Maura had to laugh at his absurdity. But at least his enthusiastic response helped her decide upon a way to repay Ash.
“I wish to reimburse you for all the expenses you have incurred this past week,” she murmured to Ash when his family’s attention was diverted by a tale Isabella was relating. “So I thought I might give you one of Emperor’s get. If you like, you may have your pick of any horse in my stables. I expect last year’s crop of foals will be spectacular.”
“There is no need for such a lavish gift, but I will accept since you require it to salvage your outsized pride,” Ash said mildly, although his arch smile told her clearly that he was ragging her.
It had indeed become a point of pride for her to prove that she wasn’t a penniless Cinderella in need of a prince’s charity and that she was determined to meet Ash measure for measure.
Eventually the talk at the table turned to horses, and Isabella mentioned that one of her friends on the Mediterranean island of Cyrene, the Earl of Hawkhurst, possessed superb stables that even Maura might envy. “Hawk visits England occasionally in search of breeding stock. If you wish, I will give him your direction so that you might do business together.”
Maura agreed readily. “My stable master would be very happy to speak to him. We are always looking to improve our breeding lines.”
Then, when dinner was over, she learned about a unique custom in the Wilde family. Instead of the ladies repairing to the drawing room while the gentlemen enjoyed their port, they all remained at the table and shared fond stories about their parents in order to keep their memories alive. Maura found herself laughing at the tales, until they toasted each parent in turn in what was obviously a solemn ritual.
Unexpectedly, she was taken off guard as an old memory of her own late family rushed up to swamp her, of her father and mother the last time they were together before her mother had taken ill with fever.
Then even more unexpectedly, the Wilde cousins raised a glass to Noah Collyer. Emotion rose up in Maura’s chest and tightened her throat. Their consideration touched her deeply, yet it was knowing they had truly made her part of their clan that momentarily overwhelmed her.
When she met Ash’s eyes and saw the tender sympathy there, she felt a sense of belonging she hadn’t felt since childhood.
Maura managed a grateful smile before forcibly swallowing her threatening tears and rejoining the gaiety. Her wish to end her loneliness had been fulfilled in spades, and the feeling of belonging lingered. She couldn’t possibly be lonely when she had the love and acceptance of this extraordinary family surrounding her. It was beyond wonderful that she could claim this new connection, even if she also knew that the bond was fleeting and would remain only as long as her betrothal to Ash lasted.
Reality returned the following day, however. The Wildes had spent another late evening dancing at a ball, so Maura rose rather late that morning. After breakfast, Ash invited her into his study for a private discussion. Clearly he hadn’t forgotten the main reason she was even betrothed to him.
“We need to remain on the offensive against Deering,” Ash said at once, “so I’ve begun forming a plan. Pray tell me every detail you can recall leading up to the accusations of cheating against your father. You said Deering lured him to a gaming hell. Do you know the name of the club? And what card games they played?”
Maura could scarcely bear to remember that terrible time, but she disciplined her emotions so that she could answer Ash’s questions dispassionately.
“I believe the club was called Sutter’s, although I’m not sure of its location. But the game was vingt-un. I will never forget, since Papa and I used to play that when I was young.”
“Do you know if the deck was actually marked, or did Deering only claim it to be so?”
Maura frowned as she tried to remember. “At least some of the cards were marked. The ace of hearts was for certain. Papa said there was a small scratch in one corner. That ace had somehow fallen to the floor beside his chair, and he suspected that Deering planted it there. Why do you ask?”
“Because if Deering cheated once, he will likely do so again. I intend to give him the opportunity by challenging him to a friendly game of cards.”
The suggestion concerned Maura. “You realize he may accuse you of cheating?”
Ash’s smile held a calculating relish. “I sincerely hope he tries, for I will be ready for him. If I can catch him in the act and expose his methods, it will go a long way toward proving your father’s innocence.”
She wasn’t convinced Ash’s plan would work, though. “Why would Deering even play you?”
“Because he wants the opportunity to win your stallion back.”
“Won’t he be suspicious if you suddenly offer him his heart’s desire?”
“I’ve come up with a reasonable answer for that,” Ash replied. “I’ll say that I want Emperor’s deed of sale to give you as a wedding gift. I expect he’ll believe that pretext readily enough.”
Maura’s frown deepened as she tried to think through the various possibilities. “What if he doesn’t cheat when you play him?”
“Then I might be forced to employ the same ignoble tactics he used against your father. I could fabricate a similar accusation against Deering in front of witnesses and offer to retract my charge if he does the sam
e against your late father. If need be, I’m willing to sink to his level and use underhanded means to gain a confession of guilt from him. However, it’s much more likely that he will repeat his previous success.”
“You mean, he will cheat you the same way he did with my father?”
“Yes,” Ash said. “I suspect Deering either marked the cards himself or relied on someone else at the club to do it for him, so he could deny culpability. Or he might have employed some trick such as mirrors to rig the game. I’ll enlist Jack to advise me what deceptions to watch for. Jack has spent a great deal of time in London gaming hells. He might even have played at Sutter’s. And unlike your father, I will be on my guard.”
Maura nodded slowly in cautious approval. “I should have realized you would consider every angle. But what if Deering refuses your challenge altogether?”