“She plays like a sharp.”
“I never did see the like of it.”
As she laid down her second ace and took the trick, Lily watched Lord Ashworth’s expression with interest. This would be the moment he might guess that she’d sunk a triplet of aces.
The idea did clearly dawn on him and he looked up sharply at her. Lily smiled graciously. He would know now that her final card was likely an ace. She would win the last trick.
She slowly laid down her ace.
Lord Ashworth laid down the queen of hearts. He had saved a high card to take the last trick, and he had failed.
And so the play went on with new hands. Lily had varied her strategy so that he might not detect a pattern and had not sunk anything since the first play. The lord was equally dodging, she had to use all her concentration to divine his likely strategies. However arrogant Lord Ashworth might be, he was the most skilled player she had yet encountered. Skilled though he might be, he would not overcome her.
At the final play she’d sunk three kings, knowing full well the aces and the other king were already played. She handily won the last three tricks.
The scores told the story, she had won the game, and handily.
The crowd surrounding the table stamped feet and there were various “bravas” called out.
Lord Ashworth having had a moment to collect himself, said, “I congratulate you, Miss Farnsworth.”
“It was nothing, my lord,” Lily said. She was in the habit of expressing that very sentiment every time she took an opponent’s money. It was so vague it might be construed that she thought herself only lucky, or that it had only taken the slightest of efforts to succeed.
“Hear that?” Mr. Simmons cried. “The lady trounces a renowned gambler and it was nothing!”
“I presume you will not be alarmed to wait until the morrow to settle the debt,” Lord Ashworth said. “Though I am happy to sign for it if you like.”
“I assume you may be trusted, Lord Ashworth,” Lily said graciously.
The party round the table dispersed after some few minutes, Lord Ashworth dispersing himself perhaps faster than most. Mrs. Hemming was lured away for a game of whist and left her niece with Cassandra.
“Well,” Cassandra said, sitting down next to Lily, “I suppose we can at least be grateful that you won.”
“I know I should not have done it,” Lily said, “but he really was provoking beyond anything.”
Cassandra patted her hand. “I learned for myself that it’s no use pretending you are anything other than who you are. And you, Lily Farnsworth, are quite the card player.”
“Yes, I know it,” Lily said, with no hint of false modesty.
“Does it have to do with your memory?” Cassandra asked. “It’s always been rather good. I remember in my own house, when something was misplaced, my father would say,If only Lily were here, she’d remember what became of it.”
“Indeed, I can see where I saw something last and it has come in very handy with cards. But for all that, I do not wish to be talked of.”
“I am afraid that is a rather empty wish,” Cassandra said. “A lady new to the town defeats the famed Lord Ashworth at a card table? It will be talked of everywhere. However, there is nothing disreputable in it and so you can expect only idle chatter. Simply hold your head up and face the talkers down.”
*
Lily and heraunt had finally taken leave of Lady Blakeley. Lily wondered if, by playing Lord Ashworth, she had caused her hostess any discomfort, but Lady Blakeley had whispered, “Well done, my dear, I do so like a girl with spirit,” as they had donned their cloaks.
Now, their carriage rattled through the dark and damp roads toward Cork Street.
“I’m not sure it was at all the thing, though,” Mrs. Hemming said.
Her aunt had not said she spoke of the card game, but Lily was certain that she did.
“Ashworth, goodness,” Mrs. Hemming went on. “He makes the most frightening bets at Lady Carradine’s. Frightening to me, anyway. Now that I think of it, you might be better served only making bets at her club. I fancy it’s more discreet, though I’d be hard-pressed to say exactly why. It just seems so… well, in any case, what a talent for piquet! I never saw the like of it. You seemed positively clairvoyant, my dear.”
“Cassandra says the wager will be talked of,” Lily said, wishing to get that piece of unpleasant business out of the way.
