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Matthew put a hand on Rose’s shoulder and pulled her close.
“This is a trap.You wanted me to lose.You tricked me into your games so you could embarrass and humiliate me.”Cyril picked up a nearby vase and threw it toward Alice, missing widely, but the ceramic crashed against the far wall.Water dripped down in runnels.
Matthew moved Rose behind him and took a step toward the door, providing an out for his wife should something untoward happen.
“And you!”Cyril yelled before he pressed his palms to his temples.“You!”he screamed in Rose’s direction.
Lord Liverpool chose that moment to enter the room and made a quick assessment.He wasn’t flat-footed.Matthew had given Liverpool the note about the Cato Street gang once he decided there was nothing he could really do.There were situations in life that couldn’t be corrected—and this was one of them.
“Your Grace, perhaps we should speak alone.Mr.Hardy, could you escort the ladies from the room?”Liverpool asked.
Matthew wasn’t leaving.He would certainly see Rose and Alice were safe, though.“I’m not leaving, Matthew.If Cyril cheated, I want him to admit it,” Rose said.Now wasn’t the time to demand fairness and truth!
“Liar!Li-ar!”Cyril backed into a corner.Two of Alice’s guards had moved to protect her.“This was your fault,” Cyril said, pointing at Liverpool.“Your men.Your commanders.Richards.Griffiths.The blood is on their hands.”
“Matthew, do something,” Rose whispered.
“Sandhurst, be calm,” Matthew said.What embarrassing secret would Cyril blurt out in his manic state?No one would believe him though.Not like this.Matthew might be able to understand Cyril’s condition after serving in the military, but he would never forgive him for what he had done to Rose, no matter his troubled mind.
The man started laughing.“Calm?Calm.Like the sea?”Cyril leaned back and slid down the wall until he was crouched in the corner, his face in the palm of his hands and reciting some obscure Shakespearean verses.
“Colonel, your men need you.Stand and lead,” Liverpool commanded sharply.
Cyril jumped to his feet, “Sir.”He wiped at his face, then stood like any soldier in formation.
It was the strangest thing Matthew had seen and he had the crushing worry he had a hand in it.He felt Rose, secure against his back, one hand digging into his waist.How did she feel about her brother-in-law’s collapse?
Matthew’s gaze flitted around the room.Madame DuPuis was at Liverpool’s side, as stone-faced and shocked as Matthew was.The guards had all taken a few steps into the room to do...what?Matthew had foolishly come ill prepared to the largest gambling tournament in which he’d ever participated.He’d foolishly poked the bear.He reached for Rose’s hand and squeezed.
Liverpool whispered something to Alice, and she flicked a hand.“Come with me, Colonel,” he said.Sandhurst followed like a tame pup.Two of Alice’s guards followed along.
Another set of guards followed Liverpool and Sandhurst from the room.What would become of him?Was this over?Whatever this was?
“What just happened?”Rose asked.She tentatively moved to Matthew’s side and glanced between him and Alice.
“I think we all need a drink,” Alice said.“Mr.Paley, come with me, won’t you?”
When she left the room, Matthew turned to Rose and took her in his arms.He felt the hard pounding of her heart against his chest.“I’m sorry, Rose.I had no idea I’d set in to motion a situation where you were in jeopardy.That anyone here tonight was...”
“It wasn’t you.I was the one who stirred all those feelings against him.What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know.For once in my life, I don’t know.Thank God Liverpool was here.”
“You wouldn’t have let anything happen to me.”
“Pride.What a wicked thing.I was out to prove Sandhurst was the worst of the worst nobles and he’s just...ill, I suppose.”
Alice came back in the side room carrying a whisky bottle followed by a servant with a tray of glasses.Alice made a subtle motion with her hand.“All is well.Liverpool says he knows what to do and you are not to worry about Sandhurst.”
The room was cozy and the three of them sat in the posh chairs.“The two of you aren’t used to incivility, it seems.”In the time she was gone, Alice’s color had returned, and she reclined comfortably as if nothing had happened.
“I’ve seen my share, just not like this,” Matthew said.
“If you ever decide to open a gaming hell, I can assure you, that once a week you will experience such chaos.”Alice lifted her glass.“To never arranging another marriage or gaming tournament for the two of you.”
Rose sat next to Matthew and leaned against his shoulder, listening and laughing occasionally as Matthew and Alice told stories of the past and drank until the bottle was empty.
