Page 10 of The Lyon’s Last Gamble (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #80)

W hitney did not sleep a wink that night. She’d tried. Oh, how she tried, but she kept tossing and turning. Every time she closed her eyes, his handsome face would find her. It was as if he’d infiltrated all of her senses. Every fiber of her being. She’d done so much moving around she was afraid she would keep the house awake.

Finally, she threw back the covers and settled into the window seat of her bedroom and looked out into the starry night sky.

Was her future husband doing the same? Or was he sleeping like a babe as if he had no care in the world?

She still didn’t know his name. She supposed she would find out that information some time on the morrow.

She and her mother had waited up long past what was proper visiting hours last night before they both retired for the evening. It was silly really.

By the time they had returned home, the hour was already late. Much too late for a caller. Even if that caller was to be her husband.

When Rona knocked lightly on her door to wake her up, Whitney was sure her eyes were puffy along with dark circles showing under them. Rona would have to work miracles today to make her presentable for her caller.

“Miss, you are already awake?”

Whitney sighed. “Yes, alas, I couldn’t sleep. Who could if they were in my situation?”

Rona smiled. “It is a big day for you. Are you excited?”

“Yes, but I am not so sure my excitement is a good one, if that makes any sense.”

“I am sure it is just nerves, miss. Once you meet your suitor all will be well, I’m certain.”

Whitney laughed. “My suitor. You are funny, Rona. I will surely miss your sense of humor when I move.” Her demeanor immediately soured. She would miss living here. Miss her parents. Miss Rona. Her maid had been by her side for as long as she could remember.

The woman had been her only real friend since her salacious scandal scared the few so-called friends she’d had away.

“Come now,” Rona said as she went around the room, pulling open the drapes from the other windows and allowing the early morning light to fill the room. “There is no need for a dour mood. This is a good thing, is it not?”

Whitney sighed. “I suppose. But is it wrong for me to wish that it had happened naturally? What will people say when they learn our union manifested from a game of chance?” She knew what they would say—that her parents had to pay someone to spend time with her. That no one of right mind would attach themselves to her voluntarily.

Rona planted her fists on her hips as she regarded Whitney. “Since when do other’s opinions matter to you? You never let them bother you before, why should you start now?”

Whitney looked up to the ceiling, throwing her hands up in defeat. Rona was right. She didn’t care what people thought of her. She’d stopped caring long ago when she realized how insincere everyone was.

Unlike others, it wasn’t in her nature to shun someone for the choices they made, even if society dictated such an action. Especially if that person was a friend. She truly could not fathom doing such a thing.

But her so-called friends had no qualms about doing such a thing to her. And that was when she had stopped caring about what they thought. She couldn’t imagine how much worse they would be if they had learned of her pregnancy.

“Come on.” Rona pulled her up out of the chair. “Enough of this moping about. It is a happy day. An important one and you want to look your best. Time for a bath.”

Two hours later, Whitney was bathed, her skin scented with the lavender soap she’d used to wash. Rona was brushing her hair to a shine before pulling it taut into a chignon at the base of her neck. She pulled a strand of hair loose from each side and curled the locks around her fingers so they fell in loose waves to frame Whitney’s face.

“You look beautiful, miss. Your husband-to-be will be taken aback by the beauty he will be marrying.”

Whitney blushed, her cheeks heating at the compliment. “I am not certain about that. Like me, my future husband has his own reasons as to why he needed to find a wife at the Lyon’s Den.” She smiled slyly. “Though I do know he’s handsome, so there is no worry there. But I do hope there is more to him and his personality than dashing looks. And strong shoulders,” she added with a wicked whisper.

“Miss!” Rona scolded.

She turned in her chair and met Rona’s eyes. “Wait until you see him, Rona. He’s oh so very handsome. Dark hair, dark eyes. He’s tall. And his body.” She smacked her lips. “He strained the seams of his jacket. His forearms were sinewy with muscle. With long fingers on his large hands.”

Rona bit back a smile. “It would seem you got a good look at the man,” she admitted.

Whitney grinned devilishly. “Oh, I did indeed. When mama and I arrived we were ushered into a room that overlooked the gambling floor. We could see everything going on down below. There were two men playing the game mama had concocted. And what an odd game it was.”

“What was it?”

She gave Rona a quick summary of the game and the tasks the men had to complete while the woman put the finishing touches on her hair.

“When I saw the two men, one drew my attention straight away. But it wasn’t the first time I had seen him,” she admitted.

Rona’s brows shot up in surprise. “No? Does your mother know that.”

Shaking her head, she studied her hair in the looking glass, turning her head from side to side. “No. I didn’t mention it to mama. It’s not like I had met him anyway. He just happened to be passing by the modiste when mama and I visited earlier this week. But he was very memorable.”

“He must have been,” Rona called over her shoulder as she made her way to the wardrobe to pull out a rose-colored gown.

“Once I noticed he was one of the two men that were gambling for my hand, I hoped and prayed that he would be the one to garner the victory.”

“What of the other man?” She laid the gown on the bed and rummaged around the wardrobe for stockings.

Whitney grimaced. “I did not find that man attractive at all. I suppose he wasn’t ugly. His features were pleasant enough, but the way he held himself and sneered at anyone that he encountered was very off-putting. It made me realize right away that he was not the one I wanted to spend my days with. I can’t even imagine what I would have done if he’d won the game.”

“Well, lucky for you, you don’t have to contemplate such an outcome.” Rona motioned her over and held up the gown.

Once her stockings were on, she slipped on a pair of cream slippers. A pearl necklace and pearl drop earrings her father had gifted her on her last birthday completed the look.

She stared at her reflection in the looking glass, hoping that her husband-to-be would find her attractive.