Surrender of Trust (First Volume of the Surrender Series) (27 page)

"You interrupted my play, so I was not able
to win the money back. Now I owe Lord Perdan. So, I'll need the
money to cover the debt."

"I interrupted you! You were losing from the
very beginning! I thought you were good at playing cards. You were
supposed to catch him cheating and call him on it."

"That's just it. I'm certain he's cheating,
but I couldn't determine just how. I needed some more time to
determine his method and regain the money back from him. I was just
getting him primed into thinking I was an easy pigeon."

Breathless, Monique reached them. "What
happened?"

"Not only did Henry lose the money I gave
him, he now owes Perdan ten pounds. He couldn't even confirm Lord
Perdan was cheating!"

"Oh, dear!" Monique said.

"I'm sure he's cheating," Henry interjected,
"but I couldn't prove it. I couldn't accuse Lord Perdan without
something definitive I could show the other players," Henry said,
his tone defensive.

"How am I going to come up with money to
cover your debt?" Lucy asked, pacing.

"I'll need to pay him soon. He recognized me
and knows I work for Lord Glenhurst, which is why he didn't make a
bigger scene. I believe Lord Perdan was surprised to see me. He
knows I don't frequent the place. I really wish you had trusted me
more and let me play it out."

Lucy was again confronted with an issue of
trust, or rather, her lack of it. But how was she to know? Lucy had
no true idea of the level of Henry's skills and she had panicked
The sound of a coach drawing near interrupted them. Lucy stopped
pacing and looked up. It was Lloyd.
Thank Heavens!
The coach
slowed to a stop and Henry helped Lucy and Monique inside. The
coach began moving again.

"I feel awful," Monique said. "This was my
idea. Don't worry, I'll help you come up with the money somehow.
I'll think of something to tell my brother."

"It's not your fault. You warned me this
might not work. I don't want you misleading your brother on my
account. I've caused you both enough trouble."

"We'll think of something," Monique said.

Tired and discouraged, Lucy walked with
Monique into the house. Weary to the bone, Lucy wanted to lie down,
but dreaded during battle with her pillow which was surely a rock
in disguise. Much to her surprise, the butler handed her a letter
from the silver tray in the entrance way.

"Miss Goodwin, this note arrived while you
were out."A look of disapproval flashed briefly across his face and
quickly disappeared. No doubt the servants felt Lucy had involved
their mistress in some shenanigan Glenhurst would likely frown
upon. The heavy cloaks concealing her and Monique would only serve
to confirm their suspicions.

Lucy and Monique traipsed into the salon and
dropped onto the settee. Monique's inquiring face, brows furrowed,
turned toward Lucy. Her friend was no doubt concerned Lucy had been
plunged even deeper into trouble and felt responsible.

"Monique, it's not your fault. I knew the
risks. Maybe Henry is right. If I had trusted him more instead of
panicking and stopping his play, he might have been able to lure
Perdan into becoming careless."

"I still feel awful."

"I know." Lucy reached out and squeezed
Monique's hand.

"So what does your letter say?"

Lucy looked down at the cream paper in her
hand. It bore Lucien's handwriting. A twinge of unease pricked Lucy
and she was reluctant to open it. Sighing, Lucy broke the seal and
began to read the letter aloud.

Dearest Lucy,

It seems we have much to discuss. A large
number of mares from Lord Chalifour arrived here today. Perhaps you
might explain why?

Lord Perdan also paid me a visit yesterday.
It seems he recently demanded money of me and miraculously, I paid
him with a cheque, though I have no recollection of doing so.
Perhaps you could explain this as well?

Because of this recent payment to Lord
Perdan, there is little money in my accounts. He is demanding I
race in the upcoming Derby Stakes or make another payment to him
for what he terms a debt of honor. I'm not sure what you know about
this situation, but there is much we need to discuss. It seems I
have little choice and will be racing, though I don't feel up to
the task just yet.

When do you plan on returning, sister?

Your brother,

Lucien

Lucy was aware the color drained from her
face. Monique gasped and reached out for her. How could she have
forgotten Chalifour's horses were due to arrive any day? Her
brother was cognizant of the contract. He had probably learned of
the cheque by now too. Would Lucien think she was stealing money
from him?

Lucy hadn't had the opportunity to explain
anything to Lucien. Now he was being forced to race when his health
was not up to it. With his leg was fractured and painful, Lucien
could easily be hurt or killed in his fragile condition.

Against Lucy's will, the tears began to flow,
hot on her cheeks. No words would come to her. Her insides were
broken. Utter despair and grief filled Lucy. She had failed
everyone.

If Perdan made good on his threat, the
ensuing scandal would affect her brother's reputation and honor,
and even his livelihood. Lucy couldn't bear to think on it. The
disgrace would affect Chalifour similarly. Likewise, Lucy wasn't
sure she could endure living if Chalifour's prized reputation and
honor were tarnished because of her actions. Lucy's stomach
twisted, alive with small demons tearing at her insides.

Lucy had been completely unsuccessful in
raising money to bribe Perdan. She had also failed in her effort to
catch Perdan at cheating. Perdan was going to ruin her brother and
whatever regard Chalifour had for her. Now Perdan was forcing her
brother to enter a race he was not physically unprepared to run.
Lucy gritted her teeth. She may have floundered in her other
efforts, but she would not fail to dissuade Perdan from forcing her
brother to race. But what could she possibly offer him?
You have
nothing to offer Perdan except yourself. And that may not be
enough.

Monique continued regard Lucy, her eyes
filled with concern. "Lucy," Monique whispered.

"The end result of everything I've attempted
has only served to make the situation worse. My actions have
created even bigger problems for my Lucien. I cannot allow him to
race. He was put into an impossible situation to begin with, and I
have only complicated matters."

"It's not your fault Perdan blackmailed your
brother."

"No, but it's my fault I obligated him to the
agreement with Chalifour which effectively ties Lucien's hands at
raising money in the short term. And it's me who gave the money to
Perdan which hurt Lucien financially. I've even created minor
scandal for Lucien by pretending to be him at the Oaks."

"What can you do?"

Lucy raised her chin and stared Monique in
the eye. "I'm," she shuddered, "I'm going to offer myself to
Perdan. As a wife, or otherwise," Lucy said.

Monique recoiled. "You can't be serious! As a
wife, it's utterly unthinkable. As a ...," Monique couldn't say the
word. "You'd be ruined. What would that possibly do?"

"It would keep Lucien from being forced to
race when he's weak."

"And then what? You're not thinking clearly!
Perdan doesn't want a wife. Besides, he can't afford one! That
leaves you as his mistress. You would be ruined and he would just
continue to hurt your brother in other ways. Lucy, you are my
dearest friend. If you do this and it becomes known--and it will
because Perdan will crow like a banty rooster--even my brother
can't help you! Please don't even consider this course of
action!"

Lucy looked into Monique's face which was
wrought with anguish for her. She needed to console Monique. "All
right," Lucy said. "I'll think of something else."

Lucy's mind was set, however. She would not
allow Lucien to be maimed or killed because she had helped to put
him in this position. Lucy knew what must be done, but there was no
need to worry Monique.

Monique looked at Lucy with suspicion. "Do
you mean it?"

"Yes, I mean it."
I mean I will try and
encourage Perdan to marry me, if not, then I mean to do whatever is
necessary to protect my brother. That's what I mean.

Chalifour struggled to suppress his
consternation. Lady Monique was at his townhouse far too early to
be proper. It was also unseemly for her to call upon him like this,
a single woman without a chaperone.

"This is quite the surprise, Lady Monique,"
Chalifour said.

"I know it is, and I beg you tell anyone who
might inquire about my visit that I came to call upon your sister.
Please instruct your servants to do the same."

Chalifour looked at the grave face before him
and his gut twisted. "Has something happened to Miss Goodwin?"

Monique eyed him with curiosity. "No, not
yet. Though the fact you might even think to ask such a thing is
the reason I am here."

Chalifour was taken aback. "I beg your
pardon?"

"Oh, don't look at me that way! I've watched
the two of you. Both of you think you're hiding your affections for
one another. It's quite obvious to me you're both smitten with each
other."

Chalifour jerked. Were his feelings so
obvious? More importantly, was Monique right about Lucy's feelings
for him?

"Has she confided in you of any such emotions
toward me?" Chalifour tried to ask casually.

"No, point of fact she has not. There are
many things she has not confided in me as of late. But I know her
well, and I’m not blind."

Chalifour might have detected a hint of hurt
in Monique's tone. "So why have you come to see me?"

"If you have any feelings for Lucy at all,
she needs your help, and she needs it immediately." Monique looked
at Chalifour expectantly.

"What is it you think I can do for her?"

"Can I count on your assistance?"

"You haven't told me what you need yet."

Monique sighed. "Very well. I'll tell you
everything I know and trust my intuition is correct." Monique gazed
at him again, and launched into the story."I've discovered some
things I didn't know when we spoke about Lucy that morning in Hyde
Park. Though looking back now, I suspect you engineered that
meeting. Anyway, I now know Lord Perdan has been blackmailing
Lucien Goodwin. You mentioned allegations Lucien had cheated in
some races. I would venture to say Lord Perdan is the sole source
of those accusations. He's been threatening Lucien's reputation
with those scurrilous indictments."

"Go on."

"Lucy had the idea she could race in the Oaks
to win the purse. She thought if she had a large lump sum of money,
she could get Lord Perdan to agree in writing somehow, that Lucien
had committed no wrong doing of any kind. Lucy figured if she
obtained a written acknowledgment from Lord Perdan, she could
prevent him from blackmailing Lucien again."

"That's very naive, but then again, Lucy's
not accustomed to dealing with his sort, is she?"

"Hardly. Well, we both know what happened
after our conversation. You pulled her off her horse at the race
and created a minor scandal. Though you did rescue Lucy's
reputation at dinner the other evening. By the by, thank you for
that."

"You're most welcome."

Monique smiled. "Apparently, when you
escorted Lucy onto the terrace, you told her there were allegations
of cheating against Lord Perdan as well."

"There are. Several as a matter of fact, none
proven yet."

"That was all Lucy needed to hear. She
decided she would attempt to snare him at a gaming hell last night
and it backfired."

"
She what? She went to a gambling
hell
?" Chalifour sputtered.

"We went to a gambling hell. I accompanied
her. She wanted to try and catch Lord Perdan at cheating. She lost
her nerve and the shill she was using ... "

"What! What shill?" Chalifour yelled.

"I'm partly to blame for this part, but
that's beside the point for the moment. Let's get back to what's
important, shall we?" Monique looked at him, brows raised.

Chalifour muttered, "Yes, please
continue."

"The shill, who it was is not salient, was
convinced Lord Perdan was cheating but wasn't able to determine his
method. He tried losing to boost Perdan's confidence. Lucy lost her
nerve when she saw the shill losing money and pulled him from play,
which left him owing a small debt to Lord Perdan. Certainly not the
intended consequence. Lucy now has to figure out how to come up
with money to pay that debt as well. You don't need to worry, I'll
find a way to help her with that."

"So what else has you concerned?"

"We arrived home last night to find a letter
from Lucien."

"What did Lucien have to say?" Chalifour was
curious. Lucien had promised to keep their discussion and his visit
to himself. Had he honored his commitment?

"Lucien mentioned a large number of mares had
arrived. Yours, I presume?"

"Yes, they're mine."

"Lucy hasn't had a chance to talk with
Lucien."

Monique left everything else unsaid. Monique
had probably surmised he already knew Lucy had forged the contract.
She just wasn't going to admit to it in the event he was still
unaware. Chalifour left Monique's statement hanging and looked at
her impassively.

At his silence, Monique continued. "What was
most important in the letter, as far as Lucy is concerned, is that
Perdan visited Lucien."

Chalifour sat up straight. "And?"

"And he's demanded Lucien race in the Derby
Stakes in a few days."