Heart of Decadence (Handful of Hearts Book 5) by Jenna Jaxon

Author:Jenna Jaxon [Jaxon, Jenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-29T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

“And that is the game, I believe, ladies and gentleman.”

Amelia could not help smiling as Lord Ainsley laid down his last card, the jack of hearts, thus taking the final trick and winning ten of the thirteen tricks in the hand for them. Their partnership had been most agreeable and profitable as the wagering on each trick had been fierce, especially between Lord Ainsley and his sister. With this last trick, she and his lordship had gained at least two pounds. Nothing to put any one of them in the workhouse, but still an exciting and pleasurable way to pass the evening.

And the evening had been most pleasant. After the scene in Hyde Park this afternoon, she’d had grave doubts about attending Mrs. Doyle’s party. All she’d wanted to do was hide herself at home and dread the gossip sure to begin again. She’d thought herself so inured to the mean and disrespectful things people said about her that she no longer felt the sting of their unkind words. But this afternoon she’d discovered that it was not true. Both Lady Chalgrove’s and Mr. Burke’s cutting remarks had hurt abominably, but because Lord Ainsley had been there to hear them, rather than from their estimation of her. That she valued his lordship’s opinion of her so much had also greatly alarmed her. He’d hurt her deeply once before. Dare she allow herself to embrace those feelings from so long ago?

For that reason, along with others, she’d been in two minds about attending tonight. Her mother, however, had insisted, and Amelia was now glad she’d come. As soon as they arrived, she’d been met by Miss Locke and led to a table where Lady Letitia and a Lady Celinda Graham, whom she’d not met before, had been seated. After that introduction, the four of them had played a spirited game of Vingt-Et-Un with much betting and laughter. Afterward, Lord Ainsley had come to escort her to his table and the game of whist they’d just finished.

No one had been unkind. Mrs. Doyle and her charge, a Miss Amanda Sharpe, had welcomed her and her parents along with Lord Ainsley. She’d heard no whisperings around the room, no one nodding at her or suspicious looks. Either no one knew who she was, which she doubted, or Lord Ainsley’s presence and obvious protection had quashed the gossips for the evening. If only this friendly atmosphere could become her life’s norm, she’d have nothing left to wish for. Except, perhaps, one thing.

From lowered eyelids, she surreptitiously watched Lord Ainsley gather the cards, chatting with his friend and sister, his quick laughter ringing out often. He’d said he wanted to marry her, yet she could scarce believe the words. Her heartbeat quickened each time she thought of them. Were they true? Did he actually wish to marry her? All his actions seemed to indicate that he did. After so many years of longing for a normal life, and enduring all the hurt, would she

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