A Magnificent Match (22 page)

Within minutes, however, Megan realized that she was in a fight for her life. Mr. Swail was a gamester through and through. He did not play except to win and there was no such thing as mercy either in the astute placing of his cards or in his heart. Megan looked across at the urbane, smiling gentleman, seeing for the first time the cold, calculating light in his eyes. She recalled Sir Lawrence’s offhand warning to Miss Bancroft about Mr. Swail during the ride in the park, and with a sinking feeling felt herself to be lost. She was not a gambler and to see her vowels in the hands of a gentleman who was minute by minute proving himself to be quite without character was sobering.

Finally, she refused to stake another vowel. “I am sorry, Mr. Swail. But I have nothing more,” said Megan quietly.

Mr. Swail laughed. He was the only person present who was in the least amused. What had begun in good fun had taken an ugly turn, and there was not a gentleman present who did not know it. “Come, Miss O’Connell! Have you nothing left?”

She shook her head. “I fear not, Mr. Swail.”

He suddenly reached out and pushed all of his winnings into the middle of the table. “All or nothing, Miss O’Connell! Does that not persuade you?”

Megan did not allow her expression to betray how uncertain she felt. That would have been fatal. One did not reveal weakness on the hunting field or at the card table.

She unclasped the bracelet from around her slim wrist and tossed it onto the table. “A lady’s token, sir. Surely as such it must match the challenge?” It was a grand gesture and unexpected. She calmly looked across at her opponent.

“By Jove, yes! I for one shall back that bet, Miss O’Connell,” said Lord Haven, leaning forward to put down a small pile of guineas. Someone laughed and another gentleman declared himself quite as ready to back Miss O’Connell’s hand and thrust forward with his own offerings.

Mr. Swail smiled. There was even a flicker of amusement in his gray eyes. “Very well. We shall see if your luck is in, Miss O’Connell.” Deliberately he dealt the remaining cards and swept up his own.

Megan looked at her cards, careful not to allow by even the flicker of an eyelid any betrayal to her opponent. Without a word passing between her and Mr. Swail, the hand was played out. By a narrow margin, Megan rose the winner, amid the laughter and congratulations of her cavaliers.

“Allow me to gather your winnings for you, Miss O’Connell,” said Mr. Newton, bowing over her hand.

“Thank you, Mr. Newton, I would be grateful,” said Megan.

“Your bracelet, Miss O’Connell,” said Mr. Swail with a saturnine smile.

Megan accepted it from his hand with thanks. She clasped it about her wrist again, silently vowing never again to be caught in such harrowing circumstances. It was one thing to play cards and quite another to plunge over her head.

“Perhaps you will honor the loser with a turn about the dance floor, Miss O’Connell?” asked Mr. Swail suavely.

Megan hesitated; then she heard the striking up of a country dance. It was treading dangerously to encourage the gentleman after making such a spectacle of herself. But she would not run frightened of shadows. She smiled and laid her fingers on the gentleman’s arm. “I would be delighted, Mr. Swail.”

However, before the couple had reached the floor they were intercepted. Captain O’Connell smiled at Mr. Swail with a somewhat steely look in his eyes. “I beg pardon, Monty, but I’ve come to steal my sister away for a few moments. You do not mind, I hope?”

“Of course not. Why should I?” Mr. Swail smiled and bowed, gracefully relinquishing Megan. But not before he had turned over her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm.

Without further ado, Captain O’Connell steered his sister away. “I don’t know what maggot has got into your brain tonight, Megan. I’m just glad that I am at hand to keep you from compounding your mistake!” he said in a low, terse voice.

“Colin, whatever do you think you are doing?” asked Megan, shaking off her brother’s hand. “I was simply going to go down a country dance with Mr. Swail.”

“Yes, after playing cards with him! Monty Swail, of all people! I was never more shocked than when I came out of the refreshment room and someone told me! The whole room is buzzing, Megan,” said Captain O’Connell.

“Oh, is it? How gratifying, to be sure,” said Megan with a small chuckle. She could envision Prince Kirov’s expression at learning of her slightly scandalous escapade. It was worth every nerve-racking moment if it served to incite his protective nature.

“That fellow is not someone you should even acknowledge. He’s a rotter of the worst sort,” said Captain O’Connell. He was still scowling after the retreating gentleman. If he had ever thought about the Honorable Montebatten Swail, it was to regard that gentleman with a sort of friendly indifference. However, that was at an end now that the gentleman had made his sister the object of every whisperer in the place.

“I am well aware of that, now,” said Megan. “That is precisely why I agreed to dance with him.”

Captain O’Connell swung his head around and stared hard at her. “Have you gone mad?” he demanded.

Megan smiled up at him. “Not at all. I am quite aware of what I am doing. It is a little game all my own.”

“Little game? Megan, you could find yourself ostracized for associating with such scoundrels,” said Captain O’Connell. “Pray enlighten me. What exactly are you attempting to accomplish by running such a ridiculous risk?”

“Never mind, Colin,” said Megan, chuckling. “My affairs are not your concern.”

Captain O’Connell was angered by her amusement. “What do you mean by that? I am your brother, Megan! Of course I am concerned for you.”

Megan raised her brows slightly. There was a sudden coolness in both her expression and her voice. “Colin, you astonish me. Why, we have neither of us ever interfered in the other’s life, nor have we ever put ourselves out for one another. I can perceive no reason why you must needs change that unspoken rule now.”

Megan swept away, leaving her brother prey to angry thoughts and the unpleasant suspicion that he was reaping much of the disinterest he had sown in his past relationship with his sister. The irony of it was that he had always cared about Megan, if only in a loosely affectionate way. If he could help her without putting himself to any trouble, such as staving off one of their brother Lionel’s tirades, then he was willing to do so. But he had never put her interests before his own and now saw what was coming of it. Megan was unwilling to listen to his advice because he had never proven himself worthy of either her respect or trust.

“Damnation!” he muttered under his breath.

Captain O’Connell frowned as he watched his sister’s progress. Megan was laughing and flirting in what he considered to be a manner just short of shameful. She had a coterie of gentlemen surrounding her again, but at least that bounder was not one of them at the moment.

It was odd, he thought. Why had he never realized before just how beautiful his sister was? Megan had an alluring quality that he had never noticed until he had come across her quite by accident here in London. He had been surprised to see her because he had quite understood that she was situated in St. Petersburg indefinitely.

Perhaps that short sojourn in Russia was what had made the difference, Captain O’Connell reflected. Why, Megan had positively blossomed into a woman of the world in only a few months. She was confident, beautiful, and apparently irresistible to the London
ton.
Something must have happened while Megan was residing with Princess Kirov. Something so completely overwhelming that overnight she had become this alarming diamond of the first water.

Captain O’Connell had been idly watching the activity around his sister when his gaze abruptly sharpened. He watched the immensely tall Russian forge a path through the other gentlemen. He observed the faintest hint of hesitation in his sister’s manner, the tinge of color that rose in her face, as Prince Kirov bowed over her hand, soliciting her for the waltz.

Captain O’Connell’s lips thinned. He thought that he had discovered a piece of the puzzle and it was not a pleasant possibility. Megan would naturally deny anything of the sort. But he would have the truth, one way or another. And then, if what he suspected was true, he would cheerfully murder the Russian.

Prince Kirov whirled Megan expertly around the floor. Her skirt billowed out behind her. He looked down at her with a gleam of amusement in his eyes. “You need not have flirted so desperately with that gamester, mademoiselle. I know that you are too sensible to be caught up in that one’s sweetened flatteries.”

Megan met his gaze. “Of course I am,” she agreed. “Just as I am far too sensible to be caught up in a certain Russian prince’s flattering phrases.”

“Touché, mademoiselle. You are very quick,” said Prince Kirov appreciatively. “Who was the swain who rescued you?”

“Why, do you not know him?” asked Megan, surprised.

“There is something familiar about him. But no, I do not know him,” said Prince Kirov, casting a glance in the direction he had last seen the tall young gentleman in military togs. He was startled to meet a smoldering stare from the unknown man. Instantly, he instinctively recognized a force of character that challenged his own dominant personality. “Who is he, Megan?” he said abruptly.

At his tone, Megan looked up at him quickly. “Why, I believe that you are jealous! Surely you are not jealous, Mikhail!”

“Of course not! I merely do not wish you to be importuned by every jumped-up soldier in town on leave,” said Prince Kirov with dignity.

Megan started to laugh. “You do not understand, Mikhail. That is my brother, Colin. He would take exception to your unflattering description of him, I assure you!”

Prince Kirov’s stern features relaxed. He recalled that his trustworthy companion had told him that Miss O’Connell had a brother in the Lifeguards. It would behoove him to get on a friendly footing with this fierce-looking brother, he thought. “Of course that is your brother. Did I not say that he looked familiar? He favors you in coloring.”

“Do you think so? Most people think that he and my sister Celeste are closer in appearance, for they are twins. I am the youngest and not thought to resemble anyone,” said Megan.

“Ah, a swan among less graceful birds,” said Prince Kirov softly.

Megan shook her head, smiling. “Did I not say I was wise to the flatterer, your highness?”

“I do not offer empty words, Megan,” began Prince Kirov.

Megan threw him an amused glance. “No, merely ones of sweetened froth.”

His arm tightened about her waist. He stared down at her, a somewhat grim line forming about his mobile mouth. “You do not believe me, mademoiselle?”

“Oh, Misha. I only know that you believe all that you say to me,” sighed Megan.

His anger vanished. “Trust me, Megan,” he urged. “That is all that I ask.”

“Then you ask for my life,” said Megan quietly.

Prince Kirov was taken aback. He realized that what she said was true. But she had not carried her conclusions far enough. “And I offer you mine in return,” he said with equal quiet.

Megan’s eyes rose, a startled question in their smoky depths.

The waltz was concluding, but neither noticed straightaway. Prince Kirov slowed their steps until they came to a stand. He loosed her, only to raise her gloved fingers to his lips. “Megan, I—”

They were interrupted. Captain O’Connell took his sister’s elbow. “Megan! I am glad that I have found you. I hope that you have not yet been solicited for dinner, for I am counting on escorting you in myself.”

“I don’t know. That is, I—” Megan looked from her brother to the prince.

Prince Kirov stepped back. He smiled. “It is never the appropriate time, it seems. Mademoiselle, pray introduce me.”

“Oh! Of course! Your highness, this is my brother, Captain Colin O’Connell of the Lifeguards. Colin, Prince Mikhail Sergei Alexsander Kirov. The prince was my host during my stay in St. Petersburg,” said Megan.

Captain O’Connell smiled. He was himself a tall man, but the Russian topped him by an inch or two. He disliked it. “Prince Kirov, it is a distinct pleasure. St. Petersburg must be a wondrous place. My sister returned to us a different woman.”

Prince Kirov sensed the latent hostility underlying the other man’s words. He smiled also, but the wolf in him gleamed from his eyes. “Ah, Captain O’Connell, you are too kind. We must talk sometime. I am certain that we shall have much to discuss.”

“Agreed, your highness,” said Captain O’Connell.

Megan looked from one to the other, puzzled. Both men were smiling and they spoke with perfect amiability. However, there was a tension between them that she did not quite understand. She laid her hand on her brother’s muscular arm. “Colin—”

“Perhaps I should explain, Captain O’Connell, that my intentions toward your sister are honorable,” said Prince Kirov abruptly, his gaze studying the other man’s face. “I have always regarded Miss O’Connell with the highest degree of respect. She has never, nor shall she ever, take injury from my hands. I give you my word of honor on that.”

Captain O’Connell regarded him unsmilingly. He made a slight bow. “It is understood, your highness.” He held out his hand. “Will you accept my friendship, Prince Kirov?”

Prince Kirov smiled and shook hands. With greatest good humor, he said, “Of course. Why should there be enmity between us? We are to be brothers.”

Startled, Captain O’Connell glanced quickly at his sister. She was blushing fiercely and there was a spark of anger in her eyes. He grinned. “Are you indeed! Megan had not informed me.”

“She is overly cautious,” said Prince Kirov, dropping his voice to a confidential level. He was watching Megan’s face while he spoke. “I have protested my love for her, but she continues to hold me at arm’s length. Perhaps I might enlist your influence on my behalf, Captain O’Connell?”

“Oh!” Megan was thoroughly embarrassed and incensed. “You are impossible, Misha! Do go away! Colin, take me in to dinner. I have heard quite enough nonsense.”

Prince Kirov laughed, bowed, and strolled away. Captain O’Connell offered his arm to his sister, saying, “He’ll have you, Megan.”