The seat next to Greenwich was empty. “I’m joining the earl at the Faro table,” he said to Hudson.
His friend was studying the room. Hudson loved to gamble and was quite skilled at it. What he had that many members of thetondidn’t was self-control. He never bet more than he could afford to lose. Oliver didn’t care much for gambling, but he did on occasion and took Hudson’s advice: Never bet more than you can afford.
Oliver sat down beside Greenwich and nodded at him. “Deal me in,” he said to the dealer. Faro was a fast-paced gamethat left little time for conversation. Because Oliver was more focused on talking to Greenwich, he paid little attention to his cards and lost several hands. Frustrated, he left the table, found one of Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s footmen, and asked to be taken to her office.
He found her standing, facing the back wall, the curtains parted to reveal a large glass window overlooking the main gambling room. “I’m glad you came,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said. “Come stand beside me.”
Moving across the room, he stood on her right and whistled. “Nice view. You can see everything.”
“Exactly. My dealer will make sure that Greenwich loses a significant amount tonight. That, along with what he currently owes me, should get him to talk.”
“I’m curious about the past between the brothers and their wives,” Oliver said, as there was so much to look at that he had trouble knowing where to focus. He finally watched Hudson demonstrate his finesse with cards.
“I see you watching Lord Hudson,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said. “He’s good. I’m waiting for the time he finally loses. I could make him a nice match.”
Laughing, Oliver said, “Good luck with that.”
“Indeed. When I need luck, I always find it.”
They were interrupted by Burns’s arrival. Puck showed him in. “I’m a popular lady this evening,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said with a soft laugh. “Would you gentlemen care for some brandy?”
“None for me,” Burns replied.
“Yes, thank you,” Oliver said.
“Please take a seat.” She poured two glasses of brandy, handed one to Oliver, and sipped from her own as she sat on the settee facing him and Burns.
“Do you find out anything new?” Oliver asked.
“A marquess who owed me a favor had an interesting story to tell about how the current Lord Greenwich was once engaged to Lady Mary Hayward, Miss Windham’s mother.”
“So my intuition was right," Oliver said with a sigh. “This really goes back a ways.”
“According to the marquess, Lady Mary fell in love with William, and they ran off to Gretna Green. However, he also mentioned the abduction of Mary and how she went missing for a time.”
“Hmm, interesting. How did the current Lady Greenwich get involved in the story?”
“She was Lady Mary Hayward’s best friend. When Lady Mary was gone, she didn’t waste time claiming Greenwich for herself.”
“Your Grace, Mr. Burns,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said. “I'll let you two continue your evening and finish the investigation into Miss Windham’s whereabouts. I believe it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out."
Oliver and Burns stood outside Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s office. “I’m impressed,” Oliver said. One day, and you uncovered so much.”
“We still don’t know where Miss Windham is,” Burns said while stroking his chin. “But I’m confident we’ll find out soon. Good night.”
“Good night, Burns.” Oliver watched Burns leave, trying to decide whether he should join Hudson in the gaming room or go. He chose to go. Hudson could hire a hackney to take himself home.
When Oliver arrived home, he secluded himself in his library, sitting in a comfortable wing-backed chair with his bare feet resting on an ottoman. He’d taken off all his clothes except for his breeches and linen shirt. Leaning back with a glass ofbrandy in his hand, he reviewed what Burns had discovered in his mind. Quite an achievement for one day.
The brandy relaxed him, but it didn’t reveal his true feelings. Deep inside, where the alcohol couldn’t reach, he was terrified. The only thing he focused on was that if Lady Mary had been taken, she had also been found. That gave him hope that they could locate Miss Windham. Naturally, his mind was a jumbled mess because he’d overindulged in brandy since returning home. It was necessary to numb his mind and heart.
He woke up sometime during the night to find his valet covering him with a blanket and tending the fire. Too comfortable to get up and go to his chambers, he closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.
Morning brought a headache and terrible thirst to Oliver. He stood up from the chair and stretched his tight muscles. Leaving the library, he went upstairs and entered his chambers to find Byron tidying up. “Please prepare a bath and have breakfast brought up.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Byron said. “Will there be anything else?”
“No.”
