Regency Wagers by Diane Gaston Page B

Edwin Farley watched the hack start off down the street. He had taken to frequenting a tobacconist on this row, one of the deplorable economies he was forced to make in his constrained financial circumstances. At first he’d noticed the young lady in the lilac and blue with a connoisseur’s appreciation, but when he saw it was Madeleine, he froze. All that beauty, and he’d let her fall into the hands of Devlin Steele. It irritated him beyond belief.
    He’d hoped to recoup from his recent bad luck by playing until Steele owed him a bundle. The Marquess of Heronvale would have redeemed his little brother’s vowels, even if the sum had been large. Everyone knew the older brother doted on the younger one. But Farley had lost instead. If that were not bad enough, he’d impulsively used Madeleine to settle his debt. Damned Steele.
    The hack turned the corner and disappeared from his sight. He resumed his stroll down the pavement. Madeleine had looked quite fetching in that lavender confection. His body stirred merely thinking about her.
    He’d have her back, he vowed. He’d unpeel those layers of clothing from her and bed her like she’d never been bedded before. He’d make her beg for him, make her pant with wanting him. She’d been easy to seduce as a girl. He’d only had to say a few pretty words to her, and she’d been his. He laughed, remembering how easy it had been to entice her to his room that night, her father bursting in at the perfect moment—when she’d been naked on top of him.
    Yes, he’d get her back, he vowed. This time without the child she was stupid enough not to prevent. Perhaps he could make some money on the child. He knew men whose tastes went to ones as young as that. A little beauty like her mother, she would likely sell at a good price.
    What revenge ought he to exact upon Steele? It would give him added pleasure to give that matter some thought.
    Humming and jauntily swinging his walking stick, Farley continued on his way.

Chapter Six
    T he packages from their shopping expedition arrived that afternoon amid much excitement. The wide eyes of little Linette as she opened hers made all the extravagance worthwhile. Sophie, whom Devlin did not expect to break out in raptures, reverently fingered the cloth they had purchased.
    ‘Thank you, my lord,’ Sophie whispered, though she did not meet his eye while saying it.
    ‘You did tolerably well, Dev,’ Bart said, watching Sophie’s every movement.
    ‘Indeed?’ He laughed. ‘I am unused to such high praise from you.’
    ‘The lass is happy. Mind you do not tease her, now.’ Bart shook his finger in warning.
    Devlin tried to stifle his grin. ‘I shall endeavour not to.’
    Madeleine was unusually quiet. She excused herself, saying she wished to unpack her dresses. Thinking of it, Devlin realised she had been just as solemn on the ride back home.
    Linette held the horse up to Devlin, pulling on his trousers as she did so. ‘Horse! Horse!’ she said excitedly. It was inevitable. The horse captured the little girl’s attention and the expensive doll was ignored. Devlin sat down on the floor.
    ‘Shall we build a stable for your horse, Lady Lin?’ He gathered the blocks together and started building.
    ‘Wady Win,’ Linette parroted.
    ‘How much did all this cost, might I ask?’ Bart’s voice was deceptively casual.
    ‘I think you had better not ask,’ Devlin said ruefully. ‘I thought I might pay a visit to my brother tomorrow.’
    Madeleine walked back into the room. ‘You will visit your brother?’
    She did not need to know he intended to ask his brother for a small advance. ‘I promised my sister-in-law, as you recall.’
    ‘Oh.’ She sat on the settee and watched Devlin and Linette build the promised stable with the blocks.
    ‘Would you like me to make tea, Maddy?’ Sophie asked, dropping her fabric back into its box.
    Madeleine popped up. ‘I will do it.’
    ‘You, Maddy?’ Sophie said. ‘It is not