“Yes, well, his hand was injured,” I explained. “I houndedhim until he confessed what had happened but also swore me to secrecy, don’t worry.”
“You play a lot better than he does,” Tarik conceded after a beat, though that look of disquiet remained. “So have you had your fill, or shall we continue?”
“Perhaps one more game,” I said, eager to spend more time with him before we were both forced to go back to reality.
However, play seemed to be paused. The factotum was in quiet conversation with the dealer a few feet away from where we sat, their gazes occasionally flicking in our direction…specifically tobothof us. When he signaled for the two security guards to come to his side, I couldn’t help frowning. I could feel Tarik’s unease when the factotum approached us, his face giving away nothing though his shoulders were stiff and his stance was distinctly menacing.
“Sir,” he said. “Can you come with me please? You and your companion.” My frown deepened at the request, though it sounded more like a command than anything else, especially with the two men looming behind him like ominous shadows.
“May I ask why?” Tarik asked.
The factotum’s mouth flattened. “It’s a private matter. You must come with us.” The men at his back flexed, and my entire body stiffened at the silent threat.
Tarik’s reluctance to go with them was clear, and I realized that what happened behind closed doors might not be so savory in a place like this. Patrons could be beaten to a pulp, or the house could take our money with no one the wiser. We didn’t have any protections. Well, technically,Tarikdidn’t. If needed, Ihad the protection of my station and my name, and though the aristocracy might not be revered in this part of London, that was still something.
I had limited power, but I wasn’t afraid to use it, not in this circumstance.
And if news got back to Mayfair, I’d deal with it then.
“Unless you can tell us what we did wrong,” I said in a clear voice, rising to my full height as Tarik followed my lead, “you have no reason or cause to detain us. And neither of ushasto do anything.”
Calculating green eyes flicked over me. “This is a private establishment.”
“Then we shall leave.”
A smarmy grin overtook his face. “Not until we have a little chat, miss. You understand.”
Tarik’s fists clenched, but neither of us would be any match for the two enormous men. I understood all too clearly what was happening. They did not want us to walk out of here with the small fortune we had won, even if we had done so fairly. Calculating odds was not a crime, but they did not like being undermined of potential profits by clever-minded players. If Tarik had been alone, his winnings might have gone undetected, but with the two of us winning such large amounts, it had drawn notice.
“Either you let us leave, or you will find my father’s solicitor on your doorstep, and I assure you, if this is indeed your establishment, it will be shut down first thing tomorrow and everything in here will belong to him.” I paused for effect. “The Duke of Delmont.”
Recognition flared in his eyes. Oh, he knew who that was. There wasn’t a business owner in London who didn’t know my father, considering his fleet of ships brought in many of the goods from the Far East. He was responsible for almost all the fair-trade laws in place in Parliament and took harsh measures to battle piracy and profiteering from illegal practices.
“Pay back your ill-gotten gains, and you’re free to go,” the factotum said through a clenched jaw.
“Fine, we don’t want any trouble,” Tarik said, reaching into his pockets, but I know he was capitulating only because he was worried for my safety. Although it was the principle of the thing. There was no law preventing a person who was good at addition from gambling.
“No.” I stopped Tarik with a hand to his arm. “We played, and we won.”
“You were keeping track,” the factotum snarled.
I snorted. “Everyone does, sir. Is that not the point of the game? To add numbers until a sum of twenty-one is reached?”
“That is not what I meant. You kept a tally.”
I feigned confusion. “Of my cards? Well, of course I did. A good player must have proper count of their cards to win, good sir. Surely, that is the goal of vingt-et-un.”
Face reddening, he curled his lip back over his teeth. “You’re mocking me.”
Perhaps I’d overdone it on the innocent indignation.
“If you feel mocked, sir, then you must look inward, as I have certainly no idea what you mean,” I said primly. “However, if you do insist on detaining us, thenImust insist that the BowStreet Runners be summoned by our coachman, who is waiting outside. And if you intend on threatening my fiancé or me, prompt measures will be taken, I assure you.”
My coachman was nowhere near Covent Garden, buthedidn’t know that. I didn’t dare look at Tarik after the last declaration, though I could feel the immediate sweep of his stare. I kept my chin up and my demeanor fierce. Any glimmer of weakness would be exploited.
“Leave,” the man bit out. “And don’t come back.”
I smiled. “With pleasure.”
