Jane Feather - [V Series] Read Online Free PDF Page A

guts of warfare.
    “I’m certain you’ll have your chance soon enough,” Judith said. “As I understand it, Wellington’s only waiting for Napoleon to make his approach and then he’ll attack before he’s properly in position.”
    “But I don’t understand why we can’t just go out and meet him. He’s already left Paris,” Charlie complained in an undertone, glancing around to make sure none of his fellow officers in their brilliant regimentals could overhear a possibly disloyal comment. “Why do we have to wait for him to come close?”
    “I imagine it would be rather cumbersome to move 214,000 men at this stage in order to intercept him,” Judith said. “They’re strung out from Mons to Brussels, and Charleroi to Liege, as I understand it.”
    “You sound just like Marcus,” Charlie observed again. “It seems very poor-spirited to me.”
    Judith laughed and took the opportunity to return the conversation to its original topic, one that interested her rather more. “So your cousin doesn’t care for balls and assemblies. It’s perhaps fortunate he doesn’t have a wife in that case.” She said it casually, with another light laugh.
    “Oh, Marcus is not overfond of ladies’ company in the general run of things.”
    “Why not?”
    Charlie frowned. “I think it may have something todo with an old engagement. But I don’t fully understand the reasons. He has women … other sorts of women … I mean …” He stammered to a halt, his face fiery in the candlelight.
    “I know exactly what you mean,” she said, patting his arm. “There’s no reason to be embarrassed with me, Charlie.”
    “But I shouldn’t have mentioned such a thing in front of a lady,” he said, still blushing. “Only I feel so comfortable with you …”
    “Like an older sister,” Judith said, smiling.
    “Oh, no … no, of course not … how could I …” Again he fell silent and Judith could almost hear the recognition of what she’d said falling into place like the tumblers of a lock. She chuckled to herself. Charlie was well on the way to curing himself of his infatuation without the heavy-handed intervention of an overanxious guardian. Not that she was about to inform the most honorable marquis of that fact.… Not that he was around to be informed, anyway.
    Marcus put in an appearance as the clock struck midnight. He could see no sign of his ward or Miss Davenport, although the world seemed gathered in the Bridges’ salons. After greeting his hostess he strolled into the card room. The faro table was crowded, the atmosphere lively and good humored. Sebastian Davenport was a steady winner. The marquis stood watching the table intently. There was nothing amiss with the way the man was playing. He certainly had luck on his side, but there was something else. Some innate ability to make judgments on the odds. He examined Sebastian’s face. It was quite impassive while he was making his bet, then the minute he’d declared, tossing his rouleaux onto the table, he was as relaxed and lighthearted as ever. A true gamester, Marcus thought. It took a combination ofbrains and nerve, and Sebastian Davenport had both. Marcus didn’t think his sister lacked those qualities either, although he hadn’t yet observed her play.
    Unprincipled adventurers, the pair of them, he decided. But he could see no reason at this point to expose them. Only the greedy and the foolish fell victim to hardened gamesters, and they got what they deserved. He would take steps to protect Charlie himself.
    “Davenport … a game of piquet?”
    The suggestion surprised Sebastian. He looked up at the marquis, remembering Judith’s encounter the previous evening. But the suggestion was seemingly innocuous and piquet was Sebastian’s game. “Why, certainly,” he said cheerfully. “A hundred guineas a point?”
    Marcus swallowed this without a blink. “Whatever you say.”
    Sebastian settled with the faro table and rose. The marquis was