Free To Sin With A Stranger by Kathryn Caskie

had said. It had been only two days since the bet was made, and the full amount had been met by an astounding number of White’s members. “We cannot allow that. Not when the potential of this wager is great. We’ve got to put up more.”
    Grant turned to face Sterling. “But we haven’t got more. Due to your wish to remain anonymous, White’s required us to hold the entire amount of the bet in escrow.”
    “We have a bit more.”
    “Living expenses, that is all. We need our mutton…and whisky.” Grant narrowed his gaze. “Och, I see that glint in your eyes. We cannot do it. Our sisters will use our heads for stew meat if we wager our last few bob.”
    “Now, hear me out, Grant. The wager is extraordinarily popular…both sides of the coin, it seems. Everyone is talking about it, and about White’s.”
    Grant nodded. “There wasna an empty seat at the club. Barely any room to stand. Even more extraordinary are the number of contrary wagers showing up in the book—bets that you will
not
marry Miss Carington by Season’s end.”
    “So what if we petition White’s, through our proxy, to double the anonymous bettor’s exposure without requiring an additional ten thousand pounds to be held in escrow?”
    The day was fine and the windows of the coach were open as the hackney rolled slowly up Piccadilly Street. Ladies and gentlemen, taking advantage of the sunny day to stroll and shop the length of the street, stopped to stare when the Sinclairs’ cab passed them by.
    Grant slumped back against the cracked leather squabs, trying to move out of sight. “Gads, they’re pointing.”
    Sterling smiled out the window and nodded his head in greeting at anyone who noticed him.
    “Och, cease at once, Sterling.” Embarrassed, Grant covered his eyes with his hand. “Who do you think you are, the bluidy Prince Regent?”
    “Just trying to stir up a little more interest in the wager.”
    Grant dropped his hand from his eyes and grabbed Sterling’s shoulder, crumpling the clean slope of his coat. “We cannot ask to double the wager. What if we lose? What if you can’t win Miss Carington’s favor? Have you thought of that?”
    “Nay. Because I will not fail. I saw the way Miss Carington looked at me. She may pretend to despise me, but in truth, I think she fancies me.” Sterling wickedly blew a kiss to two young misses walking behind their chaperone, sending them into a fit of blushes and giggles. “And I ask you, Grant, what miss, especially one slightly older than what is considered in London to be in her marriageable prime, would refuse the troth of a handsome man who will one day become Duke of Sinclair?”
    “Maybe one who is daft enough to step between two massive pugilists in the middle of a battle.” Grant raised his dark eyebrows at Sterling. And he wasn’t jesting.
    “She is passionate about her charity, and I always have been attracted to women with great
passion
.” He flicked his left eyebrow to clarify his double meaning.
    “Aye, but remember that this woman’s passion is giving away money.” Grant lowered one eyebrow, but left the other high and questioning. “If you lose this wager, you and she will have a lot in common, eh?”
    Sterling glanced out the window again. His smile dissolved. “I will not let that happen, Grant. Ivy told me this morn that Miss Carington will be in attendance at the Partridge ball. I plan to be there as well…ready to do whatever I must to win.”
    “Well then.” Grant sighed amusedly. “I would not miss this particular ball for all the whisky in Scotland.”
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Chapter 6
Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.
    Thoreau

    [_Partridge House _
Hanover Square
    At the exact moment the Whitebeard carriage turned onto George Street, Hanover Square still some distance ahead, Isobel realized that the Partridge spring ball was not the annual