Celeste Bradley - [The Liar's Club 05] by The Rogue

Author:The Rogue
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The man sat before the fire again. This time he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, gazing into the coals as if seeking an answer there.

The gambler was becoming unpredictable. Could the fellow maintain his focus long enough to finish the task at hand, or would it be better to sacrifice that particular chessman and begin again?

It would be difficult to find another operative with the gambler’s particular mix of skills and social level. Difficult, but not impossible.

Yet a great deal of time and effort had gone into the present game. All of that would go to waste if the gambler had to be dealt with before the strategy came to fruition.

The man closed his eyes for a moment to rest them from the dull glare of the coals. He’d been so sure the gambler would succeed—and the fellow might yet do so.

Many things teetered in the balance—a great load for one morally fragile man to bear. The danger could be eliminated in a single move.

It seemed a final test was in order. A test that would tell, once and for all, the steadfastness of the gambler.

And if he failed . . .

Well, that was the nature of the business. The fates of nations overruled the destinies of mere mortal men. The game was worth more than the sum of its pieces.

Fortunately, the gambler would never see it coming.

Ethan hadn’t made it out of the circular drive before the carriage was stopped. The door opened and Lord Maywell himself stuck his bushy white head inside, ruddy and out of breath.

“Damont, there is a problem.”

When the housemaid came to tell her that her uncle wished to see her in his study, a flutter went through Jane’s stomach. She’d thought she had managed to cover her disheveled state when she had come in.

After pleading sudden illness, she had escaped to her room and had already changed from her evening gown to an older, soft muslin. She felt as though she were a completely different person than the girl who had left the house those few hours ago. Such heat. She never knew she bore such fire within her. It confused and delighted her at once. Her thoughts were still too jumbled and chaotic to sort through. She had hoped she could avoid seeing any of the family for a while, especially her uncle.

The ruthless gleam that sometimes came into her uncle’s eyes shimmered before her as she descended the stair. The unease did not dissipate at the sight of her aunt and cousins lining the hall to her uncle’s office.

Her aunt did not meet her eyes as she walked slowly by her. Serena was the only one who could not look away. Jane’s youngest cousin glared at her with hot betrayal in her tear-reddened eyes.

They are angry with me, she realized. How could they know—

Had Mr. Damont told all? Her stomach churned. Even after everything, she would not have thought it of him.

For some reason, Serena’s fury upset Jane more than the thought of her uncle’s reaction.

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