Page 6 of A Wager With A Rake (Wicked Widows #32)

Theodosia

T heodosia paced the maroon and cream parlor of Matron Manor, the gathering place for the Widows League.

She anxiously awaited Lady Andover to meet her so she might find a solution to her predicament.

When she arrived, she hadn’t been certain who would be in residence, but she hoped they might have more ideas than she’d be able to come up with on her own.

Without ownership of Rosewood, she would have to economize should she need to buy a much smaller home to live in.

She had been counting on the income the estate would generate to help secure her investments and pay for upkeep.

When her father lost the deed in a round of cards with Court, he had cost her everything.

She hadn’t wanted to believe it was true.

During the carriage ride back to Town from Rosewood, she told herself—during the moments she wasn’t thinking about the late-night scene with Court—that somehow her father had tricked Court.

And she would prove she was the rightful owner of the property.

But it would seem that Court was in fact in possession of the correct deed, now lawfully in his name.

And there was nothing she could do about it.

“My dear,” Lady Andover said, sweeping into the room.

She donned a deep sapphire day gown in the height of fashion that complemented her perfectly styled light brown hair.

The grey color of her eyes was almost identical to her own.

The woman was elegant and still quite beautiful for a mature widow of the ton .

“I must apologize for keeping you waiting.”

“Not at all. I am uncertain there is anything you can do regardless, but I am out of options. And figured I should go over everything with someone else and see if I’m missing something.”

Lady Andover motioned for her to take a seat as a maid entered with a tea cart.

“There is nothing that two intelligent, cunning women and a pot of tea can’t resolve,” Lady Andover said, reaching for the teapot to pour out for them both. She handed Theodosia a saucer with her cup on it and then settled into her seat with her own cup. “Now tell me what this is about.”

“My father gambled away a property that was supposed to belong to me in the event of my husband’s death.”

Lady Andover eyed her curiously. “Surely your solicitor would agree that he is not legally entitled to do so, so the property remains yours.”

“Upon a deeper investigation, it would seem that the solicitor who’d drawn up the marriage settlements for my father and Dundas worked in a clause that the property would revert to my father’s name if Dundas wasn’t at least the age of ninety when he passed.

I take it my arse of a father assumed Dundas wouldn’t make it to such an age, thus returning the property back to him.

Dundas either didn’t care that the clause was there or didn’t bother to read it. He had what he wanted.”

“A young virgin bride to provide him with an heir,” Lady Andover said, finishing Theodosia’s thought for her.

Theodosia nodded, then took a fortifying sip of her tea. “At least he never got the latter part from me.”

When she had learned of the underhanded efforts that her father planned and plotted, with little care for her future, rage coursed through her entire body, threatening to set fire to everything around her.

It served as further proof that he cared not if she was provided for or ended up on the streets.

If she hadn’t still been living in the townhouse the new Dundas still generously allowed her to call her temporary home, she would have taken to shattering the expensive vases and china.

Her own father didn’t give a whit about her, as long as he could continue his gambling, drinking, and philandering.

All that after he’d essentially sold her to Dundas.

In most contracts, the father must pay the dowry, but in her case, Dundas wanted to wed her so desperately that he paid her father for that privilege, including providing the funds that Theodosia inherited upon his death.

But her father was required to provide the estate for her to live in as a widow.

Her father probably assumed she’d bear a couple of children before her husband died, which would give her access to their primary estate until the heir had reached their age of majority.

She supposed she should be grateful that her father hadn’t been able to steal her funds from her as well.

“And,” Theodosia continued with a sigh, “I can’t afford to buy the property back from the man who won it from my father.

Even if he is a friend of mine, of sorts.

” Theodosia’s cheeks heated thinking about how she’d left things with Court.

She’d snuck out the next morning before he’d awakened, not wanting to face him after the way she’d teased him.

Even if it had been the only intriguing erotic experience of her life.

“You are right. This is a problem that might not have a solution. At least not a noble one.”

“I even went so far as to beg the man who owns the property now to give it back, but of course he won’t. Even though funds from my inheritance paid for the renovations.”

Lady Andover’s expression shifted to one of sympathy. “I would think not. That shouldn’t surprise you.”

“I know. I was just desperate. He offered to let me…” Theodosia’s words trailed off, an idea forming. “My lady, do you suppose you might know someone who could teach me the art of gambling? Card games in particular.”

“I know a couple of individuals, yes.” She took a sip of her tea and stared back at Theodosia, waiting for her to continue.

“He said he’d allow me to win it back from him in a wager. The way my father lost the estate in the first place.” Theodosia let her shoulders drop, realizing why her plan would never work. “But I have nothing to offer him to wager. I’d have to put up something of value to him.”

Both ladies sat in silence, each staring at their hands, Theodosia desperately searching for another solution.

“Does this man fancy you?” Lady Andover finally asked.

“He wanted me to join him in his chamber, if that is your meaning.” Theodosia’s cheeks heated again from the scene in the hallway that would forever be etched in her memory.

She had touched herself many more times, recalling the feel of his stubbled jaw against her cheek, the bergamot scent she’d forever associate with him, and the way her entire body was aflame from his hot breath against her ear.

“And did you succumb to his advances?” Lady Andover asked, placing her saucer on the table.

“No.” Her response was more sorrowful than proud.

Rejecting him had been the hardest thing she’d ever done.

Not that she hadn’t wanted to join him in his chamber.

She had. Very much so. More than she ever wished for him to know.

But something held her back, even if her body clearly questioned why she had done so as soon as she’d locked the door between them.

A simmering rage about losing Rosewood burned within her, which was part of what pulled her away.

She also wasn’t certain she wished to bed men from the ton .

And then there was the fact that he was the brother of her closest friend, which would only make things awkward.

“Don’t you see?” Lady Andover asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

“That is what you shall offer. We’ll ensure you train with the best, and you put yourself up as the wager.

You’ll appear to him, seductive and enticing, and I’m certain he will take the bet.

And then you shall win the property from him.

If you choose to invite him to your bed after you have the deed in your hand, that is for you to decide. ”

Theodosia pondered her words. Would Court truly put a property on the line for the chance to get her in his bed? He didn’t have to look very far to find willing bed partners.

“I see the doubt in your eyes,” Lady Andover said. “But I assure you. He shall take your bet. If it’s one thing a warm-blooded man hates, it’s being rejected. It drives them mad and challenges their fragile egos.”

Now that Theodosia could believe. She also found men to be quite predictable.

“I’ll teach you a few things in the art of seduction, and I’ll summon a man I know who runs one of the most prestigious gaming hells. Join me here for a couple of weeks and we’ll have you ready to win what is rightfully yours.”

Theodosia hesitated for a moment. It felt just a bit wrong to trick Court in that way. But she supposed he had only possessed the property from similar tactics.

And he had offered to make a wager on it. Still, she knew he was more skilled than she was in games of cards. She was a decent Piquet player, having watched her father play for so many years and played with several of the widows, but that didn’t mean she could best him.

But he wasn’t born with a penchant for gambling, was he?

He had to learn the craft from time and experience, which was what she would do.

It would still be a fair game that he’d have an equal chance to win.

And at least it would give her prolonged hope that she might get to call Rosewood hers again.

“I’ll do it!” Theodosia finally exclaimed. “And I appreciate your assistance in the matter.”

“You shall reside here with me while we complete your training,” Lady Andover commanded. “That will make things far simpler and will prevent anyone from being the wiser about what it is we are plotting.”

“That is agreeable, my lady. When might we begin?” With hope restored and a plan to focus her energy on, Theodosia wasn’t willing to accept anything but their plan being met with success.

She’d work hard to learn everything she could.

Rosewood would be hers, and there was nothing more important than winning that wager.

The rake may be sinfully handsome, but he wouldn’t know what hit him.