Page 16 of Make Mine a Marquess

“Well, he may be a handsome fellow, but he’s a dandy, obsessed with the cut of his coat.”

Beatrice was right. Both Jordan Malvern and Miles Roxborough were close friends with Willard. From what she’d just seen, they’d also been drinking whisky and wagering large amounts of money.

Beatrice leaned closer, her eyes twinkling. “I also noticed something.”

“What?”

“The lost marquess has been watching you with those dark eyes of his.”

An unwelcome heated rush tingled in Phoebe’s veins. She squashed it. “Don’t be silly! I’m engaged to his cousin, remember?”

“Tell that to Lord Landon. Who knows what happened to him overseas?”

Who knew indeed? The marquess’s father was English, but his mother had been from the Middle East. Landon had been raised English, but rumors said his Arabic mother had a strong influence upon his upbringing. As for the shipwreck, five lost years could easily change a man.

“We have to go back,” Phoebe said. “A game of charades is to begin.”

Beatrice entwined her arms with Phoebe’s. “Charades are my favorite.”

“Good, then we should hurry.”

Once back with the women in the drawing room, Phoebe settled next to Beatrice.

“Are the men joining us?” Beatrice asked.

“No, they’re gambling.” Phoebe lowered her voice. “I peeked inside the library. You should see the amount of money they are wagering!” She left out what the baron had said about her dowry. It was humiliating for him to mention it. Clearly, he was intoxicated. She could only hope he would never say such a thing sober.

“I’m not surprised,” Beatrice said. “My mother said gentlemen enjoy wagering on anything. When he was alive, my grandfather once wagered on which of two ants would make it to an open bottle of wine at White’s.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “The money they waste could be used to help so many.”

“You mean your charity?” Beatrice knew of Phoebe’s interest. Phoebe trusted her cousin and Beatrice was the only person she’d confessed her full involvement to.

“Yes, but there may be another. My maid overheard the servants talking. There’s a similar group in Herefordshire that helps young, unwed mothers. While we are here, I hope to meet them and see what they might need.”

Beatrice reached out to touch Phoebe’s hand. “I shall accompany you.”

Phoebe shook her head. “It’s not necessary. I don’t want you to miss any of the activities. I’ll be fine on my own.”

Beatrice pursed her lips. “You take risks, Phoebe.”

“What risks? Pregnant women and any of their young children are hardly dangerous.” Many of the unwed mothers had children and the London charity was full of youngsters in need of the necessities as well as lessons in reading and arithmetic.

Beatrice shook her head. “Not necessarily risks from the women and children, but from your mother. If she knew you were concentrating your efforts on charity work and not Lord Willard, she’d be displeased.”

Phoebe bit her lip as she eyed her mother across the room. Once again, she conversed with Lady Delmont. “Then it’s best if she never finds out.”

…

Landon shifted the cards from one hand to the other as he looked over the table at Willard. He had already established that the baron was an avid gambler. Aram sat to Landon’s right and Lord Delmont to his left. Another guest, Mr. Alistair Palet, a wealthy landowner, sat across the way. Willard’s other friends, who he also assessed as dandies and heavy gamblers—Jordan Malvern and Miles Roxborough—were enjoying expensive whisky from the estate’s vast cellars.

He mentally dismissed the two coxcombs. Landon was only focused on one man tonight.

He had allowed Willard to win at first. Whisky flowed and he made sure to let his cousin think Landon had consumed more than his fair share of spirits. What his cousin didn’t know was that Landon had grown accustomed to drinking arak, a strong Middle Eastern anise-flavored liquor, and even the best whisky couldn’t compare.

Once Willard’s eyes were unfocused, his complexion ruddy, and he slurred a word or two, Landon changed his tactics.

“You have the devil of luck tonight, cousin,” Landon said as he tossed down his cards.