The Wagered Wife Read Free Page A

exchanged two cards. The baron exchanged three, and the dealer turned up the trump card. The baron took the first trick. They seesawed back and forth. The tension in the room mounted. The players were even when it came to the last trick. Trevor’s last card was a king, giving him great hope. He laid it on the table.
    Only to have the baron trump it.
    For a moment, Trevor thought he might be violently ill. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
    â€œWell, son, you are about to join the ranks of married men.” The baron fairly chortled as he handed over the stack of IOUs. “We shall set the ceremony for Saturday morning. Perhaps you will call tomorrow to meet your bride.”
    â€œSaturday will be soon enough,” Trevor said.
    â€œAs you wish.”

Two
    â€œYou wished to see me, ma’am?” Miss Caitlyn Maria Woodbridge entered her aunt’s sitting room feeling both curious and apprehensive. In general, Aunt Sylvia ignored her niece’s presence in the household.
    â€œYes, my dear. Do come in and close that door so we may be private. Sit there.” Sylvia Fiske pointed to a particular chair, and Caitlyn felt her inner tension grow. She sat and began nervously pleating and repleating her skirt.
    â€œI have great news for you, Caitlyn.”
    â€œYou—you have?” Caitlyn’s experience was that, when Aunt Sylvia broached a topic with such patently artificial enthusiasm, the news did not bode well for others.
    â€œYour uncle has arranged a splendid match for you, darling.” Aunt Sylvia clasped her hands together in a show of delight.
    â€œOh.” A tremor of fear assailed Caitlyn; then she relaxed. “Oh. Bertie did persuade his father to relent.”
    â€œBertie? Oh, you mean that Latham boy. No, my dear. Hubert Latham is the son of a mere viscount. Fiske has arranged your marriage to the son of an earl. Is that not wonderful?”
    Caitlyn was struck speechless. No. This could not be happening to her. And Aunt Sylvia expected her to believe such a disaster to be “wonderful”?
    â€œBut . . . but I do not know any earls—or their sons.” Caitlyn focused on the obvious to try to think as she absorbed this news.
    Her aunt ignored Caitlyn’s comment. “You are a very lucky girl. You will be connected with one of the finest families in England.”
    Caitlyn had thought the Lathams quite a fine family. After all, was her aunt not always bragging of her own association with Lady Latham, lioness of society in their parish? Caitlyn knew Lord Latham wielded a good deal of power as the largest landowner in the area. The Latham estate ran parallel with her uncle’s. That was how she and Bertie had become acquainted—how long ago? Ah, seventeen months, two weeks and three days ago. Dear, sweet Bertie.
    â€œThere must be some mistake, Aunt. Bertie—”
    â€œForget Bertie. The Lathams would never countenance such a match for their son.”
    â€œNo, not now, perhaps. I—we—know we are very young. Bertie has not quite eighteen years—but in a few years—”
    â€œAnd you are nearly seventeen. But it matters not. Latham has made it quite clear you would never be suitable. Not that your uncle and I ever had such presumption as to think otherwise.”
    â€œI—I do not understand.” Caitlyn fought to quell threatening tears. “Lord Latham was always very kind to me when we chanced to meet.”
    â€œYou mistook mere courtesy for approval. I am sorry, my dear.” The baroness sounded neither sorry nor affectionate. “You will simply have to put the Latham lad out of your mind.”
    â€œBut . . . but I love Bertie. And he loves me.”
    â€œLove! What does a green girl like you know of love? Now you listen to me, young lady.” Her voice turned hard and her dark eyes glared. “The marriage is arranged. And a very fortunate one it is. After all, you have no dowry,