“I must have a rematch, Miss Farnsworth!” Mr. Gentry said with some feeling. “I see how you play now and am prepared to take myself to victory.”
Lily was vastly amused and would not mind at all to relieve Mr. Gentry of another fifty pounds. However, she could see that her aunt was tired.
“I must decline, Mr. Gentry. My aunt will wish to go home by now.”
“Indeed, my dear,” Mrs. Hemming said. “I am exhausted.”
“It cannot be!” Mr. Gentry exclaimed. “Lady Carradine,” he called, “do come over.”
Lady Carradine, always alarmed when a person called her over with such urgency, hurried to the table.
“There is no problem here?” she said hopefully.
“I am distraught, Lady Carradine,” Mr. Gentry said. “Miss Farnsworth refuses a rematch on account of Mrs. Hemming wishing to retire. Surely, there must be a solution. I must have my chance.”
Mr. Shine had slid over to their table. He reminded Lily of a garden snake, weaving its way around the shrubbery.
“Certainly, there must be, my dear Mr. Gentry,” Mr. Shine said smoothly. “Nothing easier. If Mrs. Hemming were to return to her house in their carriage, the carriage could then be sent back and Miss Farnsworth could return safely at her leisure. Mrs. Melton is here to watch over her.”
“I must intervene on that point, Mr. Shine,” Lady Carradine said. “Mrs. Melton was looking a bit peaked and I have sent her home.”
“You, then,” Mr. Shine said smoothly to Lady Carradine. “You could watch over Miss Farnsworth. Nothing more respectable and it would have the further benefit of allowing Miss Farnsworth to view the upcoming game of the evening. Lord Ashworth has agreed to playmewhen he is done with young Medham over there.”
Lily could hardly suppress her mirth. Mr. Gentry would insist on his right to lose another fifty pounds and Mr. Shine had somehow the lunacy of playing Lord Ashworth. Mr. Shine, as she well knew, was no expert. Whileshemight be able to prevail over Lord Ashworth,hehad no chance whatsoever.
“You are to know, Miss Farnsworth,” Mr. Shine said with a hint of pride in his voice, “that I have become a great student of the game and am vastly improved. I would consent to match withyou, if you dared. Though, I bet rather high.”
“Indeed,” Lily said, pressing her lips together to stop her laughter. It seemed now there weretwogentlemen lined up to throw her their money. She might make a very tidy profit before the night was through. She turned to Mrs. Hemming and said, “Oh, Aunt, might we arrange it?”
Mrs. Hemming squinted her eyes, as she did when she was deep in thought. “Well,” she said slowly, “if Lady Carradine were to take charge of you as a chaperone and stay nearby, I might send the carriage back with the addition of two footmen and Pips. You already have two grooms and the coachman—I suppose five men and a lady’s maid could not be safer. In truth, I would put Pips up against the five men in both spirit and ferocity, once I apprise her of the scheme. But then, I rarely inconvenience the woman so I dare say she might lump it for once.”
Lily had followed her aunt’s calculations closely. “Then I shall stay?” she asked hopefully.
“Oh, do say so!” Mr. Gentry cried.
Mrs. Hemming looked to Lady Carradine. Lady Carradine appeared to waver, then she said, “Of course, if you wish it.”
Mrs. Hemming said, “It appears all arranged. But mind, do not stay too late. I will have Pips here by two.”
“Yes, Aunt,” Lily said, enormously pleased.
Mrs. Hemming appeared satisfied and kissed her niece’s cheek. She was escorted to the carriage by Lady Carradine, and Lily picked up the pack and dealt the cards.
Chapter Nine
Lily and Mr.Gentry had, for the most part, been left to their game. Lady Carradine came by from time to time, but she appeared to deem the gentleman not a particular threat to any young lady’s virtue. Lily thought that wise—it was not likely his conversation or his person would conquer anybody, nor did he have the daring of a rake.
Most others in the room had drifted over to Lord Ashworth and Mr. Shine’s game.
Mr. Gentry had long since given up recounting his various wins at various tables. Lily could not be certain if that was because he’d run out of them, or whether he was cognizant that he was on the verge of losing another fifty pounds.
Whether or notheknew it, Lily knew it. She’d sunk a triplet of kings and was just playing them as her last cards, well aware that Mr. Gentry could not beat them.
As she took one trick, then two, then the final, the sink seemed to dawn on Mr. Gentry. He laid down his last card, the ten of spades, and sighed deeply. “That’s it, then,” he said quietly.
“Thatisit, Mr. Gentry.” In a kinder tone, she said, “I wonder if I might advise you.”
Mr. Gentry seemed to perk. “You will give me some trick to winning? he asked.
