‘Lady Allyngham, I fear you have forgotten your role this evening.’
Sir Ronald’s voice boomed out once again. Her eyes narrowed angrily. She wanted to tear the ring off her finger and throw it in his grinning face. She looked across the room at Jack, who gave the tiniest shake of his head. Putting up her chin, Eloise fixed her smile and walked back to Sir Ronald.
‘Stand close, my dear, you are here to bring me luck.’
He reached out and put one arm possessively about her hips. She forced herself to stand passively until Sir Ronald released her and returned his full attention to the cards. Jack was watching them, but his countenance was inscrutable. She must play her part until he gave her a sign. She watched the game progress, alarmed at the large amounts the gentlemen were prepared to wager on a single card. As banker, Sir Ronald had the advantage, controlling the cards and dealing them with practised ease. Across the room Jack and Alex were talking to Mr Renwick. They were moving closer, but so slowly that the tension made her want to scream. No one at the table had eyes for anything other than the play. Mr Graham had thrown in his hand and now sat with his head bowed, rubbing his eyes. Another gentleman pulled off a ruby ring and placed it on his card, only to see it join the growing pile of notes and coins in front of Sir Ronald.
‘Hell’s teeth, Deforge, you win again!’ With a laugh Lord Keworth stared at the cards Sir Ronald turned up on the table. ‘What luck!’
‘And skill, Keworth,’ murmured Sir Ronald, smiling. ‘Although having my future bride at my side is undoubtedly an advantage.’ He glanced up at that moment and saw Jack standing nearby. His smile grew more unpleasant. ‘It is a case of winner takes all, I think. What say you, Major Clifton?’
‘Oh, undoubtedly,’ replied Jack, ‘Only tonight I do not think the winner will be you.’
His words were quiet but uttered with such cool conviction that a sudden hush fell over the table. The players were very still, while other guests drew closer, drawn by the sudden tension in the air. Sir Ronald raised his quizzing glass and stared at Jack, his smile turning into a sneer.
‘Oh, I think you are wrong there, Clifton. You only have to look at the fortune on the table to see how successful I have been. And tomorrow, you may come to the church to watch me claim this beautiful woman as my bride.’
Jack’s slow smile was even more menacing than Sir Ronald’s.
‘I think not.’
Eloise eased away. All eyes were upon Jack and Sir Ronald: there was violence in the air, she could almost taste it. She wondered what had become of Alex. She could not see him, but there were so many people standing around the table now that her view of the room was quite limited. Lord Keworth gave an uncertain laugh.
‘Gentlemen,’ he said, ‘There are tables and cards enough for everyone. Perhaps, Major Clifton, you and Deforge would like to settle your differences with a game of picquet.’
‘My dear Keworth, we have no differences to settle,’ said Sir Ronald, rising to his feet, his cold eyes fixed upon Jack. ‘The major does not like to lose.’ His lip curled in an ugly smile. ‘Losing to me seems to be your lot in life, does it not, Major? First your childhood sweetheart and now Lady Allyngham. But you must resign yourself to it. You have no choice because, you see, I hold the winning hand.’
‘Aye,’ said Jack steadily, ‘you hold all the aces.’
Deforge gave a soft laugh.
‘I am glad you realise that, Clifton. Now if you do not mind—’
‘Not only aces,’ stated Jack, raising his voice a little, ‘but kings and queens, too.’
There was a movement in the crowd. Alex stepped up behind Sir Ronald and pulled his coat off his shoulders.
‘What the—!’ Deforge gave a snarl of rage, but the coat was already halfway down his arms and he could only struggle against Alex’s hold.
Lord Keworth sprang to his feet. ‘Good God, Mortimer, what do you mean by this?’
‘I think it is quite clear,’ said Jack.
Alex yanked the coat even further, revealing a web of leather straps around Deforge’s left forearm. Sir Ronald stood before them, his fists clenched as he glared at the horrified faces around him. Jack stepped around the table and pulled a card from beneath one of the straps.
‘I was right, you see. A king.’ He withdrew a second. ‘And a queen. You have already played the knave, have you not, Deforge?’
With a roar Sir Ronald turned on Jack but immediately Alex grabbed him and held him fast. A low murmur broke out and rippled around the room.
‘By God,’ muttered Mr Graham, ‘the man’s nothing but a cheat!’
Lord Keworth stared across the table, shaking his head in disgust.
‘And to think I called you friend,’ he muttered. ‘I think you can release him now, Mortimer. I will have the servants escort Sir Ronald from my house.’
Alex stepped away and Deforge angrily shrugged himself back into his coat, his heavy pock-marked face almost purple with rage and humiliation. He looked at Eloise.
‘Come, madam. We are leaving.’
‘I will not.’
His eyes narrowed and he said menacingly, ‘You are promised to marry me, my lady. You know the consequences of denying me.’
Slowly she withdrew the diamond ring from her hand and placed it on the table.
‘You coerced me, but that is all at an end now.’
Jack stepped up beside her.
‘There will be a notice in tomorrow’s newspapers, announcing that the engagement has been terminated,’ he said. ‘In the circumstances I do not think anyone will be surprised. Lady Allyngham will not dishonour her late husband’s memory by marrying a cheat.’ He fixed Sir Ronald with a steady look. ‘You have no hold over the lady now, Deforge.’
Sir Ronald stared at him.
‘What have you done?’ he ground out, his chin jutting pugnaciously.
Jack merely smiled. Two burly footmen appeared behind Sir Ronald and Lord Keworth said coldly, ‘I would be obliged if you would leave my house immediately, Deforge. You will not touch the money lying on the table,’ he added, as Sir Ronald glanced towards it. ‘I do not need to tell you that you are no longer welcome here.’
An expectant silence hung over the room. Eloise found herself stiff with tension as Sir Ronald cast a venomous glare in her direction. She returned his look with a haughty stare until at last he looked away. One of the footmen put a hand upon his shoulder and with a snarl Sir Ronald shook him off. He straightened his coat and headed for the door. As he passed Eloise he stopped and turned towards her, his eyes menacing. Immediately Jack stepped in, as if to shield her.
‘Just go, Deforge. If you have not left town by the morning it will give me very great pleasure to call you out!’
Eloise caught her breath. The two men glared at one another for a long, angry moment before Sir Ronald turned and flung himself out of the room. Jack turned back to her, the angry light in his eyes replaced by something much softer. He said quietly, ‘It is over, my lady. Now you may be easy…’
She struggled to concentrate. His voice seemed to be coming from a great distance. Blackness was closing around her. The last thing she saw was Jack’s face smiling at her before the darkness overwhelmed her and she fainted.
Jack did not hesitate. As Eloise began to fall he swept her up into his arms.
‘Ah, poor thing,’ exclaimed Lady Keworth. ‘Bring her this way, Major, into my sitting room.’ She led Jack out of the salon and across the landing to a small, cosily furnished parlour. ‘I will have the fire banked up…’
‘No, thank you,’ said Jack, gently laying his precious burden on a chintz-covered daybed and sitting down on the edge. ‘I think it was the heat in the salon that caused Lady Allyngham to faint. It is quite warm enough in here.’
Alex appeared in the doorway.
‘Is she all right?’
Lady Keworth hovered over the daybed.
‘Lady Allyngham will be very well, I am sure. Perhaps you would like to leave her with me…’
‘No!’ Jack softened his first, instinctive response by directing a charming smile at his hostess. ‘I feel responsible for Lady Allyngham, I shall look after her.’ He pulled off her gloves and began to chafe her hands. ‘But perhaps a glass of water?’
‘Yes, yes, of course.’
Alex stood aside to allow Lady Keworth to hurry away.
‘I did not see,’ he said, stepping into the room. ‘Did Deforge attack her?’
‘No, she has fainted, nothing more,’ said Jack, not looking up. ‘Is he gone now?’
‘Aye. Keworth’s men showed him to the door. He was looking as black as thunder, as well he might. No one will receive him after this night’s work.’ He glanced down. ‘She’s stirring.’
Jack felt the little hands tremble and his own grip tightened.
‘Be easy,’ he murmured. ‘You are safe now.’
She looked up at him, her eyes as dark as sapphires. Her fingers clung to his and only the knowledge that Alex was in the room prevented him from pulling her into his arms.
‘Aye,’ said Alex, coming to stand beside him. ‘It is over, Elle. Deforge is finished.’
Lady Keworth bustled back into the room with a glass of water.
‘Well, my dear, I am so glad to see you have come round,’ she said. ‘Such a fright you gave us, but I am sure you will be better now.’