crowd. No, these men were friends of Sheffield, Wildeburg, and Rory’s. Even a few of his friends from his school days filled the tables. Scattered among them were gentlemen Lord Velden had made an enemy. When he looked back at Kathleen, he saw her wink and tip her head as in ‘Shall we’ before she slid into a seat. Why that devious minx ... what game did she play now?

  Devon continued to the table, pulling out a chair and sitting down. He never once changed his expression. Whatever Kathleen planned, he needed to pretend anger at her deceit.