Page 4 of One Night with a Prince

.”

“If he hadn’t gambled with you—”

“—he would have gambled with someone else. Your late husband’s weakness for cards isn’t my problem, Lady Haversham.”

“I should have known a man like you would have no conscience.”

“Yes, you should have.” When she glared at him, he added, “It’s all moot, anyway. There’s only a slim chance I could help you even if I wanted to.”

“What do you mean?”

He laughed mercilessly. “Stokely only invites a certain type of person to his house party, and you’re not it.”

“Because I’m not a gambler.”

“Because you’re not a certainsort of gambler.” Gavin lit a new cigar and took a long puff. “However, I might consider retrieving your property for you—”

“No,” she said tersely. “I have to retrieve it myself.”

What the bloody hell could this mysterious property of hers be? “At least tell me what you wish to steal and why.”

She stiffened. “I can’t do that. And if you insist upon it, I shall have to ask someone else to help me.”

“Fine. If I can’t get you into that party, though, no one else can.”

An expression of sheer incredulity spread over her pretty features. “Didn’t they tell you that you’ll gain a barony out of it?”

“I’ve succeeded very well until now without one, so that’s not much of an inducement.”

“What if I said that helping me would be a service to your country?”

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlHe laughed. “That’s even less of an inducement. What has my country ever done for me that I should put myself out for it?”

She looked exasperated. “It’s not as if it would be much trouble for you. You merely need to convince Lord Stokely to invite me to his house party. Just tell him I’m your whist partner or something.”

“Do you play whist with any competence?”

She stuck out her chin. “I can manage well enough.”

The chit was lying again. Badly. “Stokely is always my partner.” Gavin dragged hard on his cigar.

“Besides, his house party includes a very scandalous set—his friends would shock you.”

“I’m not that easy to shock. Remember, I spent many years abroad. I’ve seen more than the average Englishwoman.”

He’d wager she’d never seen anything like Stokely’s party. “All the same, it can’t be done. Stokely only invites longtime gamblers whose playing he knows.”

She frowned. “Other people on the guest list don’t fit that description—like Captain Jones.”

“True, but his mistress, Lady Hungate, does. That’s also why Lord Hungate andhis mistress will be there. You only get an invitation to Stokely’s by being a serious gambler or a serious gambler’s lover, spouse, or mistress.”

Her face brightened. “Why didn’t you say so? You can get me invited as your mistress!”

He stared at her. Few people could astonish him; the hot-headed Lady Haversham had done so twice. This was the most novel invitation he’d ever received.

And oddly enough, the most intriguing.

He trailed his gaze down her body, lingering over her ample bosom and the black fabric that hid what he’d discovered was a trim waist and nicely plump arse.