Patricia Rice Read Free Page B

rubbing shoulders with
the rakes and scoundrels of this dismal gambling hell, where no lady was wont
to go, Merrick stumbled over a reply. “I’m looking for the younger brother of a
friend of mine. I had promised to look out for him this evening, but the young
devil... lad slipped away. You wouldn’t happen to know Bertie’s youngest
brother, Thomas, would you? I should think he was just about your age.”
    He looked uncomfortable, Cassandra observed with amusement.
He had finally remembered to remove his hat in her presence, and he kept
darting scandalized glances at the men accosting her with overfamiliarity. He
rigidly kept his own gaze from falling lower than her face, which made her very
aware of her new, more mature figure. None of the men she was familiar with
made her pleasantly aware that she was a woman, but this courtly gentleman did.
She tried a provocative smile and was gratified to notice he colored but didn’t
look away.
    “I don’t know any young gentlemen my age, my lord. They can
scarcely be expected to occupy places such as this, can they? But if he’s here,
I daresay I know where to find him. Come with me.”
    Delighted at being able to show off her superior knowledge,
Cassandra led him to a corner not easily observed from the door. A round table
of rickety construction held a foursome of players. Drink rings stained the
cheap wood. The players took little notice of their moist mugs, although they
were promptly refilled by a slatternly barmaid as soon as they were emptied.
    “I don’t suppose the young blond fellow with his back to us
would be the one you seek?”
    Distracted from his observance of creamy round breasts
barely disguised beneath a high-waisted bodice, Merrick had to force his gaze
to where she pointed.
    He didn’t have to look closely to identify the youngest
Scheffing. All the males of the family were built like young bulls. It was a
pity their dispositions weren’t more like the animals they resembled.
Suspicion, stubbornness, and anger would serve them better in this city than
their amiable and generous natures.
    Merrick studied the large stack of markers before the
pompous gambler facing them. Cassandra answered his question before he could
phrase it.
    “Norton fleeces every youngster who comes through that door.
He takes pride in it. He thinks he is teaching them a valuable lesson,” she
whispered.
    “Since Thomas has only just received his quarterly
allowance, it will be a rather expensive lesson. With five boys, his parents do
not have much extra to spare.”
    His tart words had scarcely left his mouth before Merrick
realized Cassandra had slipped from his side. In horror, he watched as the
gambler called Norton looked up with a paternal smile and gallantly gestured
her toward an empty chair. The earl developed a sudden leaden feeling in his
stomach, but he worked his way around to stand behind her.
    “Cassandra, I cannot approve of this,” he murmured, as she
reached for the cards she was dealt. It was all he could do to prevent his own
gaze from seeking her generous cleavage. Every man in here had to be watching.
    “Fustian, Merrick. I’ve been playing with Norton since I was
naught but a schoolgirl. He doesn’t mind at all, do you?” She sent a sunny
smile in the portly man’s direction.
    “Of course not, Lady Cassie. You are an astute student of
Lady Luck. Have a seat, my lord. We’re all friends here.”
    Merrick caught Thomas’ bleak gaze and shook his head. “I’m
no hand at cards. I’ll just watch if you don’t mind.” He gave the lad a warning
frown and then posed to wait for the final fiasco. It was a hard way for the
boy to learn, but he couldn’t pull him out of the fire now. Merrick knew the
rules of the game but little more. He would just watch and make certain nothing
more was wagered than the few coins left upon the table.
    Cassandra began an idle chatter about the prizefight as she
nonchalantly held her cards. When she wished to place a