Gideon sat up. “Whatever you’re scheming, count me out. I’ve had enough of people trying to run my life of late.”
Leopold gave a hearty chuckle. “This isn’t scheming. This is just about a night out at the Lyon’s Den. Surely you can accompany me for a bit of gambling.”
“I lost a small fortune the last time I was there,” Gideon exclaimed with a worried frown, remembering his empty purse the next day.
“I’m certain you can afford it,” Leopold mumbled with another crooked grin. “Besides, just like you, I need reinforcements in the form of a friend I can count on. Lucius certainly isn’t about to go to the Lyon’s Den with me anymore now that he has Cassandra in his life.”
“Then ask Rockliffe or Carrington to go with you. They’re both regulars at that club, so I’m certain they would be more than happy to go with you,” Gideon complained.
“I’m sure both earls will be in attendance, but it’s more comforting to me to have a friend without a title go with me. You know how titled gentlemen can get. They tend to stick together and us second sons should too.” Leopold uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “Come with me.”
He considered his friend’s request. What harm could one more night at the Lyon’s Den cost him other than having a lighter purse at the end of the evening? He could afford the loss. And besides, it would make his mother’s machinations feel less maniacal, at least for one night. “Very well. You’ve convinced me.”
“Marvelous. If nothing else, we’ll be able to enjoy good food and wine for the evening,” Leopold happily exclaimed.
“Mrs. Dove-Lyon always can be depended on for top quality foodand entertainment,” he answered, mulling over exactly how much he should take to spend at her gambling establishment. “Shall we meet up this evening at around nine or ten?”
Leopold clapped his hands together. “Sounds like a brilliant plan, but let’s make it around nine. Gives us more time to play the tables.”
Gideon chuckled.Brillantwasn’t the word that came to mind when contemplating going to the Lyon’s Den.Riskywas more like it, but he was up to the challenge for the sake of his friend.
Chapter Six
Violet gazed outthe window of the carriage. There wasn’t much to see at this time of night, other than the flickering flames of the lamplights on the street giving off a soft golden glow. She fingered the blue silk of the gown Patience had had made for her as though her cousin had been fully aware that Violet would be traveling to London. In fact, Patience had done an amazing job of providing Violet and Arianna each with a full wardrobe, including costly jewels and outerwear. With only a few alterations made by the seamstress, they were more than amply attired to beseenin society. Not that it mattered to Violet. At this point, she was only here because she was given little choice. Still… she supposed she should be voicing her gratitude to Patience instead of grumbling complaints inside her head.
“I’m sorry Miss Trobridge was feeling unwell this evening,” Patience exclaimed. “I had hoped to have her with us tonight.”
Violet turned her attention from the window to return the stare of her cousin. “She never did travel well and usually takes several days to recover,” she answered politely. Violet squinted in the darkness of the carriage but she swore there was a satisfying smirk that briefly slipped across her cousin’s lips. Only the heavens knew for sure what was thecause of Patience’s amusement but Violet was determined to find out if it involved her. “Why are you so secretive on where are we going this evening, Patience? Should I be leery of tonight’s entertainment?”
“It’s a special place and one I think you might find… interesting.”
“Ha! I think we both know that in the pastinterestingonly got us—or more specifically me—into trouble,” Violet grumbled. “You might as well confess what you have planned so I am at least somewhat prepared for whatever shenanigans you have in store.”
Patience erupted with a short laugh. “I promise you’ll like it.”
“Tell me!” Violet urged.
A sigh left her cousin. “Very well,” Patience at last stated. “I’m taking you to the place where Asher and I first crossed paths.”
“You cannot mean…” Violet snapped her mouth shut for a moment as she considered her past conversations with her cousin. She clutched the edge of her seat before giving her Patience an accusatory glare, not that she could see it, probably, in the darkened cab of the carriage. “But… didn’t you tell me you met him in a gambling establishment?”
“Yes… the Lyon’s Den. It’s really quite suitable for us to be in attendance and you have no cause for alarm. The men and women are completely separated at all times,” Patience explained in a calming tone that failed to make Violet feel less stressed.
“Right! Likethatstopped the earl from falling straight into your arms as he was going down the stairway… or so you confessed to me.”
The carriage rounded a corner and the glow entering the convenance from the lamplight outside exposed Patience’s smiling face. “As I look back on it now, it truly was a magical moment for our first chance meeting. We gave ourselves nicknames from our encounters at the Lyon’s Den that we still use. It’s very endearing.”
“Why, of all places, are you taking methere?”
Patience turned to look out at the darkness before facing her. “Don’t hate me.”
Violet shook her head. “I could never hate you. We’re family but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to be an accomplice to whatever scheme you have in mind.”
Patience laughed. “It’s not a scheme, dearest cousin, but more of an opportunity for me to continue on with a tradition.”
“Tradition? What tradition do we have?” Violet asked as she frowned, trying to think of to what Patience referred.
“Well… it’s not exactly a family tradition between us but more of what a dear friend of mine did for me,” Patience replied softly. She began to explain how she and several other women had been called part of theWicked Widows Clubby London’s gossip rag,The Teatime Tattler. Patience’s friend Cassandra had paid the owner of the Lyon’s Den a substantial amount of money so that each of the ladies could find their perfect husband.
