My Once and Future Duke (The Wagers of Sin #1)(53)
He knew what she meant: the embargo on speaking of what happened at Vega’s. “It does, and I will enforce it to the best of my ability.” He gave her a speaking look. “I am not God, Mrs. Campbell. If the truth is at odds with rumor, you would be wise to promote the truth at every opportunity.”
She bowed her head in acknowledgment of the warning. “I shall.”
Mr. Dashwood went behind his desk again. “One more thing, Mrs. Campbell. Your account.”
“Yes?” Her stomach threatened to revolt. What was wrong with her account?
The club owner gave her a long look. “You won over six hundred pounds from the Duke of Ware. I did as he directed and credited it to your account. If you’ll sign here, I’ll make the funds available.” He pushed a slim account book across the desk surface and held out a pen.
Sophie let out her breath. “Of course,” she murmured, dashing her signature across the page. Six hundred pounds. It was a fortune, more than she’d ever won before, and it left her cold. What would Jack think when he had to pay it? Would he even notice?
Her head felt hot and fuzzy as she left the office and followed Forbes back to the main salons of the club. She was walking on thin ice already, and now it felt like it was cracking beneath her feet. She flexed her shoulders, trying to relieve some of the strain in them, and a dull ache shot up her neck toward the base of her skull. This evening was already very trying, and she hadn’t even entered the club.
There was a brief hush when she strolled into the salon. No one stared openly, but she caught a few veiled glances of rabid curiosity. Graciously she nodded to the people she knew, repeating over and over in her mind that she must behave exactly as she normally did. Most people returned her nod, some with speculative looks that only increased her tension.
She started when someone spoke at her shoulder. “Good evening, Mrs. Campbell.”
“Mr. Carter!” Her laugh was almost a gasp of relief. “How delightful to see you again.”
“Yes, it has been a few days.” He bowed, but his expression was unreadable.
She summoned an apologetic smile. “Unfortunately, I was unwell. A chill from the rain. I was quite miserable and am so sorry I was unable to receive you when you called.”
“Your maid seemed rather nervous when I called.”
“Was she?” Sophie affected mild surprise. “I can’t imagine why. Perhaps it was your handsome face, sir.” She smiled.
He studied her for a moment; he wanted to believe her. Sophie couldn’t bear it. He was a decent man. She liked him, and now she had to lie to him. She dropped her gaze and squeezed her hands together. “No, you must know the full reason why I stayed away. I—-I was mortified by how I behaved that night. I lost my temper and allowed myself to be goaded into things I ought not to have done. That kept me from returning to Vega’s before tonight.” She looked up at him. “I hope you can understand, and forgive me.”
His expression had softened considerably. “I do understand.” He hesitated. “Then the duke did not . . . ?”
“He allowed me to go home, and apologized for causing such a public spectacle. I believe both of us regretted that dreadful wager as soon as we left Vega’s.” She shook her head, picking her words carefully to escape further outright lies. Lies by omission and suggestion were unavoidable. Jack had indeed let her go home and offered an apology. She simply couldn’t tell Mr. Carter it had happened this morning, and not four nights ago.
“Ware also disappeared for several days.”
“Did he?” She tried to look blank. “I had never met His Grace before that night. I’ve no idea what his habits are.”
Carter shifted. “Well, he’s not often about in society. Now that I think of it, I’ve only ever crossed his path twice. Perhaps it was coincidence.”
Sophie said nothing. Against her will, her memory was conjuring up images of Jack stretching his neck as he untied his cravat, touching her under the chin before he kissed her, the way his fingers tangled in her hair. She knew some of his habits.
Abruptly she jerked a little straighter and inhaled in dismay. Across the room Lord Philip Lindeville had entered, his hair ruffled, his expression moody. His dark eyes roved around the room. She ducked her head and prayed he wouldn’t spot her.
“What is it, my dear?” Mr. Carter leaned toward her.
She mentally cataloged the endearment: a positive sign. “Lord Philip has arrived.”
Mr. Carter’s mouth flattened.
“I do not wish to see him,” she said with unfeigned vehemence. Not only had she promised Jack, she had lost most of her sympathy for Philip. He was reckless and irresponsible and he’d deliberately used her to taunt Jack, making far more of their friendship than there was. In time she might forgive him, but for now she still felt the sting of his actions too plainly.
Carter shifted to block her from sight. “Then you shall not.”
They made their way to a quiet table, sheltered from full view of the room by a stand of plants, and Mr. Carter called for cards. Sophie didn’t feel like playing but knew she had to. This was why she came to Vega’s, after all, and it would attract notice if she did not. Besides, nothing about her Grand Plan had really changed.
Sophie was too distracted by Philip’s presence to play her best, but she still managed to take some tricks, and she lost only ten pounds. Carter gave her a swift glance as he totted up the score, then pushed back his chair. “Perhaps you would care for a glass of wine, Mrs. Campbell?”