Free To Catch a Countess by Patricia Grasso

gave the earl a long look and then reached into his trouser pocket. He produced a one pound note. “Who is holding the bets?”
    Rudolf lifted the note out of the older man’s hand. “I will hold all bets.”
    Tinker glanced at the earl and then told the prince, “I’ll wager one pound on Lady Victoria.”
    The men howled with laughter and began reaching for money. Alexander felt better when the other gentlemen wagered on him.
    “I thank all of you for contributing to my retirement fund,” Tinker drawled, leaving the game room.
    Billiards play resumed.
    The majordomo returned five minutes later, calling, “Lord Emerson?”
    “Could you possibly wait until my shot is complete before you call my name,” Alexander said.
    “I’m terribly sorry,” Tinker apologized, wearing an unrepentant expression. “Lady Victoria wants to know if you are planning to starve her into submission.”
    “That sounds like an interesting idea,” Alexander said, making the men smile. “Tell Lady Victoria she will be eating with the children until she grows up.”
    Watching the majordomo hurry away, Alexander decided that when Victoria’s emotional maturity caught up with her body, she would be magnificent. And she would belong to him.
    Tinker returned five minutes later. The men chuckled when he walked into the room. The majordomo headed across the room to Prince Rudolf instead of the earl.
    “Your Highness, Lady Victoria has no money but wishes to place a one pound bet on the outcome of this conflict,” Tinker told him. “In the unlikely event that she loses, her exceedingly wealthy fiancé will cover her loss.”
    “The hell I will,” Alexander called out, laughing.
    “Tell the lady we deal only in ready cash,” Prince Rudolf instructed the majordomo.
    “The lady will not be pleased,” Tinker said.
    Next, the majordomo approached the earl. Alexander was already smiling in anticipation of the message from his betrothed. “Lady Victoria said it’s customary for the bride and the groom to sit together at the wedding breakfast,” Tinker said. “She wondered if you will be joining her at the children’s table.”
    Alexander shouted with laughter, as did the other men. His betrothed was proving entertaining and sharp-witted.
    “I may grant her a furlough for that one meal,” he told the majordomo.
    Instead of leaving the game room, Tinker turned to Robert and said, “Lady Victoria asked me to remind you that a marquess outranks an earl. Would you consider granting her permission to leave her chamber?”
    “No.”
    “What a conniving minx,” Alexander said, laughing.
    “A prince outranks a mere marquess and an earl,” Tinker said to Rudolf. “Would you consider—?”
    “Today is my day off,” the prince interrupted. “I never do any considering on my day off.”
    “Your Highnesses?” Tinker asked, turning to Rudolf’s younger brothers.
    All three choked with laughter and ignored him.
    “I will relay your messages,” Tinker said, and left the room.
    Play resumed. Alexander chalked the tip of his cue and lined up his shot.
    “Lord Emerson,” Tinker called, returning to the room.
    “What is it this time?” Alexander asked, irritated at missing his shot
    “Lady Victoria requires your presence upstairs,” Tinker told him. “She wants to apologize again.”
    Alexander raised his brows at the majordomo and then smirked at his future brothers-in-law. “Tell her I’ll come when I’m free.”
    “Lady Victoria instructed me to tell you that she hasn’t long to live,” Tinker replied. “If you delay, she will have expired.”
    Alexander grinned. “What is her malady?”
    “The lady is bored to death,” Tinker said, unable to suppress his smile.
    “Tell her I’ll mourn her passing.”
    The other men smiled when the majordomo left the room. Prince Rudolf and Robert Campbell, the only married men there, nodded their approval for the earl’s response.
    “Victoria wanting to apologize means you have