Page 3 of The Lyon’s Last Gamble (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #80)

“M y lord, a letter has arrived for you.”

Christopher frowned as he accepted the missive from Gideon. The handwriting was unfamiliar so it wasn’t from his brother. Alexander was the only person he received any communications from, so this was interesting.

He turned the letter and studied the seal. Gold wax in the design of a lion. Interesting. But it gave him no inclination as to who it was from.

Popping the seal, he unfolded the paper and read, his brows drawing up in surprise at the odd invitation.

‘Mrs. Dove-Lyon cordially invites you to visit her establishment, the Lyon’s Den, to partake in a game such as you have never experienced before. The stakes are high—and final—but if you win, you’ll be paid handsomely. If you lose, you’ll pay handsomely, but not necessarily monetarily. Either way, win or lose, your life will indeed change forever.

Tonight 6 o’clock sharp. Do not be late or you forfeit your game.’

This was indeed the most cryptic invitation he had ever received. The name was new to him. Was the Lyon’s Den a gambling den? It certainly sounded like it. He sighed. A big win was what he was after. What he’d been after since he had fled Scotland in shame. This could be his one chance to set things right with his brother once again.

But if he lost? He couldn’t afford to pay a handsome price. Though the letter stated that it wasn’t necessarily money that he would lose. What the hell did that mean?

Would he lose a hand? An ear? A foot?

He winced. None of those were things he would be willing to lose.

Colthrop Hall.

Could it be his estate?

Or was this some sort of trickery?

He sank into a chair, resting his elbows on his knees as he pondered the situation he found himself in. It was almost as if it were a blessing and a curse.

Last night, as he had retired to bed, he’d made a vow to change his ways. To become a better man. A responsible man. In order for him to do so, he needed to stop drinking and gambling.

And now this.

“Shite,” he mumbled into the empty room.

He read the letter again, concentrating on every word. Did every man in the city receive the invitation? Had he been singled out?

Why?

Reading it again, Christopher was left with naught but more questions. He supposed he could ask Gideon if he was aware of the establishment. It was surprising he wasn’t familiar with it. Certainly he had visited all of the gambling hells in the city in his search for the big win.

But this invitation revealed otherwise.

He called for Gideon and waited. When the butler arrived a few moments later, Christopher invited him inside, shutting the door behind him.

“My lord?” Gideon’s brow furrowed in question.

“Are ye aware of, of,” he snatched the letter off the table and scanned until his eyes landed on the name. “A Mrs. Dove-Lyon?”

Gideon’s eyes rounded, but his face remained stoic. “Not personally, no, my lord. Though there have been murmurs throughout the city.”

“What of the Lyon’s Den. Have ye heard of that?”

“Only that it is owned by Mrs. Dove-Lyon. I have never visited the place myself. I believe it is only a select clientele and the proprietors are very strict on who is allowed to enter. So I have heard,” Gideon added quickly. “Is there something I can help you with?”

Christopher dismissed him with a wave of his hand. “Nay, that is all. Thank ye, Gideon.”

The short man nodded and left the room, quietly clicking the door closed.

Christopher looked around the room, pushing his hands through his hair. Colthrop Hall was a beautifully designed and decorated estate. Mahogany furniture, the wood polished to a shine, filled the room. A large bed, with massive posts was the focal piece. The mattress sat high off the floor and was covered with luxurious linens and pillows. The deep blue dyed cloth accentuated the room, along with the cream-colored wallpaper. The same color theme flowed throughout the house. Different hues of blue added warmth to the rooms.

The estate was worth a lot of money. He’d learned from his past mistakes to not wager where he laid his head down at night. He’d done that one too many times.

What if Mrs. Dove-Lyon required him to put up Colthrop Hall as collateral? Could he?

Would the pay-off if he won be worth risking it all?

He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands and blew out a breath. The clock was ticking and he had to make a decision soon. As the invitation stated, he could not be late or he would forfeit his chance to play.

It was just his luck that the morning after he decided to quit gambling, he would get the most enticing gambling invitation he had ever received. Surely, fate was having a good laugh at his expense this day.

Did he dare do it? Did he dare to not even try? The potential payout could be life changing.

The question remained if it would be life-changing in a positive or negative manner.

It was a chance he had to take. One last gamble to make.

Then he was done.

For good.