Page 12 of Rogue Lyon

Nancy shrugged. “I don’t know more than that. I’m not exactly in a position to buy art. It’s for rich people, as you say.” She paused. “I hear he went onto the private terrace at the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough’s ball with the duke’s daughter and now refuses to marry her.”

“And that’s a crime?” It seemed ridiculous to her that the ton took these things so seriously. It certainly reminded her that she was a long way from her rural home.

“They were alone, in the dark, for several minutes, not a chaperone in sight.” Nancy chuckled. “The duke is on the war path, apparently.”

“Hardly seems fair.” Meredith looked out of the window at the bricked wall of the building opposite. All of her life, she’d taken people as she’d found them. If they’d been honest and kind with her, she took that to be their nature. If they’d been otherwise, then she’d viewed them that way.

Mr. Habsburg, from what she’d seen, had been a fair player, courteous, and keen to show appreciation for her interception.

“So what happened at the table?” Nancy asked.

“I spotted what was going on, called the wolves, and the culprits were escorted from the premises, not likely to be seen again, judging by the look on Lysander’s face.”

“Good riddance. Mrs. Dove-Lyon runs a tight ship. No cheating or monkey business here. It’s what keeps the high-rollers coming in.”

“Very true.”

“Will you deal again?”

“I hope so, maybe. I suppose it’s up to Mrs. Dove-Lyon.” She touched the coin in her pocket. “I like handling the cards; it reminds me of my father. Chess too. It’s something we did together.”

“Then I hope you get another chance.” Nancy nodded at the food. “Are you eating?”

“No, I think I’ll go to my room. I’ve had enough excitement for one evening.”

“Yes, go rest. But hang that dress up carefully; you don’t want it creased next time you’re called to the gaming room.”

“Very true.”

Meredith headed out of the Ladies’ Room toward the main entrance. She wanted to thank Lysander and hoped he’d be hovering there making sure the cheaters didn’t cause trouble.

Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen, but as she glanced into the hallway of the gentleman’s entrance, something caught her attention.

It was a new, heavily-framed painting on the wall. It was incredibly beautiful and depicted a boy with a white rabbit.

She paused and then stepped up to it for a closer look. It wasn’t somewhere she should really loiter, the gentlemen’s entrance, but the brushwork on the painting and the detail and realism were magical to behold.

A cool breeze from the front door caught her hair and she turned to leave. But then something else called to her. A poster pinned onto the paneling.

Gentlemen’s Chess Tournament

Sudden Death

Winner £40

Second Place £10

Pieces move on September 1st at 8 p.m.

£10 entry

Chess lessons available. Contact Mrs. Dove-Lyon

“A chess tournament?” she whispered to herself. “What on earth?”

“Are you planning on entering?” a deep, upper-class voice asked from behind her.

She turned and came face to chest with Mr. Habsburg. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She looked back the way she’d come. “I shouldn’t be here. I…”