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As Georgiana was not much of a gambler, she hadn’t expected the casino to be very entertaining aside from the company. But far beyond the games of chance, it offered a veritable feast for the senses. Everywhere she looked something was demanding her attention: the spinning roulette wheels, the clack of chips being placed on the tables and then raked in by the stone-faced croupiers, groups of guests shouting with glee when their numbers hit and then cries of sorrow when their winnings were lost in the next turn. Then there was the fashion. Ladies wore some of the most outrageous gowns she had ever seen—and made London society look positively stodgy by comparison.
A very small, very old man led an incredibly tall woman decades younger than him dressed in a bright pink gown embellished with matching pink feathers away from the gaming table where he had just made a small fortune.
“She is his good-luck charm,” the countess said by her ear.
Georgiana turned toward her, feeling a little embarrassed to have been caught so obviously eyeing them. “Is that so?”
“Oh yes,” she said with a wave of her fan. “These men love nothing more than having a beautiful young lady on their arm for the evening. Everyone treats them with more respect. And at the end of the night, the ladies will get a cut of their winnings, if there are any.”
Georgiana’s gaze followed the pair as they walked toward another table. Indeed, the other guests seemed to defer to the old man as his beautiful companion fluttered her fan and simpered beside him. “Hmm. It doesn’t sound very different from my marriage,” she muttered, then inhaled sharply and met the countess’s eyes. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
The countess looked similarly shocked. “I can’t either.”
Their gazes held for a moment before they both burst out laughing. A year ago she could barely bring herself to talk about her marriage. Joking about it would have been unthinkable. But Lord, it felt good.
The countess’s eyes softened. “Sylvia told me a little about your marriage to the viscount. I am sorry it was so difficult.”
“I did what I was told to do by people I loved and trusted,” Georgiana began. “They thought they knew what was best for me, and because I was young, I believed them. But we were all wrong. I can see that now.”
“But you paid the biggest price, my dear,” the countess said gently.
Georgiana nodded. “I did. And that is why I will never allow someone else to control my future ever again.”
The countess was quiet for a long moment. “People must underestimate how strong you are,” she finally said.
No one had ever said such a thing to her before, but she immediately felt the truthfulness of it deep in her bones. The countess then glanced past her. “I hope you have people in your life now who can appreciate you fully.”
Georgiana followed her gaze. Captain Harris was watching the table play with that familiar glower she now knew meant he was in deep concentration. He must have sensed her observation and looked up. Their eyes met and the corner of his mouth lifted again in that subtle secret smile of his.
Warmth swelled around her heart, like a kettle a breath away from boiling. “I believe I do.”
Just then a seat at the table opened up and Captain Harris was obligated to tear his gaze away in order to take it. Georgiana gave him a little nod of understanding. They would meet up with the gentlemen again later, as she, Sylvia, and the countess went off to visit the music hall, where a full orchestra performed every evening. She was surprised to find the theater nearly full even in this great gambling palace. Luckily Mahmood had arranged for them to have a private box, and they passed over an hour in the convivial atmosphere before returning to the gaming saloon.
The captain was still seated at the same table, but he now possessed a far larger pile of chips than when they had left. Rafe stood just behind him, smiling with undisguised pride. He caught sight of them and made his way through the crowd that had gathered around the table during their absence. Georgiana guessed it had something to do with the captain’s performance.
“How was the entertainment?” Rafe asked her.
“Better than I expected from an orchestra in the middle of a casino.”
“That is high praise coming from you,” he replied before taking Sylvia’s hand and kissing it. “And how are you feeling?”
“A little tired. But remember, the doctor said that was perfectly normal,” she said in response to the look of concern that crossed Rafe’s face.
Georgiana bit back a smile. It never failed to delight her to see the man once known as one of London’s most notorious rakes as the most doting husband she had ever seen. And she had no doubt that he would be an excellent father.
“We’ll leave shortly,” he said, then turned to Georgiana. “You don’t mind if I whisk her back to the hotel a little early, do you?”
“Not at all.”
“I’ll make sure Georgiana and the captain return safely,” the countess added.
Rafe glanced over to the gaming table. A cheer had just gone up from the crowd around the table, and the corner of the captain’s mouth was tilted up. On any other person this would be equivalent to a look of pure pleasure.
“Good. He’s won a great deal of money this evening. And you know that can draw unsavory attention.”
“I had no idea he was so skilled,” the countess said.
