Free Wicked Wager by Mary Gillgannon Page A

well in this. Under the circumstances, the least he could do to buy her a few new things.
    ****
    Was her plan working?Penny couldn’t tell. Although Revington appeared quite irritated at the shop, the look he just shot her wasn’t one of aggravation or distress. Indeed, there’d been a kind of longing in his expression.
    What would she do if she couldn’t dissuade him from marrying her? She might have to consider the possibility. Not only was he clearly a stubborn, determined man, but despite all her efforts, he didn’t seem averse to her company. She should never have had Maggie do her hair. That was a mistake. All these clothes she’d just been fitted for wouldn’t help either. Madame Dubonet obviously knew what she was doing; Penny’s new garments would make her appear as attractive as possible. She should have stuck to her original plan and retained the look of a gauche, disheveled country maiden. Somewhere she’d gotten off track. She’d have to think of a new plan.
    She was so caught up in her thoughts that before she knew it, Revington was helping her down from the phaeton. “By the way,” he said as they started up the brick walkway to the house, “I asked James to find a clergyman to marry us. That way, as soon as your new wardrobe is finished, we can have the wedding and everything will be settled.”
    Penny nodded politely, although the news hardly pleased her. It looks like my wretch of a cousin is going to get his way!
    As soon as they entered the townhouse, Bowes announced, “Mr. Ludingham is waiting in the drawing room.”
    Turning to her, Revington said, “I’m certain you’re tired from shopping. Why don’t you rest until dinner?”
    “Of course.”
    Upstairs, she sat on the bed and tried to sort out her thoughts. Somehow she had to find out more about her future husband and what motivated him. A sudden thought came to her. It was rather audacious, but it seemed like the only way to learn more about Revington.
    After changing from the sensible half-boots she’d worn to go shopping into a worn pair of slippers, she crept down the stairs. She glanced around for Bowes and then made her way to the doorway of the drawing room. From here, she could just barely hear Revington and James’s conversation.
    “As soon as the wedding is over, I’m heading to Horngate,” Revington was saying. “Things looked fairly well kept, but I’d like to make some improvements to the house.”
    “You intend to reside there?” James asked. “What about making a living? The deep players are here in London. Horngate is quite isolated. Even in the village, I doubt you’ll find many men willing to play cards for money. If you do, there’ll not be much for you to win.”
    “I’ve been frugal these last few years. I’ve enough saved up to live on for a while, even if I make some improvements to Horngate. Also, this horse-breeding business might potentially be very lucrative.”
    Penny could barely suppress her gasp of dismay. Bad enough that Revington planned to reside at Horngate, but to learn he wanted to involve himself with the horse business outraged her. Whatever was she to do?
    “Really, Marcus, I never saw you as a country squire. I truly don’t understand what’s got into you. Why would you want to give up your comfortable life here in London to live out in the sticks and raise horses?”
    “My ‘comfortable life’ here in London has gotten quite boring the past few years. The men I spend time with are usually fools like Adrian Withersby, hardly the wittiest or most accomplished members of society.”
    “I see,” James said, sarcastically. “You’re moving to the country because you seek intellectual stimulation. I’m sure you’ll find the horses at Horngate an endless source of intelligent conversation.”
    Penny couldn’t help smiling. Revington’s reasoning did seem rather flawed.
    But his response was crisp and confident. “I’m sure a successful horse-breeding operation requires