Free The Courtesan's Wager by Claudia Dain

If there was one thing he knew beyond any other and upon which every gossip in Town agreed, Sophia Dalby was a woman who did not threaten, she acted. What was more, she never forgot a broken vow or a slight and she always, always demanded and achieved restitution.
    “Such an intelligent man,” Sophia said, staring at him with blatant amusement. “Mark that down, Anne. The Duke of Calbourne is pleasantly intelligent. Such an important attribute and quite, quite impossible to put a price upon. But, of course,” she said with a grin, “we shall.”
    He was annoyed and insulted and quite possibly more uncomfortable than he’d been in his entire life, but Calbourne, who did love a good jest above almost all else, found himself smiling with her. What did it matter? Let them make their little list. He was not going to marry, not Amelia, not anyone. What was perhaps of even more importance was that there was nothing Sophia could do to compel him to marry. Absolutely nothing.
    At that thought, Calbourne leaned back in his chair, determined to relax and enjoy himself. Perhaps if he acquitted himself well, he might still find his way into Sophia’s bed.
    “And as you are marking things down, Mrs. Warren,” he said, “please make sure my list includes that I am amiable in the extreme and I never default on a wager.”
    “Yes, your grace,” Mrs. Warren said sweetly.
    “So, my list includes amiability, intelligence, and a man of honor?” he asked.
    “And decisive,” Sophia said, “which has surely been proved. Not only do you value it in others, you display it within yourself. I just knew you were a stellar example of the dukes of England, your grace. Quite stellar.”
    “The dukes?” he said, leaning forward.
    “But of course,” Sophia said, leaning forward as well. It looked slightly challenging. He was entirely certain it was intentional. “You were not aware? Lady Amelia has, and very intelligently, too, made up her mind that only a duke will do for her. Aren’t you so very pleased that you made the first qualification so easily? After all, all you had to do there was to be born of the right father, which, to be honest, is hardly to your credit, is it?”
    And then she laughed, outright and with no restraint at all.
    He decided then that he had no desire to find his way into Sophia’s bed. He was more than certain that if he did, it was doubtful he would ever find his way out again alive.

Seven
    A MELIA was completely aware that the Duke of Calbourne was being swept along by the force and allure of Sophia. That was to be expected. What she hadn’t expected was to be almost completely ignored by the man.
    She was not at all pleased. Not at all .
    Of course, it was true that Sophia had got Calbourne into the room and got him to stay, all very well and perfectly lovely, but now that he was staying it was time for him to pay attention to her . She was an attractive woman with good hair and teeth. She had a dowry. She had an engaging manner. Did none of these lovely things matter anymore?
    But what was she to do? Allow Sophia to walk off with Calbourne thrown over her shoulder? Amelia needed him.
    “I do think,” Amelia said, pleased that Calbourne was at least looking at her, “that . . . that it is quite fine to be the child of a duke. I know that I am very glad that I am a duke’s daughter, and I am not,” she said, wondering what to say now that she had Calbourne’s full attention, “I am not at all certain that I should not be commended for finding myself in that position. Certainly, as the child of a duke, I do think I should be commended at every opportunity.”
    Calbourne looked at her in something approaching wonder, as if a dog had just burst forth with an opinion on estate law, which was the tiniest bit insulting, and then he looked at Sophia, his brows raised, and then he looked back at her. He was grinning. It was very difficult not to preen. She mastered the urge and sat with as much dignity and