The significance of it made Vee’s pulse race with excitement—because she knew unequivocally that that was the third-best trump card in the pack, barring her unbeatable ace and Minerva’s king. The jack was long gone. And so were the eight, nine, and ten, because she had already played them. The arrogant fool didn’t have anything lower, or he’d have played it.
He swallowed when Minerva played her king. “Using your theory that they like to spend time with the adults, I suspect it might have something to do with the fact that Mrs. Witherspoon always reads to the little ones at bedtime and this week’s book has always been one of their favorites.” She smiled at the twins’ shenanigans for two reasons. First, because she adored them both despite all their mischief, and second, she was mischievous enough herself to want to toy with Galahad like a cat did a mouse before she went in for the kill.
That was why she almost laid her five of spades instead of her ace to allow Minerva to take the leveling trick. Almost—until she decided that she would much prefer to give him a sound drubbing herself than with her sister’s help.
She laid the ace on Minerva’s king just to spite him. “Two apiece. It seems we are level.”
Except they weren’t.
Diana had nothing and she was certain—given the speed at which his lucky quarter was traveling from his index finger to his little one and back again—that Galahad also suspected the last remaining trump in the pack was in Minerva’s hand. Either way it guaranteed Vee the win by default.
“Have you found someone to fix that leaky roof and the money to pay for it?” As he was attempting to cover his disquiet with chatter, she let him for her own amusement.
“I am still haggling but am hopeful we at least have the money thanks to Mrs. Leyton-Brown.”
His lucky quarter stilled as he frowned. “Mrs. Leyton-Brown?”
“A lovely lady and a stalwart of society until ill health forced her to leave it.” Olivia’s smile was wistful as she remembered her acquaintance. “She died a week or so ago. All very sad, but expected as she never recovered from her last stroke. Her illness aside, she was a ripe old age. She had to have been well over eighty despite her outrageous claims to be a good twenty years younger. You must have met her, Galahad? Or at least seen her, as she was quite the character and not easilyforgotten. She had a fondness for ostrich feathers and always proudly sported the tallest plumes on her headdress at every evening function. Always dyed some vivid shade to match her dress or her hair. She was famous for dying her coiffure all the colors of the rainbow.”
“While Mrs. Leyton-Brown was indeed a character, and one often gossiped about for her sartorial eccentricities…” Vee shot Olivia a chiding look. “She will be most remembered for her philanthropy and for being the orphanage’s most generous benefactor. She gave us the building back when we started and has apparently now left us a generous bequest in her will to ensure that our good work continues.”
“How generous?”
She shrugged, guiltily, because it felt wrong to speculate aloud to the sheer size of that bequest when they had not yet heard categoric proof of it from the solicitor. “All I know is that it is a timely miracle when we really needed one. As soon as the snow clears, I am accompanying the Reverend Smythe to Brighton to visit her solicitor where we shall find out exactly what that bequest entails and sign all the particulars.”
“Sad though it is that the world has lost such a generous character, thank the Lord for timely roof miracles.” The lucky quarter began to dance again as Galahad smiled. “If I might be so bold as to offer you a suggestion, seeing as I know that town well, when you visit Brighton, avoid staying near the Royal Pavilion as all the inns nearest there charge the earth for inedible food and shoddy accommodations. In fact, I’d avoid all the inns near that part of the seafront for that same reason. They are priced for the tourists who know no better. I heartily recommend The Mermaid. It’s still by the sea but a little farther west in the direction of Hove. Decent beds to sink into, quality linens, delicious food, and far enough away from all the noise that you’ll get some sleep but not so far that you can’t walk into town in no time.”
“Thank you. That is good to know.” As the winner of the last trick, Vee finally laid her five of spades, feeling triumphant because she knew it was the highest trump left, and a second later Diana groaned as she tossed down the two, exactly as Vee had suspected.
“I hate this stupid game!”
All eyes swiveled to Galahad, who did not move a single muscle, and Minerva, who was still smiling enigmatically as if she knew something the rest of them didn’t.
Olivia sucked in an audible breath. Jeremiah and Giles shuffled their chairs farther forward. Hugh stood to get a better view of the table. Even Payne leaned closer, his usual bland expression replaced with one of anticipation. The tension in the room now so palpable you could cut it with a knife.
After an age her vexing opponent sighed then kissed his quarter in defeat, ready to hand it over.
Or so she thought—until he tossed down his card.
The six of spades.
He did not wait for Minerva to toss down her useless card before he grinned. “Three to me and two to you. I guess that makes me the winner?” He glanced toward her book with only the slightest hint of triumph. “Unlike your terrible twins, I’ll be reading myself a bedtime story tonight.”
“Well I’ll be damned!” Jeremiah punched the air. “The witch’s spell has finally been broken!” For once, even Olivia was too busy gaping to admonish him for cursing.
The room erupted around them while Vee blinked at his card. It seemed inconceivable to lose on such a low card when her hand had been one of the best she had ever been dealt. She glared at Galahad with narrowed eyes, begrudgingly impressed. To his credit, he didn’t crow about his victory. He winked, pocketed his lucky quarter, then stood and quietly retrieved her favorite book from where it still lay on the arm of the sofa before he headed toward the door.
“Good night, all. Thanks for the dinner and the fine company. And thank you, Miss Venus, for an excellent game.”
He left amid much backslapping, waving away all offers to walk him to the door, while Jeremiah whooped with delight as he cracked open the fine whiskey he had been saving for a special occasion.
As she heard it click closed behind him, Vee knew that for the sake of her own sanity she couldn’t leave it like that, so she dashed to follow.
His long legs had already taken him several yards across Berkeley Square before she skidded down the steps behind him.
“Galahad!” He turned, pausing so she could catch up. “How did you do it?”
“How did I win? Well, that’s easy, Miss Venus. You’re not the only person on this planet clever enough to be able to count and memorize cards, any more than you’re the only one to read Shakespeare.” He smiled and not the least bit smugly. To her chagrin, it was devastating. Galahad Sinclair was too attractive for his own good. Too likable as well, devil take him. “But surely a better question is, How the hell did I beat you when you had such an unbeatable hand?”
