Free The Wager by Raven McAllan Page A

it, and you cannot make me. Slavery may still be
practiced, but you will not make me part of that abhorrent practice. To put me
in the betting book for all to see and laugh over, I despair. That shows what
little respect you both have for me, I must say. As I
reiterate, written and witnessed or not, it is not legal. You may call
on Lord Fredericks and tell him so."
    He shook his head, and rolled his shoulders. The
look of abject desolation on his face sent slivers of fear down her body. Like
shards of glass they struck her, and crept up her spine. Catherine realized
fear had a taste. She swallowed convulsively. "You must."
    "I can't, the wager was couched in such
terms that only he and I know the exact terms. Caty ,
believe me I never thought it would come to this." Jermyn put his hand on
her arm. Impatiently she shrugged it off. The thought of him touching her was
enough for her to itch to use her hands in lieu of another convenient book, and
throw the next punch, this time connecting with somewhere more vulnerable.
    Catherine sighed. She may as well know the all.
    "So, elucidate. Pray, how did you think it
would not come to this? You gambled, you lost. There
is always the chance of that."
    His voice was quiet, and full of shame.
"Not if you cheat."
    It got worse and worse. She stared at him until
he began to fidget. He looked anywhere except at her, unable it seemed to meet
her eyes. Eventually Catherine spoke, taking no care to keep her hurt and
disappointment out of her voice.
    "A Charles? Cheating? Oh Jermyn, what are you? Like father
like son?"
    "Oh no, never that. I was desperate, annoyed and goaded,"
Jermyn replied. He kicked the fire irons and they rattled together. The
discordant noise made Catherine's teeth go on edge, and she winced.   Jermyn noticed, and it seemed he mistook her
shudder. "Hellfire Caty , Brook Fredericks pushed
me."
    Catherine rolled her eyes. Would he ever take
responsibility for his actions?
    "So, you should now be mature enough not to
be pushed, Jermyn. And in this case you will have to climb out of the hole you
are in without my help. Short of kidnapping me, I will not be party to
this...this stupidity. You may tell my lord Fredericks so with my
compliments." Damn, I want him with
every fiber of my being, but not like this. I want him to come to me willingly, demand I go to him, and
love me until I know not who I am. Would he ever forgive her?
      "And
if you were thinking of kidnapping
me, remember I am a better shot than you, and I will inform Mr. Baines the
solicitor of any likely occurrences in a sealed letter to be opened if I
disappear. Furthermore, as this idiocy is in the betting book, you can be sure
my disappearance would not go unnoticed." She sat down and picked up her
novel again. She could only hope her agitation and rapid pulse did not show to
him.
    The only noise in the room was the steady
ticking of the clock.   A harsh grating
sound, as one coal slipped against another made her jump. My nerves are shot and it is no wonder. Brook
Fredericks has chosen a perfect way to retaliate to my actions, but for Jermyn
to cheat? That is beyond the pale. It is a wonder he was not
blackballed.
    "How did Brook realize you cheated?"
she asked. As much as she couldn't condone it, she was interested in the manner
of how Jermyn was unveiled.
    Jermyn shrugged his shoulders. "He never
said. Indeed I know not if he had realized. I was just outplayed by an
expert."
    "Did he cheat?"
    "No, I think not. Why should he? He had no
need. I was outgunned, outmaneuvered and outplayed. It was a salutary
lesson."
    And one
I am involved in, I think not.
    "So now you need tell him to choose another
prize, I will not, as I said, be a party to this, and if need be it can be
stated so in your horrid book. I will not be seen to be sold."
    "That's the thing Caty ,
he worded it very cleverly." For the first time Jermyn looked wretched. To
her annoyance, that demeanor didn't last long. His natural arrogance