The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele #1)(51)

I grew bored so picked up the carriage clock on the mantel. It was running perfectly well, but I removed its casing and inspected its mechanisms anyway. I ran my thumb over the wheels, feeling comfort in the familiar parts and their small yet precise movements. The metal warmed to my touch. I would have taken it apart and put it back together again for something to do, but I didn't have my tools with me. I replaced the back casing and returned it to the mantel.

After half an hour, the other two players on the poker table retired, having lost everything, and Lord Travers possessed most of the money. Willie was down to her last coins, and I found myself hoping she would lose so we could go home. According to the clock, it was half-two. I wanted to go to bed. My heart sank when I saw the three tens in her hand. A winning hand now would keep her here longer.

She pondered her cards for some time then pushed all of her coins forward.

Lord Travers matched her wager without hesitation, and added an entire stack more. Willie couldn't possibly meet it.

She lifted her brows at Mr. Unger who'd come to watch.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Miss Johnson, but the bank only lends money to patrons well known to us. If you return to America, we have no way to get our funds back."

She swore under her breath.

Lord Travers chuckled. "Surely you have something of value that you can wager, Miss Johnson." He licked his fleshy lips, wetting them even more. "Or your friend does."

Surely he didn't mean me? I recoiled. "Willie, it's time to go."

But I may as well have not been present. She didn't seem to hear me. She passed her hand over her chin, down her neck, and let it rest on her décolletage.

Lord Travers leered at me. The gamblers at the other tables had all stopped and now watched us with interest. The fellow who'd called me a doxy ambled over and leaned down to Travers' level to whisper in his ear. Travers snickered and licked his lips again.

"Come now, Miss Johnson," he said, "where's that American pluck you displayed the past few nights. You're not a coward, are you?"

Willie bristled. "Of course not."

I pressed Willie's shoulder. "You don't have any more money," I hissed. "Let's go."

"I have this." She pulled out a chain from beneath her shirt, at the end of which dangled a gold locket the size of a farthing. "My grandmother gave it to me before she died. It was her wedding present from my grandfather. It's all I have of them."

Travers looked disappointed. "Sure you want to wager it?"

Willie hesitated then nodded. She held it out for Travers to inspect.

He weighed it in his palm before opening it and inspecting the miniatures inside. "A handsome couple. I accept."

"Willie, is that wise?" I whispered. "What if you lose it?"

"I won't lose."

Lord Travers placed the locket with Willie's coins and rested his hand on the seat next to his thigh. "We'll see, shall we?" He returned both hands to his cards, fanning them out on the table. "Full house."

I'd not seen that combination of cards all night, but I knew it must be good. Willie's white face confirmed it. She looked like she would faint as she stared hard at her own cards, perhaps willing them to be better.

With a click of her tongue, she threw her cards on the table. She stood, shoving back her chair. "You cheated!"

Lord Travers laughed as he scooped his winnings toward him. Willie's locket glinted in the light. "Now, now, Miss Johnson. Don't be a sore loser."

"You cheated!" she shouted again. "You had a card under your leg. I saw you remove it and add it to your hand!"

Travers slipped the locket into his dinner jacket pocket. "What rot. Did I cheat, gentlemen?"

The other gamblers shook their heads.

"Stand up!" Willie growled. "You must have placed the card you removed from your original hand somewhere. Let's see under your fat ass."

"Willie!" I tugged on her arm, but she shook me off. "Please let's go."

"Listen to your friend, Miss Johnson." Travers collected the cards on the table and shuffled them. "Be a good girl and go home before you say something you regret." He stopped shuffling and eyed me. "Unless you're willing to wager something else."

I straightened. "That's quite enough of that. You may be a lord, but your behavior is deplorable. As is yours, sir," I spat at Lord Dennison.

Travers laughed around the cigar in his mouth, sending ash onto his lap. "Hear that, Dennison? The little chit thinks she can lecture us. She deserves a good spanking to be put back in her place."

I gasped and looked to Mr. Unger for assistance, but he merely shrugged an apology. I would get no help from him. Travers was worth too much to his business to risk offending him. And Mr. Dorchester, my only champion, was gone.

I grabbed Willie's arm. "Let's go. Now!"

But she didn't move. She bared her teeth and pointed her finger at Travers. "You're a low down dirty cheat and I will prove it. Stand up!"

Travers sprawled in his chair and grinned around his cigar. "Make me, little girl."

"Oh, I will, with the help of my friend, Mr. Colt." Willie jerked her coat aside and pulled out the gun tucked into the waistband of her trousers.