Fed to the Lyon by Mary Lancaster

Author:Mary Lancaster
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-04-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

ALTHOUGH A LOT of money changed hands in the Lyon’s Den—the majority in her direction—Bess Dove-Lyon was not a wealthy woman. The vast majority of her earnings went to the upkeep of her establishment and on her late husband’s tremendous debts, which she was still paying off after more years than she cared to remember.

To keep the clients coming back, she had to maintain the best standards of food and wine, and preserve the luxurious furnishings in every public room. She also had to ensure fair play at all her tables and in the less traditional games, which made the Den so unique. None of these things, least of all her small army of excellent staff, came cheaply.

Her more discreet matchmaking service was equally unique, but she trod a thin line there between fulfilling her contracts and making enemies. So far, she had navigated that line, but she had the feeling that if anyone were to upset it, it would be Diana Wade.

The girl was her mother’s daughter. Only with more charm. And loyalty.

Judging by the somewhat despairing expression behind Di’s smiles, she was wondering how big a personal mistake she had just made by rejecting the Earl of Garvie—and how terrible would be his replacement.

Very terrible indeed, Mrs. Dove-Lyon thought with satisfaction as her rooms filled up that evening. For a moment, she even regretted that she had blackballed Harrington, but truly that man was beyond the pale, and she had a much more suitable victim in mind.

Red-headed and loud as ever, his hand bandaged and held in a sling across his chest, he was already well on the road to inebriation as he collected his first win of the night at hazard. At least he was not a man to let a mere shattered finger get in the way of his enjoyment, which she rather admired, despite the foolishness. She had done her best to ward off infection and fever, but his behavior could have the opposite effect.

She made sure to catch his eye quite casually as she strolled past him. He looked well enough.

“A word, sir, when you have the time,” she murmured.

“I have time now. What’s it about? Another wager? Or are you still grumpy about last night’s?”

“Well, you should have known better than to play Harrington, and I should have known better than to allow it. We shall leave it there and move on, if you will, to a new proposition.”

Intrigued, he followed her happily into her private office, and when she gestured to the visitor’s chair at the near side of the desk, he took it without waiting for her to sit first. The man really was a boor.

“What’s this proposition?” he demanded at once.

She sat. “I hear many things in my position. One of them is that you are looking out for a wife of good family.”

“Is that right?”

“It is. But to be frank, sir, even if I had heard no such thing, it is what I would advise a man in your position to do.

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