Page 10 of Rogue Lyon

“Excuse me.” Meredith held up her finger to a passing waiter. “Please could you get me a sweet lemonade?”

The young man’s eyes widened and he looked at the players who were waiting for her to dole out the prize. “Yes, of course.”

“And quickly, I’m particularly parched,” she said, feeling as though her own brow were developing a sheen of perspiration.

He slunk into the crowd and was almost instantly replaced by Lysander and two tall wolves. They wore stern expressions, their shoulders impossibly wide and their fists balled.

“You mentioned sweet lemonade?” Lysander asked, one thick eyebrow rising.

“Yes.” She swallowed. “I believe three of my players have an observer.”

“‘An observer’?” Lysander frowned.

“Over there.” She nodded at the dark-skinned man with the red neckcloth. “He’s been taking peeks at Mr. Habsburg’s cards and then using some kind of code letting the other players know when to stick and when to switch.”

“What? That’s ridiculous,” Mr. Brocklehurst said, slamming his fist onto the table.

Within a second, one of the wolves had curled his hand around Neckcloths’s upper arm and dragged him to the table. “Seems you’ve been rumbled.”

“We were doing no such thing. Brag is a game of luck.” The gentleman wearing glasses stood and went to reach for the pile of coins. “I won that game fair and square.”

“I really don’t think so.” Meredith cupped her hand around the winnings. “You cheated two games in a row. I bore witness to that and, if necessary, will testify in court.”

“Hey, hey, that won’t be necessary.” Mr. Brocklehurst also stood. He glared at the stack of money and then at her. “You got in a muddle, that’s all, dear. Tell the esteemed gentleman the truth. You weren’t thinking straight. A case of feminine hysteria.”

Heat rose on her cheeks as she glared at him and then the others. “Do not dare to suggest I do not know my own mind or what I saw.” She gritted her teeth so hard, she worried one might break. “And I will inform you I am not prone to hysteria of any sort.”

“Sirs,” the gentleman with the glasses directed at the wolves. “This is a prime example of why women shouldn’t be behind a table in the casino; they are prone to hysteria and fantasy. Just like this little chit here.”

“I will not deal for any of you again.” Meredith used all of her willpower to stop herself from slapping his bony cheek. “Ever. Cheating undermines the entire point of a gaming hall. And for your information, women see truth much clearer than men, for we are not tangled up in bloated ego.”

“I agree wholeheartedly!” Mr. Habsburg’s eyes were wide. “I, for one, had no idea this was going on quite literally behind my back.”

“Lucky for you, Mr. Habsburg,” Lysander said, gripping Mr. Brocklehurst on the shoulder. “You had a very astute dealer.”

“Indeed, I did.” His attention turned to Meredith, mouth slightly open and a look of amazement in his eyes as he studied her. “God looked out for me today in more ways than one.”

“Right, you’re out of here, and Mrs. Dove-Lyon won’t be having you back once she hears of this.” Lysander shoved Mr. Brocklehurst and, along with the other two disgraced players and the man in the red neckcloth, he was led from the room.

The small crowd that had formed to watch the dispute parted and shook their heads. A few calls of, “Disgrace” and “Off with them” and “Merry Andrews to think they could get away with that here” followed them out.

Meredith blew out a breath. She could hear the pulse in her ears. The pianist had gone silent as he’d also watched the fracas.

“Miss.” The waiter to whom she’d spoken earlier set down a glass of water in front of her. “Are you well?”

“I’m fine. Thank you.” She sipped the water and then set it aside. “Mr. Habsburg. I do believe the rules of the house are if you are cheated upon in any shape or form, the table goes to the victim.”

“‘Victim’?” He frowned. “I don’t like to be thought of as a victim.”

“But I am sure you will like this pile of coins.” She pushed them toward him and his eyes went wide once again. “You would have been unlikely to make this much in one evening with brag, but now you have.”

“I do believe you are right.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing down to his white cravat. “Maybe those scoundrels have done me a favor.”

“You always do manage to make good luck out of bad, Mr. Habsburg.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon appeared at his side, her usual veil in place and a few curious glances following her. “And tonight is no exception.”

Meredith gathered up the cards and began shuffling them, for something to do with her hands more than anything else.

“I would like to thank the dealer.” Mr. Habsburg pushed a gold coin across the table. “Without her sharp eyes, I would be leaving here considerably down.”