Midnight Masquerade

by Shirlee Busbee

  "What did you have in mind?" Latimer asked in a bored tone. "One hundred and fifty dollars a point?"

  "Paltry, my dear fellow. Paltry indeed." A slight smile curved Dominic's mouth. "I was thinking more of... say... five hundred dollars a point?"

  There was a concerted gasp from the remaining onlookers, even Royce's eyebrows rising in surprise at the amount. This was deep gambling indeed! What the devil was Dominic after?

  Latimer hesitated, greed warring with caution. Fifty thousand dollars was a fortune. But if he lost, his finances would be in a precarious position. The loss would wipe out everything he had accumulated at present; would, in fact, leave him in desperate straits. But if he won... The inveterate gambler in Latimer refused to think about the future if he lost, the temptation of winning such a rich sum from Dominic Slade overriding all other considerations. His blue eyes glistening with avarice, Latimer replied recklessly, "Fine."

  "For one game only," Dominic said silkily. "Whatever the outcome of this game, we will both abide by it. Agreed?"

  Latimer did not like this provision, his body stiffening. That niggle of danger he had kept at bay all evening returned full-blown, but just as the audience had kept him honest so far, that same audience and the unfavorable effect there would be on their perception of him if he were to refuse, impelled him to say curtly, "Agreed."

  Latimer lost the cut to deal and in the time that followed, it appeared, also his luck. He went down badly, Dominic playing with a ruthless aggression that robbed him time and again of a major hand he had been certain would score. The first orange-and-gold streaks of dawn were spilling into the room as the final hand was being played.

  Dominic leaned back lazily in his chair, his expression one of sleepy indifference as Latimer eyed the cards held so carelessly in Dominic's hand.

  Testily, Latimer said, "Your point is good, sir."

  "And my quint?"

  His mouth tight, Latimer nodded and muttered, "That also."

  The game continued, but it was obvious that Dominic was the far better player. The end came swiftly. After glaring at the array of face cards Dominic displayed before him, Latimer stared at the one card still held in his opponent's hand. Knowing everything hinged on this one call, he considered his own cards, before saying, "A heart!" and slapping the rest of his cards on the table.

  Dominic smiled. "My win, I think," he drawled, showing a nine of spades. Glancing at the score pad, Dominic murmured, "Not a bad night's work. I believe that you owe me something in the vicinity of fifty thousand dollars."

  Concealing his rage and desperation, Latimer shrugged. "I have lost that much and more in an hour's gambling at White's in London." Rising from the table and brushing aside an imaginary bit of lint from his coat, he added, "Perhaps we can meet at my banker's this afternoon—I do not as a rule carry that sort of money upon my person."

  Smiling that wolf's grin, Dominic replied with every evidence of amiability, "Whatever is convenient for you. Shall we say two o'clock this afternoon?"

  "Of course."

  It was not to be expected that Royce and Zachary would keep their questions to themselves, and despite Daniel's presence, they had no sooner bidden their yawning, droopy-eyed host good-bye and ridden but a few yards away from Norton's house than Royce pounced. "Would you mind," he asked with excessive civility, "telling me what the purpose of that was? God knows, unless you have suffered a sudden and catastrophic reversal of fortune, you don't need the money."

  "You don't even like Latimer," Zachary chimed in. "Yet you spent the entire evening with him."

  Dominic grinned at his two questioners. "Let us just say that I had a debt to settle... with interest."

  Royce's eyes narrowed. "And have you settled the debt?"

  A twinkle in his gray eyes, Dominic's grin widened. "In spades, sir. In spades."

  Chapter 26

  It was only after he had left his horse with the groom and was walking toward his house that it occurred to Dominic that it might be awkward coming home after a night spent gambling. Gone were the days when he had only his own wishes to consider, and he realized that however noble his motives might have been, Melissa might not take kindly to his return at this hour of the morning.

  His position was further complicated by all that had not yet been said between them, and he was uneasily aware that now she would suspect her husband was not only a womanizer but an unregenerate gamester too. It didn't help matters that he wanted to keep tonight's doings a secret from her until after he had met with Latimer and taken possession of the money.

  Dominic walked up the steps of the house, hoping that he might be lucky enough to reach his own rooms before anyone in the house saw him. Feeling uncomfortably like a man with a nefarious deed in mind, he stealthily opened the front door and peeked inside.

  The entryway was empty and he crept across the hall and made his way to the stairs. One foot was already on the stairs when the butler suddenly appeared out of the breakfast room, giving a start when he spied the master of the house.

  "Master Slade!" he exclaimed. "I did not know that you were up and about. You startled me."

  Smiling wryly, Dominic tried to pass the incident off. "I'm sorry. I was, er, out for a morning ride."

  If the butler thought it strange that Dominic had chosen to wear the same clothes from the previous evening, he did not comment. He nodded his head and said politely, "It is a very good morning for it. I hope you enjoyed your ride?"

  "Oh, I did. But I am in much need of a wash before joining my wife," Dominic explained needlessly and hurried up the stairs, desperate to gain the safety of his rooms.

  Unfortunately, Melissa was an early riser and Dominic was only halfway up the stairs when, vibrant and glowing from a night of blissful dreams, she materialized at the top of the staircase. To say which of them was the more surprised would have been impossible.

  Her carefree smile fading a trifle, Melissa took in Dominic's dissolute air, her eyes lingering on the faint blue circles beneath his eyes before traveling to the limp cravat and wrinkled breeches. She had no trouble recognizing his clothing as that which he had worn when he had left the previous evening. Incredulous, she asked, "You are not just returning from Tom Norton's?"

  His cravat feeling as if it were choking him, Dominic ascended the few stairs that separated them. "Ah, as a matter of fact, yes," he admitted. A rueful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I had not envisioned our next meeting this way, but if you will bear with me just a few hours longer, I hope that you will find my reasons for being out all night more than satisfactory."

  It was a difficult moment for Melissa for several reasons. To remain out all night, no doubt gambling did not bespeak a man of steady character, and she was more than a little daunted by this further display of his cavalier attitude toward her. For weeks now, with nothing but intuition to go on, she had been telling herself that she had mistaken his nature, that there was some logical explanation for his actions in connection with Deborah Bowden. She had wanted to believe that things were not as they seemed, but noting the haggard air that hung about him and the whiff of brandy that drifted to her, she was aware that she might have been living in a fool's paradise. There were only so many excuses one could make for his behavior, and now, in addition to telling herself that he was not the callous womanizer he appeared, she was being asked to overlook the distasteful implications in his actions this past night.

  It was an especially bitter stretch of her credulity—too often Melissa had seen her father return home in just this condition, albeit her father had usually been drunk, but her heart sank nonetheless. It was all too painfully true, also, that her father had lost enormous amounts of money in "friendly" card games with neighbors and old acquaintances, and she wondered dully if, having watched helplessly as her father had gambled away a fortune, she was now fated to watch her husband do the same thing. Something rebelled within her at that thought, but her voice was neutral as she asked, "Do you do this sort of
thing often?"

  Dominic's eyes searched hers, and with a sinking sensation he saw that she was withdrawing from him, the expression in her beautiful eyes shuttered and unrevealing. Gone was the soft light that had given him so much hope and pleasure these past weeks. Not wanting to have another barrier between them, he grasped her hand and said urgently, "I swear I never will again. And you must believe me when I say that I do not make a habit of remaining out all night. There was something that I had to do... something I trust that you will approve of when I explain it to you." The gray eyes warm and compelling, Dominic pulled her unyielding body closer to him. His lips against her cheek, he said softly, "If you insist, I shall tell you this moment what I have been about, but I would prefer not to go into explanations right now, not until I have tangible proof of my activities these past hours."

  Melissa hesitated. Her heart was willing to give him whatever he asked of her, but common sense cautioned her not to be taken in by his charm. It could be that he needed time to concoct an excuse that he thought might be acceptable to her... or he could be telling the truth.

  Mistrust evident in her tone, she demanded, "If not now, when did you have in mind to make these explanations?"

  Dominic gave her a bone-melting smile. "Would four o'clock this afternoon suit you?"

  Melissa nodded, certain that her brains had been addled, but hoping desperately that her blind trust in Dominic was not misplaced.

  Pressing a brief kiss to her forehead, he said gaily, "Good! Wear one of your prettiest gowns and meet me at the hammock at four this afternoon."

  Uncertain whether to laugh or scream with frustration, Melissa watched him disappear into his set of rooms. Then she shrugged her shoulders and began to walk down the stairs. Soon enough she would know if she was the most trusting wife in the world—or the greatest fool in nature!

  * * *

  At precisely two o'clock Dominic presented himself at the only bank in town. The intervening hours had been spent pleasantly; he had gone to bed and had slept soundlessly, awakening in time to enjoy a leisurely meal in his rooms and a bath before dressing and riding into town. He wasn't surprised in the least to find Royce and Zachary, both showing signs of having passed the time in much the same manner, waiting for him when he arrived. Tying his horse to the hitching post, he dismounted, and casting them a sardonic glance, inquired, "Come to make positive that he pays his debts, have you?"

  Royce grunted and replied, "And to make certain that you don't do anything foolish—like challenge him to a duel."

  Dominic smiled. "I find that it has given me greater delight to wound him this way than any other that I could think of."

  Royce looked skeptical but said nothing more, and the three of them entered the building. They were shown immediately into Mr. Smithfield's office. Latimer, looking tired and rather grim, was already there, seated in a leather chair near Mr. Smithfield's big oak desk.

  Mr. Smithfield, his plump features showing disapproval, indicated three more high-backed leather chairs similar to the one in which Latimer was sitting. Clearing his throat, Mr. Smithfield said carefully, "Mr. Latimer has explained the situation to me and has enabled me to pay you the majority of what he owes to you this afternoon."

  "Majority?" Dominic asked. "It is my recollection that we played for the full amount last night, not the majority."

  Latimer went rigid in his seat and a nasty gleam came into the cold blue eyes. "Without leaving my sister and me absolutely penniless," he growled, "I have the ability to pay you thirty-five thousand dollars this afternoon."

  Dominic looked abstracted. "Forgive me," he murmured, "but am I wrong in recalling that the debt is for fifty thousand dollars?"

  "Bloody hell! You know that you are not wrong!" Latimer burst out furiously, all the chagrin and rage he felt at his current predicament boiling to the surface. Gallingly aware that it was imperative that he not disgrace himself, he fought to bring his temper under control. Trying to quell his murderous thoughts, Latimer glared at Dominic, hating him with every fiber of his being. His voice stiff, he finally got out, "I have every intention of paying you." Intent upon impressing the others of his honorable intentions, he added mendaciously, "I do not make wagers that I cannot meet, but it will take me a short while to lay my hands on the remainder. I had hoped that you would be a gentleman about this and allow me the extra time."

  There was a deceptively sleepy expression in Dominic's eyes. "Ah, yes, a gentleman. It would be most ungentlemanly of me to strip you of everything, wouldn't it? To rip the roof from over your head? To cast you and your lovely sister into the street with only the clothes on your backs? Who knows, that might leave you at the mercy of anyone... you could even find yourselves compelled to do things abhorrent to you, things that are repugnant and degrading. No real gentleman would put you at such risk." Dominic looked squarely at Latimer, the gray eyes hard and merciless. His voice very soft, he added, "No, only a bounder, a cad, a scoundrel of the blackest kind, would do such a thing."

  Suspicion sharpening, Latimer stiffened, his body braced as if for a blow, but Dominic turned away, saying indifferently, "Of course you may have more time to meet the remainder of your debt. Unlike others, I am not a monster. How much time would you like? A week? Two, perhaps?"

  Latimer might have hoped that Dominic would prove to be generous in allotting him more time, but it appeared those hopes were groundless. Even if he had intended to pay Dominic the amount owed, which he had not, unless something miraculous occurred it would be impossible to meet Dominic's terms in less than six months. Latimer's hand clenched into a fist. Someday, he thought viciously, Mr. Slade was going to pay for this humiliation. Pay and pay dearly....

  Wrenching his thoughts away from various methods of extracting revenge, Latimer considered his situation. Time was what he needed most at the moment; last night's doings had very nearly brought him to a standstill, but he still had one or two tricks up his gambler's sleeve. There was the Franklyn cub for one thing, and though he would now be forced to pluck the stripling for more than he had originally planned, those winnings would replenish his depleted funds. And then there was the ship that would be taking him to England sometime after the first of the year. If he could delay the final payment of the debt for just a few months, he and Deborah would be on their way to England and out of the reach of Dominic Slade—at least for a while—and he could consider at a later date what to do if Slade appeared in London demanding payment. There were all sorts of tragic accidents that could be arranged in London....

  Latimer found himself in an extremely delicate position. He must maintain his reputation within the small community of Baton Rouge if his plans to plunder the Franklyn boy's fortune were to come to fruition, yet he did not have the funds to pay Dominic. It would be fatal for his schemes if it became common knowledge that he made wagers he could not cover. No one would be willing to gamble with him, and that reputation would no doubt follow him to New Orleans, making it difficult, if not impossible, for him to gull any other pigeons like Franklyn. Latimer had great hopes for New Orleans and he didn't want to jeopardize the opportunities that wicked city offered to someone like him.

  Stalling Dominic was Latimer's most immediate problem. If he could convince Dominic to wait until, say, the first of the year, which was less than three months away, it would give him time to get his hands on the Franklyn money and leave for New Orleans. Roxbury had promised to have more funds waiting for him there, so no matter how much or how little he won from Franklyn, his most pressing monetary problems would be over once he was in New Orleans. But Latimer had no intention of leaving the country with little more than the money that Roxbury had advanced him, even though a small fortune would be waiting for him in London. Nor did he plan on only dipping lightly into the Franklyn fortune, or paying Dominic one cent more than was necessary.

  Having turned over several different ideas in his mind, Latimer suddenly smiled faintly and murmured, "I'm afraid that you find me in a most embarra
ssing situation." At Dominic's sharp look, he spread his hands deprecatingly and said glibly, "As you know, I am not permanently domiciled in this country, and since I planned to travel extensively during my stay here, before I left England I had made previous arrangements for funds to be divided amongst the various banks in the various cities which I intended to visit. It seemed easier than carrying large sums of money on my person. I'm afraid that the remainder of my monies is currently waiting for me at a bank in New Orleans." Leaning back in his chair as if he had not a care in the world, he said, "Delightful though my visit here has been, I plan to leave for New Orleans within the next few weeks or so, and it would be more convenient for me if you would allow me to pay you once I have arrived there." His features betraying only polite interest, he added, "Unless, of course, that is not satisfactory to you. If you have some pressing need for the money, I shall naturally write to the bank in New Orleans and see that the necessary funds are sent up here immediately."

  Dominic had not the slightest doubt that once Latimer reached New Orleans any hope of receiving the remainder of the debt would vanish. He didn't know of the ship that would be waiting in January, but he did know his man, and almost as if he had been privy to Latimer's most private thoughts, he knew that Latimer would find a way to avoid paying one penny more than he had already. For a long moment, he deliberated, undecided whether to demand full payment or to let Latimer dangle a while....

  Deciding it wouldn't hurt to punish Latimer a bit more, Dominic said slowly, "I have no objection to waiting for my money until you reach New Orleans." A smile spreading across his handsome features, he added softly, "It is rather a coincidence, you know. I, too, am planning to leave for New Orleans during the next few weeks—a belated honeymoon, you might say."