The Unlucky Viscount

by Emma Brady

  "If this is going to be a long talk, I would rather do so inside."

  She hesitated. Not much, but a flicker of her eyes gave her away. Rachel was not as fearless as she pretended to be when she was the Raven. The moment passed, and she nodded for him to lead the way. The butler greeted them, but Alex could feel other eyes watching them as he took her into the library.

  "I want you to refuse my father's offer."

  Alex should have expected something like this. It was clear that Rachel hadn’t been pleased with the conversation in her father's office. She had been livid, but Gerald had just brushed it off. Unable to convince her father to change his mind, she must have come to persuade him.

  "He is a difficult man to say no to." said Alex.

  "True, but you have a better chance than I do."

  He couldn't help but admire her. He had never met a woman with such bold confidence before. Here she was in a private room with a man she hardly knew, and she didn't look uncomfortable. Those dark eyes stared at him without any guile, just direct attention. She wasn't going to use any of her feminine charms to persuade him. If she had, she might have been successful.

  "I'm afraid I'm not able to turn down his offer, and he knows that."

  "Because of the money?"

  "That's the main reason, yes." He watched as Rachel reached into the dainty blue reticule dangling from her wrist and pulled out a sheet of paper. She held it out to him but didn't move any closer. She made him cross the room to read it.

  "This is a contract offering me a sum of five thousand pounds when you turn twenty-five." Alex read the document she clearly wrote herself. "That's a great deal of money."

  "It's a portion of what my father promised me if I reach that age unmarried. He didn't want me to be dependent on a man for my security."

  More likely he didn't want his daughter to feel obligated to have a protector. He knew how easily a woman could find that was her only means to survive. His own sister, Daphne, could be forced into such a decision if he didn't turn things around for them financially.

  "How old are you now?"

  "Four and twenty."

  That meant another year to wait. The creditors weren't going to be patient that long. Daphne would have to endure more time with Aunt Matilda. She had already spent years as a companion to that bitter old shrew, and it was slowly destroying her joyful nature. It was too long to wait.

  "I'm afraid I have an immediate need for funds and can't wait for this."

  Surprise flickered across her pretty face. Clearly Rachel hadn't considered he might refuse her offer. "It's only one year. Surely you would prefer that to giving up the rest of your life."

  She made it sound like marriage was the same as a death sentence. Alex had never gotten that kind of reaction from a woman. They usually wanted more of his company.

  "Marriage sounds a lot more comfortable than debtors’ prison. Some people even find it enjoyable."

  Rachel snorted.

  "It is often a business deal, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy each other."

  "You want me to just ignore the things you do and pretend to be happy?"

  "What exactly do you expect me to be doing?" Alex was beginning to feel insulted. He didn't like to be accused of things he hadn't done.

  "I know your reputation. Gambling, drinking and a long list of women."

  "I was a bit reckless in my youth, but I have learned from my mistakes. It's been a long time since I was decently scandalous."

  "What about last night?"

  Alex knew she was referring to their kiss. It wasn't proper, but it was hardly an indication of bad character. If they hadn't been interrupted, they might have gone too far, but she was as involved as he was.

  "Already worried about me straying into the bed of another woman?"

  "Not if it keeps you out of mine."

  There was a slight tremble in her voice. She couldn't be frightened by the idea of intimacy, not after living in a gentleman's club. Was it just his bed she was afraid to be in?

  "I'm afraid I'm not the type to be unfaithful to my wife. Once we are married, I will be loyal."

  "Why?"

  Alex thought about his own parents, who had been friendly in their marriage but distant. They lived separate lives but were discreet. It was a strange twist of fate that they had been in the same carriage when they died. Although not unhappy, Alex always felt his parents’ marriage was cold and not what he wanted for his own.

  “I’m not that kind of man.”

  She pressed those red lips together. She didn't have a biting remark for that. Alex had been uneasy about taking Gerald's offer before, but her being at his house changed things. Now he knew he was going to accept it. Life with such a woman would always be interesting.

  "Why would you want to marry a woman who doesn’t want you?"

  "I enjoy a challenge."

  He wondered if she knew how pretty she was when she was angry. Pink brightened her cheeks and her sharp eyes glinted. It was different than the serene beauty she was when she portrayed the Raven, but no less appealing. He had to admit that the way her chest struggled for air while she huffed was fascinating to watch.

  "If you think you will win me over with smooth words, you are going to be very disappointed. I will make you regret this."

  He had enough of this arguing and he knew how to put an end to it. Moving too swiftly for her to run, Alex lunged across the room. There was only a moment of struggle as he captured her in his arms. He swallowed her outraged protest as he kissed her.

  His memory of their previous kiss was nothing compared to living the real thing again. She was so much softer beneath his hands. Her lips taster sweeter and when the parted, the heat within was more scorching against his tongue.

  Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed the full length of her body against him. This was the only reason he needed to agree to this marriage. He pulled away to see she was breathing heavy and her eyes were closed. Slowly they opened, revealing desire she couldn’t hide. He flashed her a grin. He was too focused on her face to notice the hand coming up to smack him across the cheek.

  "Don't you dare do that again. I will unman you." Rachel pushed him away. "Trust me, my father taught me plenty of ways to do that."

  Alex continued to rub the sore spot on his jaw as she strode away with her back straight and her head tilted up. That didn't mean he stopped smiling.

  CHAPTER 4

  IT FELT GOOD TO BE wearing her satin again. The day clothes always felt rough on her skin. The evening gowns she wore fit her better. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Rachel felt like herself again. As she slid the black mask over the top half of her face, she let out a slow sigh of satisfaction. This was where she was meant to be.

  A knock at the door startled her, and she turned to see Gerald enter. He was the last person she wanted to talk to tonight, but she couldn't order him out of a room in his own building. Instead, she steeled herself against whatever it was he might be there to say.

  "Still angry with me, I see." Gerald stood by the door but didn't look hesitant about being there.

  "What makes you think that?"

  "I can see it in your eyes."

  "I'm glad the players can't read me as well as you do. I would walk away without a penny every night. The house would go broke quickly.”

  Gerald laughed. "I have the advantage of knowing you for your entire life. You don't spend that much time with someone without learning a bit about them."

  "Do you regret it?" Rachel didn't know why she asked him that, but she was beginning to wonder why he was so eager for her to leave.

  “Regret bringing you to live with me?" The space between his eyebrows disappeared into a deep wrinkle.

  "Yes. I know you could have easily put me in a house somewhere with nannies to care for me. You didn't have to keep me so close."

  "Oh, but I did." The expression on Gerald's face softened. "After losing your mother and sending you away for s
o long, I had to see you every day just to be sure you were safe. I kept you close because I couldn’t bare you being out of my sight."

  "What about when I began to play at the tables? You could have sent me away then, and no one would fault you."

  "You were enjoying it so much that I didn't want to spoil your fun. I assumed you would grow out of it as you got older."

  "Only I didn't, and now you must go to drastic measures." Rachel hated how petulant she sounded when she said that.

  "Marriage is hardly drastic for a woman."

  "It is if I'm the woman." Rachel let out a sigh. "I never wanted to marry. I just wanted to stay here and run this place with you."

  "What about when I'm gone?"

  It was impossible to imagine a world without Gerald. The man was such a powerful force, it was difficult to think that one day he might not be there.

  "I will run it on my own."

  "You would be like a lamb in front of a den of lions."

  "I'm not defenseless. You taught me how to fight."

  This time it was Gerald who sighed. "I know I did, and I know I did it so you could protect yourself, but there are things in the world you won't be able to fight. The worst, most unscrupulous people are in this business, and they will find a way to take advantage."

  “How do you know you can trust Lord Andrews not to take advantage?"

  "You learn a lot about a man when you watch him play cards. You learn if he's honest or if he cheats. You learn how long his patience can stretch. You can even learn if he is cautious enough to trust. This man is as good as they get in his class."

  Rachel had nothing against the viscount aside from his gaining control of the one place she considered home. He had never done anything in the club that she had found distasteful. He was one of the few men who was never disrespectful toward the girls or made a scene when he lost. Not that he lost very often.

  "Why did you have to give him half the club?" Rachel was still trying to understand. "This is your club. You built it. Now you are going to give half of it away?"

  “A man works harder when it’s his name on the line. I gave him a reason to want this."

  "What about love?" Rachel was resorting to the only thing she had left.

  "Do you want to wait for love?" Gerald was watching her with those eagle eyes of his, and she knew he would see if she lied.

  "I would prefer if the man I married loved me."

  "The man seemed taken with you the other night."

  "That's not really love."

  "No, but it's a step in the right direction. Give him time. No man can resist being mesmerized by the Raven."

  Rachel felt the walls beginning to close in on her and knew there was no other way out. If she was going to be forced to marry a stuffy aristocrat and become one of those boring ladies who walked through the park and did nothing all day, she would need to enjoy as much of her freedom as she could now.

  “I suppose there is nothing more to say, then."

  Gerald came over to her, dropping a kiss on the top of her head as he had when she was a child. For a moment, her breath caught as she remembered how that small action always made her feel safe and secure.

  "This will work out for the best. I know it will." Gerald said. "You just have to give it a chance. Give the man a chance."

  Rachel had no intention of giving the viscount anything, but she nodded. She was in a hurry to get Gerald out of her room and get downstairs. She knew she had players waiting to lose their money to her, adding to the house coffers. That would do a great deal to lift her spirits.

  The gaming rooms were full tonight and Rachel loved to hear the noise created by so many people. There was a sizzle in the air from so much tension, and it fed her need for excitement. Behind the mask, Rachel enjoyed the thrill of the games and the people paying her attention. She knew she would never find a feeling like this in a stale ballroom. This was the world she was born to live in.

  "Will you be playing tonight?" asked Ned, the man who ran the main rooms for Gerald. He was a large Irishman squeezed into a narrow suit and he never smiled.

  "No, I think I will just keep an eye on the playing tonight." She told him, not trusting her nerves to be good enough to win. It wasn't the cards that lost a hand, it was the player.

  “As you will."

  Rachel walked slowly, checking each of the players closely for any sign that they might be cheating. She had learned at a young age how to spot someone hiding cards or passing them from another player. Spotting a cheater was crucial to running a good establishment, since that was how they lost the most money. Tonight everything looked good, and the tide was flowing in favor of the house. That's what she liked to see. Her walk was interrupted by one of the servants bringing her a note. Gerald wanted her for a game in one of the private gaming rooms. Perhaps he had reconsidered and was going to let her stay here.

  She stepped into the room and was surprised to find it empty and quiet. Something in the room made her nerves tingle, and she knew she was not alone. Her senses heightened as she looked into the shadows for the mysterious guest. She could see the outline of a figure in the corner but not the person's face. There was one of her father's men just outside the door if she felt like calling for help, but she wouldn't do that unless she had to.

  "Why do you always wear red?"

  That voice was hard to miss, and Rachel straightened up at the sound of it. She didn't answer immediately, so he stepped from the darkened side of the room and into the light. She was caught off guard by how handsome he was. He wore a dark suit, not evening clothes but close. His stubble couldn’t hide the dimples in his cheeks or the sensual appearance of his lips as he smiled at her. It gave her a strange fluttering in her stomach when she looked at him.

  "The color suits me." she finally said, now that they were face to face.

  "Any color would suit you. You are beautiful." He leaned back against one of the chairs at the gaming table. "I think you wear that color because it's bold and you want to be thought of as bold."

  "I am bold."

  Alex shrugged.

  "What are you doing in here? I was told I would be playing a private game."

  "You are. With me."

  "It's hardly fair to play with only two people."

  "No, but it might be fun."

  He pulled out one of the chairs for her. She shook her head.

  "Are you afraid?" he asked.

  Rachel knew it was just a ploy to get her to play, but it worked. She couldn't stand the thought of being fearful, so she would have to prove him wrong. Instead of taking the seat he was holding for her, she chose to go around to the other side and sit across from him. That left him to take the chair in his hand, and he did so with a big grin on his face.

  "What are the stakes?" Rachel asked. "I don't want you to gamble away any of my father's money before it’s yours.”

  "I'm not interested in money for this game."

  Rachel felt her pulse jump and her nerves dance. "Then what?"

  "Truth. For each hand, the winner gets to ask one question that the loser must answer honestly."

  "How would we know if the other was being dishonest?"

  "We both know how to spot a lie."

  Or they were both very good at hiding the truth. Still, Rachel didn't want to be the one to walk away because the stakes were too high.

  "Agreed."

  Rachel forced her body to relax as she dealt the cards for the first hand. Looking across the table, she tried to study Alex, guessing the cards he had and the ones not yet played. The way he was smiling at her over his cards gave her a warm feeling in her belly. Those green eyes of his sparkled as the two of them played, and it made it difficult to keep track of what might be in his hands. Luckily, she got the better cards and managed to win the first game.

  "Your turn to ask me anything." He leaned back in his chair. "Make it a good one."

  Rachel didn't have a question in mind, and trying to think of one was harder tha
n she had imagined. She didn't want to waste it.

  "When did you learn to gamble?" she finally asked.

  "Boys in school find ways to keep busy. I'm pretty sure I learned hazard before I had to shave."

  The dark stubble across his chin showed that he must have been very young.

  "Did you always win?"

  "You only won the first game, so you only get the first answer."

  Frustrated Rachel dealt them another and managed to win it quickly. "Now tell me."

  "I didn't always win, but I won more than I lost. I found I had a gift for winning when chance was involved."

  "Luck is a ridiculous notion."

  "How can you not believe in luck when you rely on it to keep this place running?"

  Rachel laughed. "Luck has nothing to do with winning. This is a skill and requires discipline, not magic. It’s a matter of probability, where the cards might be."

  “You count the cards. Some might call that cheating.”

  “Only those not good enough at it.”

  Another hand and another win. Rachel was gaining her confidence now.

  "If you believe in luck, how did you lose your fortune?"

  She knew it was a delicate subject when she asked, but she didn't expect his demeanor to change the way it did. He went from smiling and relaxed to frowning intensely. She started to change her mind and take it back but didn't get the chance.

  "That wasn't about luck, it was a choice I made. I have to take responsibility for making the wrong choice."

  Rachel didn't know all of the details about what had happened, only the bits and pieces she had overheard other people talking about. Doing business when one had a title was frowned upon, so when he was fooled, everyone found it amusing. It had become a cautionary tale. Instead of feeling sympathy for him, they blamed him for being swindled by someone outside their class. The rules of the aristocracy were often unfair and unforgiving.

  "Deal again." His voice had an edge to it now. As they played, Rachel was shocked that she lost that game. Now she would have to pay him his winnings.

  His face was still as she watched him thinking carefully about what he wanted to ask. The amount of time made her nervous.