Luck Is No Lady(72)

About thirty minutes into the reading, a sudden wave of physical awareness swept through her, effectively drawing Emma’s attention to her present surroundings. She gazed about the room, already knowing intuitively what had caused the break in her focus.

She found Roderick standing against the side wall in a casual and elegant pose.

Emma’s breath caught as she met his gaze.

He stared at her, as though he had been watching her and waiting for her to find him. Too far away to detect anything in his regard beyond its typical intensity, Emma could not bring herself to look away.

Had he followed her here as he had to the Lovell soiree?

She didn’t think so. That night he had remained in the shadows outside, because he had not been invited. Here, he took a place along the wall with the other gentlemen who had given up the available seats to the ladies present. He was not an outsider at the event, but he was not a full participant either.

It made her heart ache to see him thus.

If she were a reckless and spontaneous sort of person, she would rise from her seat and walk over to stand beside him. She would slide her hand into the comforting warmth of his and tuck herself against his side.

She was not that woman, had never been. But in that moment, she berated herself for her cowardice and silently cursed her father for leaving her with a responsibility she could not ignore. All she could do was stare at him, and even that she knew she could not do for very long for fear her inordinate attention would be noticed by others.

He was the first to look away.

And then shortly afterward, he left the room and assumedly the house altogether. Emma did not see him again.

Late that night, as Emma paced her bedroom, unable to sleep for thoughts of what she must accomplish on the morrow, a familiar knock sounded at the door. Before she could answer, the door opened to allow Lily and Portia into the room, already dressed in their nightgowns.

Emma was torn between a warm flush of pleasure over the unexpected renewal of their nightly gathering and trepidation over what had prompted it. The second emotion took over once she noted her sisters’ determined expressions.

“We need to talk,” Portia declared, tossing her long dark braid over her shoulder as she took her position on the bed.

Emma should have known this was coming. In truth, she was relieved. It was time to admit the situation had gotten to be too much for her. She needed her sisters’ support if she were to go forward with her plan. The danger was great, and if she failed…the consequences were frightening. Her sisters needed to be prepared for whatever Hale might do if he did not receive his payment on the day specified.

“Yes, we do,” she agreed.

“You can start by telling us about Father’s loan. The one we have been notified is due for repayment in two days,” Portia challenged.

A jolt of surprise claimed Emma and she looked back and forth between her sisters. “How do you know about that?”

“Lily had a rather thrilling encounter this evening.”

“What?” Emma turned to Lily, scanning her appearance for any sign of harm. “Are you all right? What happened?”

Lily answered hastily, “I am fine, really. It was a brief encounter outside Lord Mawbry’s town house. I never even got a look at the man. He approached me from behind and issued a rather urgent reminder that we have two days remaining to repay Father’s loan.”

Portia leaned forward, suspicion dark in her gray eyes. “Tell us, Emma, who is this shady character and how much do we owe him?”

Joining her sisters on the bed, Emma answered truthfully. “Just before his death, Father accepted a personal loan from a Mr. Mason Hale in the amount of ten thousand pounds.”

“My word,” Lily whispered in shock, while Portia muttered a crude expletive under her breath.

“What do you know of this man? Is he truly dangerous?” Lily asked.

Portia’s expression was resolute. “Good question. Just what would Hale do if he does not get the money?”

Emma’s stomach tightened. “I do not know.”

“What is your plan, Emma?” Portia asked after a moment. Her voice was hard with determination. “We know you have one and we intend to help.”

Emma took a steadying breath. To announce her intention made it that much more real and inevitable. “I am going to gamble for the money.”

Both girls stared at her with wide eyes, momentarily stunned into silence.

Portia recovered first. “It’s brilliant.”





Twenty-three


Standing on the walk in front of the club, Emma took a moment to bring her tightly strung nerves under control.

She had underestimated the crowd of vehicles and pedestrians intent upon reaching Bentley’s front doors and had sat in her rented carriage for at least twenty-five minutes as she awaited her turn to pull up in front of the club. The building, which appeared so staid and common in the daylight hours, was alight with the gaiety of a grand celebration.