AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, he is by far the best card player I’ve ever seen.” Rafe pointed to his temple. “It’s all thanks to that memory vault. Well, and that capital poker face of his. Who knows what he might be thinking.”
Georgiana tilted her head in confusion. “What do you mean, ‘memory vault’?”
“Oh, only that he has an excellent memory,” Rafe said, looking sheepish, like he had said too much. “I thought you knew.”
“No. But I suppose that makes sense, given his line of work,” she said carefully.
Rafe visibly relaxed. “Yes. Certainly. In any case, he’s nearly tripled his money since we arrived. Though I believe he plans to stop imminently, which is perhaps the true secret to his success.”
“Smart man,” Mahmood said. “And don’t worry. We will make sure he and his winnings return to the hotel safely.”
As Captain Harris stacked his chips into several neat piles, an older man with dark hair shot through with white and a stiff, commanding presence drew up beside him. Even from this distance, Georgiana could see the captain’s shoulders tighten as his head snapped up to face the man, who had leaned over to say something. All traces of mirth were wiped from his expression. Georgiana had never seen him look so grim before, as if he was staring death in the face. Tension gathered low in her belly, and she had to resist the urge to storm over and demand that the man step back. Instead, she subtly tugged at Rafe’s sleeve.
“Who is that man talking with Captain Harris?”
Rafe glanced over and his eyes widened. “Commodore Perry. He was the one who got Henry out of Turkey.”
Georgiana’s brow furrowed. “But I thought the papers said he escaped.” Rafe’s arm stiffened, and she met his eyes. “Ah. I see,” she said softly as understanding washed over her. “That’s not the real story, is it.”
Rafe had the decency to look remorseful. “It is not mine to tell,” he murmured. “But you should ask him. It would do him some good to talk about it with someone, I think.”
Georgiana swallowed hard and looked back to the captain. “And here I thought we were being discreet.”
Rafe let out a soft laugh. “You are. Mostly. But blame it on the decade of espionage, I suppose. It wasn’t hard to see that something had shifted between you.” Georgiana’s throat thickened. She longed to interrogate him on just what exactly he had seen, at least in Henry, but this was not the time. “Tread carefully, my lady,” he added.
Georgiana bristled at the warning. “I’m hardly made of glass.”
Rafe gave her a kind smile. “I meant for his sake.” Just as heat began to bloom across her cheeks, the captain joined them. The commodore had vanished, “I’d say drinks are on you, Henry, but I’m afraid Sylvia and I are just leaving.”
“I’ll join you,” he replied, still grim. Then he turned to Georgiana. “Unless you’d like to stay?”
She shook her head. “No, that’s fine.” He held her gaze for a wordless moment, and the urge to smooth his brow was so strong that Georgiana had to make a fist to stop herself.
It was decided that the four of them would return to the hotel, and the countess and Mahmood would stay behind to play a few rounds of roulette. On the ride back, Georgiana sat beside Sylvia and talked about their plans for the next day, while Rafe and Captain Harris sat across from them speaking in low tones, no doubt about the mysterious commodore.
Once they were back at the hotel, Captain Harris’s mood visibly improved, and he even cracked a smile at Rafe’s teasing over his winnings. But as they rode the private lift to their floor, the sense of unease that had begun back in the casino only expanded within Georgiana and mixed with her ever present desire for him. By the time they parted ways with their friends, it felt as if an iron was pressing against her chest, filled with both the weight of her want and Rafe’s subtle warning.
Tread carefully, my lady.
All this time she had been so focused on her own past heartache along with the unpleasant memories of her marriage that she had completely failed to see what was before her: a vulnerable man who had endured hardships far greater than her own, and without the resources she had come to take for granted.
Captain Harris—no,Henryopened the door to the suite and stood aside to let her enter first. Georgiana swept into the darkened suite and stopped just past the entryway. Bea was waiting up for her.
She then turned to face him. “Will you let me come to you?”
Henry looked surprised before his eyes softened. “Of course,” he murmured with a fondness that clawed at her heart, affecting her even more than his desire.
Georgiana couldn’t manage to speak—not that she had acluewhat to say anyway—so she just nodded and disappeared into her room. She had never appreciated Bea’s efficiency more than that evening, as she deftly removed the heavy Worth gown, jewelry, and the absurd number of hairpins required to transform her into the viscountess. Still, it took far longer than she could stand, and Georgiana couldn’t help fidgeting in her seat. Bea must have noticed, but other than a few glances she gave no indication. When she finally finished, Georgiana slid her wrapper around her shoulders and stood.
“I think I’ll go look at the moon. It’s lovely tonight. No need to wait up.”
“Yes, my lady,” Bea replied, as discrete as ever, and disappeared into her room.
As Georgiana crossed the parlor to Captain Harris’s room, the blood pounded in her ears. Given the way anticipation was whirling inside her like a Catherine wheel, one would think this was their first encounter. But then, in a way it was. For Georgiana was going to him now with her eyes open. With nothing to hide, from him or herself. And she hoped, so desperately, that he could do the same—that he wouldwantto. She had not felt this giddy with excitement in many years. Not since that night in the back garden at Harrington House, when she had sneaked away to meet him once before. This man she had once thought could be her future. And perhaps still was.
***
After Georgiana had disappeared into her room, Henry stood in the entryway in stunned silence.
