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As he passed through the wrought iron gates, he could not help but notice that they were in need of maintenance, although it was not so obvious to the untrained eye.

Daniel was right. Dexford needed money, and so he resorted to that age-old tactic of noblemen struggling to maintain their lifestyle—marry a lady with a large enough dowry.

Except there was no dowry large enough to support a gambler like Lord Dexford. He needed more than a miracle—he needed to quit, which was pretty much akin to asking a tiger to skin himself and hand over his hide.

“This way, Your Grace.” The butler bowed to him. “Lord Dexford is waiting in his study.”

“Your Grace?” a high-pitched voice squeaked. “Which noble personage has graced this household?”

Ethan turned to find a gray-haired woman peeking out one of the doors. Spectacles rested on the edge of a rounded nose as beady gray eyes widened in shock.

It was the Dowager Viscountess Dexford.

“Your Grace!” she squeaked again. “We did not expect you to come over!”

“He is not here for tea, My Lady,” a cold voice intoned from above the stairs.

Ethan looked up to find none other than the Viscount Dexford smiling gloatingly down at him.

“He is here to discuss business withme.”

Ethan returned his cold smile with a frostier one. “Lord Dexford is right—we havemuchto discuss.”

The Dowager Viscountess bobbed her head, and with a hastily mumbled excuse, she retreated to the parlor.

“You have to forgive my mother,” Lord Dexford told him. “She is starved for female companionship. She had been so lookingforward to my marriage to Lady Phoebe, but alas…” He let out a dramatic sigh. “It was not meant to be…”

Ethan kept his expression neutral as he followed the man into his study. He would not give Dexford the pleasure of knowing that his every word galled him.

“I suppose you came to talk to me today about the rumors that have been going around,” the Viscount continued with a triumphant smile.

Daniel was right—vermin like him like to talk when they think they’ve already won.

Well then, Ethan was going to let him keep talking and enjoy himself for as long as it lasted.

“I had nothing to do with it.” Lord Dexford shrugged. “You know how these rumors form from bits and pieces of the truth…”

“It is funny how word gets around rather quickly,” Ethan remarked coolly. “One would think there was someone fanning the flames.”

“Well, I do not control the people’s tongues.” Dexford chuckled. “They like to talk.”

“And so you let them.”

The Viscount’s eyes flashed. “Who am I to stop them?”

“Indeed.” This time, it was Ethan’s turn to shrug his shoulders in a show of extreme nonchalance. “After all, with your creditors knocking on your door, how could you still manage to pay offanyonefor such a petty scheme?”

He had meant to get a reaction from the Viscount, but he had no idea just how explosive it was going to be. Any beast backed into a corner was certain to bite, and he had not only backed Dexford into a corner—he thrust him there.

“It should not have been this way,” Dexford hissed. “She wasmine. Her dowry was supposed to bemine. Marrying that chit would have ended all of my immediate problems, but she just had to throw herself at you like awhore.”

Ethan resisted the urge to plant his fist in the man’s face. It was not the time for it yet.

“I would caution you to please speak respectfully about my wife,” he reminded him coolly.

“You know, I was actually pleased when you did not show any interest in her at all.” Dexford chuckled. “A woman who wanted love and never got it? She would have fallen so easily for anyone who gave her what her heart craved the most. Even if I did not get to marry her and acquire her dowry, I would still consider it a win if I could seduce a duchess.”

“And yet, she still preferred me over you.” Ethan shook his head with a mocking sigh. “That must have been quite a setback.”