After Latimer's insulting dismissal of his talents, Franklyn was flattered by Dominic's solicitous attitude. "Of course not, sir!" he replied quickly. A wry smile curved his delicate mouth. "I have been playing rather badly this evening. "
Dominic sat down at the place Franklyn vacated and said cryptically, "Perhaps it is the cards and not your skill. "
Latimer froze, his eyes flat as he asked in a dangerous tone of voice, "And what do you mean by that?"
"Why, nothing," Dominic replied easily, that wolf's smile once again appearing. "Shall we begin?"
On the other side of the room where he had been talking with Daniel Manchester, Zachary had idly noticed Dominic's passage. It was only when he saw where Dominic had been headed that his interest quickened. He felt distinctly uneasy when George Franklyn rose from the table and Dominic took his place. His unease increased when he noticed that Royce was determinedly making his way to where Dominic sat, the expression on that handsome face not at all encouraging.
He glanced again at his brother-in-law, and from what he saw, he was conscious of a shiver of apprehension. , Dominic might be smiling and acting politely, but Zachary' was reminded vividly of that first night he had dined with Dominic and Latimer's name had been mentioned. Something about Dominic's smile and the waiting stillness of his body made Zachary extremely nervous.
Making no attempt at politeness, Zachary broke into Daniel's rhapsodies about a diamond-patterned entryway for his new home and said curtly, "I want to watch the game between Dominic and Latimer. Come with me, if you like."
Before Daniel's astonished gaze, he strode quickly away, making for Royce's side. Daniel, possessing a rather sharp intellect behind his genial manner, was instantly conscious that something was in the wind and wasted not a moment before following in Dominic's wake. And as was often the case, when one or two other young gentlemen noticed the cluster around the table where Latimer and Dominic were playing piquet, they also wandered over to see what held everyone's rapt attention.
If Latimer was dismayed at suddenly finding his table the focal point of so many interested pairs of eyes, he gave no sign of it, merely smiling and nodding at each new arrival. The presence of so many gentlemen did hamper him, though, and not daring to run the risk of exposure, he decided that he would have to play a completely honest game. With this many onlookers and this early in the evening, before the liquor had really begun to flow, it was far too dangerous to practice a little sleight of hand.
Dominic was well aware of his adversary's predicament, and cold amusement flickered in the depths of his eyes as he said softly, "Since we seem to have gathered an audience, we should make it worth their while. What were you and Franklyn paying a point?"
Latimer hesitated and then replied, "It was a friendly game-merely ten dollars."
Dominic's eyebrow cocked. "A thousand dollars a game is rather a high price to pay for friendship, I think, but since you and I are such old friends, let us make it more interesting . . . say fifty dollars a point?"
It was not an outrageously high amount, but it was a bit steep, especially since over the weeks Latimer had lost more than he had intended in order to woo George Franklyn into complacency, and he was quite bitterly aware of Dominic's skill and expertise in all games of chance. Not happy with the circumstances that had come about so unexpectedly, Latimer paused, his brain busily seeking a way to turn events to his advantage. Speculatively, he considered the dark face across the table from him. To his experienced eye, it was apparent that Slade was spoiling for a fight, and Latimer almost smirked with satisfaction. A man letting temper ride him was always an easy mark.
Thinking that he might very well come away the winner and recoup some of the losses he had allowed Franklyn to inflict, he drawled lightly, "Fifty? I thought you stated we would make it interesting. Now, a hundred dollars a point I find far more interesting than a paltry fifty."
Dominicc smiled widely and Latimer had the queasy sensation that he had somehow fallen into a trap. Before he could think more about it, Dominic said cheerfully, "Excellent! Would you care to deal or shall I?"
Latimer shrugged, his blue eyes watchful. "Please, go ahead."
Adroitly Dominic shuffled the deck of thirty-two cards and with a skill that bespoke long practice, expertly dealt out twelve cards to each of them. Both men were exceptional players and the game moved swiftly, neither one seeming to hesitate as discards were made and points called. The play progressed to the taking of tricks, and it soon became apparent that the two men were well matched, the scores remaining nearly even as the hands continued.
In the end Latimer won the game and he did nothing to hide his satisfaction as he said smugly, "I believe that you owe me ten thousand dollars, Slade."
"But surely you are going to give me a chance to gain revenge, aren't you?" Dominic asked dulcetly, a faintly quizzical smile curving his handsome mouth.
There were murmurs of assent from all around the table, and although Latimer would have enjoyed nothing better than to stroll away with Dominic's money resting snugly in his purse, he was uncomfortably mindful that not to give Dominic a rematch would be a black mark against him and might hamper his chances to begin plucking the Franklyn boy. Beating Dominic had given him a great deal of pleasure; it had also increased his arrogance, and the lure of winning more money was simply too powerful for someone like Latimer to resist.
The next game was very close, but Dominic won it, his expression enigmatic at the outcome of the final tally. Leaning back in his chair, he took a sip from the snifter of brandy that had been brought to him during the game. His eyes on Latimer, he drawled, "Well, now we are even ... how boring! Shall we play another?"
Annoyed at the loss but convinced that it had been a mere fluke, certain that his own skill at the cards far outweighed his opponent's, Latimer consented eagerly and they began to play again. And in the hours that followed, Latimer's self-confidence grew, even though the wins and losses between them remained relatively even.
As the evening slid by, the group of men around the table ebbed and flowed, some gentlemen wandering off to seek new amusements or to join other friends, new onlookers taking their places. Royce and Zachary, however, apparently remained enthralled by the game being played, neither one of them moving as much as a foot away from the table. Aware that something was going on, yet not quite certain what, Daniel chose to stay fairly close to the other two, but he was guilty of straying from time to time, although he kept a watchful eye on what was transpiring.
Midnight came and went. One o'clock, two o'clock passed. The candles sank lower in their sockets and some of the gentlemen began to bid their host adieu, but still Dominic and Latimer continued to play. Somewhere around half-past three, just as the last game ended and the two men were once again even, no clear-cut winner having emerged from the many hands they had played, Dominic said slowly, "It seems we are very well matched. Shall we call it a night?"
Giving no sign of any interest in Latimer's answer, Dominic idly shuffled the cards he held in his lean hands. But there was a peculiar stillness about him that made Royce, who now sprawled comfortably nearby in a chair to Dominic's left, instantly very alert. Dominic's actions had puzzled him all evening, not only his choosing to gamble with Latimer but also the way he had played his cards, and it suddenly, blindingly, dawned on Royce that Dominic had been deliberately misplaying his cards, that he had allowed Latimer to win and then only when he chose. Sitting up straighter in his chair, Royce looked across at Dominic, the suspicion that he had engineered this precise sequence of events taking strong hold of him. While Dominic feigned indifference, he really wanted to play one more game with Latimer. And if Royce read the clues right, that game would be for very high stakes in deed! Everything else that had transpired so far had been mere dust thrown in Latimer's eyes to conceal the trap which Dominic was now ready to spring.
Latimer coolly appraised Dominic's offer, the desire to win resoundingly against a man he clearly considered an
enemy warring with a faint premonition of danger. And yet, on the surface, all seemed well. He felt confident that it had been mere chance that they had arrived at this present state of affairs, simply bad luck that he had not been able to keep and even increase his winnings. Besides, it was important that he win; he had been quite conscious of George Franklyn watching from the sidelines and he did not want that young man to think he was not a worthy opponent-that kind of opinion would be fatal to his plans. Speculatively, he eyed the man across the table from him, noting the heavy-lidded eyes and the empty brandy snifter at Dominic's elbow. He lifted his own brandy snifter and took a sip. "Do you not wish to continue?" Latimer finally asked as he set down the snifter very carefully.
As if to confirm that the lateness of the hour was telling on him, Dominic stifled a small yawn. "That all depends upon you," he returned politely, and indicated to a hovering servant that he wished his snifter refilled.
Encouraged by these signs, Latimer said carelessly, "Why not? This will not be the first time that I have gambled until dawn."
Dominic's lids lowered and, his eyes on the cards in his hands, he murmured, "Whatever you like ... but since the hour grows late and we have had time to take each other's measure, why don't we increase the stakes a trifle? "
"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 an extremely precarious position. The loss would wipe out nearly 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 clearly did not like this provision, his body stiffening slightly. That little niggle of danger he had kept at bay all evening returned full-blown, but just as the closewatching 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 baldly, "A heart!" and slapping the rest of his cards on the table.
Dominic smiled. "My win, I think," he drawled softly, showing a nine of spades. Glancing at the score pad, Dominic murmured dulcetly, "Not a bad night's work. I do believe that you owe me something in the vicinity of fifty thousand dollars."
Concealing with an effort his rage and desperation, Latimer merely 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?"
Maintaining his air of nonchalance, Latimer answered easily, "Of course."
It was not to be expected that Royce and Zachary would keep their questions to themselves, and despite Daniel's interested 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 smiled serenely 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 grinned. "In spades, sir. In spades."
Chapter Twenty-six
IT WAS only after he had left his horse with the groom and was slowly walking toward his own house that it occurred to Dominic that it might be a bit 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 still 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 any that he wanted to keep tonight's doings a secret from her until after he had met with Latimer and actually taken possession of the money.
Dominic quietly 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 with relief he crept across the hall and made his way to the stairs. His relief, however, was short-lived. One foot was already on the stairs when the butler suddenly appeared out of the breakfast room, giving a great start when he spied the master of the house.
"Master Slade!" he exclaimed with astonishment. "1 did not know that you were up and about. You startled me."
Smiling wryly, Dominic tried to pass the incident off nonchalantly. "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 make a comment. He merely 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 began to hurry up the stairs, desperate to gain the safety of his rooms.
Unfortunately, Melissa was an early riser and Dominic had made it 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 slightly 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. A faint frown appeared on her forehead as she asked incredulously, "You are not just returning from Tom Norton's?"
His cravat suddenly feeling as if it were choking him, Dominic slowly ascended the few stairs that separated them. "Ah, as a matter of fact, yes," he adm
itted sheepishly. 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 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 desperately wanted to believe that things were not as they seemed, but noting the attractively haggard air that hung about him and the faint whiff of brandy that drifted to her, she was sickly 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 also 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 usually 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."
Midnight Masqerade Page 41
