Читать книгу Marrying Captain Jack - Anne Herries, Anne Herries - Страница 9

David Middleton walked into his club, glancing round at the company gathered there for an evening of cards and pleasure. Seeing a gentleman he disliked, he hesitated, wondering whether to leave. Sir Frederick Collingwood came from a good family, but he was an unprincipled rogue who would be banned from decent society if David had his way. The man needed to be taught a severe lesson if the rumours were true. However, there was little he could do about it while Collingwood continued to be accepted by others.

‘Middleton! Come and join us,’ a man called, attracting his attention.

David Middleton frowned. Sir Henry James was a friend. He had won two thousand guineas from him a few days previously and could hardly ignore his invitation, for he must give him a chance to recoup. It meant that he would have to sit down with Collingwood, which he would have preferred not to do, but in the circumstances he had no choice but to accept. He walked towards the small group of gentlemen seated at the table. He would play a few hands and then make some excuse to leave.

Reaching the others, he pulled out a chair and sat down. Collingwood nodded and began dealing the cards, someone mentioned the stakes of a hundred guineas a hand. David reached for his cards.

‘You wear an unusual ring, Middleton,’ Collingwood said. ‘You would not care to hazard it against the cards?’

‘No, I should not. It was a gift…’ Despite himself, he could not keep the emotion from his voice, and, looking up, saw that Collingwood’s eyes were upon him, intent, mocking—as if he had already known.

‘From a lady, I dare say?’

‘That is my business.’

‘So she is married,’ Collingwood sneered. ‘I dare say one might hazard a guess…’

‘Damn you, sir! I will hear no more of this.’ David pushed back his chair, on the point of leaving.

‘Sit down, Middleton,’ Sir Henry said. ‘You can’t leave now, the cards are dealt. Collingwood meant nothing. It was merely a jest.’

For a moment David glanced across the table, meeting Collingwood’s eyes. Some inner instinct warned him to get up and walk away immediately, but his friend was speaking again, telling him that he was glad of the chance to recoup his losses, and David knew it was too late. He must play, even though a sixth sense was warning him that he had been drawn into the spider’s web.