Wicked Wager by Mary Gillgannon

stay when I did come to the city. And there are the other investments that would need looking after. I suppose it would be worth my while to agree to this nonsense, especially since I’m quite certain I’ll win. But what about you, James? If I should somehow manage to lose this ridiculous wager, what do you want in exchange?”
    “That’s simple enough. If you come to care for Miss Montgomery, you must forgive her cousin’s debt and release her from any commitment to marry you.”
    “But that’s absurd! If I were to—perish the thought—actually fall in love with her, then there would be no reason for us not to be wed!”
    “Unless she doesn’t want to marry you . It would be her decision then, you see.”
    “I don’t understand, James. What the devil are you up to?”
    “I just want to make things fair for Miss Montgomery. She’s been a helpless pawn in this whole business. I want to make certain she has a say in her future.”
    “Why? Unless you’re in love with her yourself, in which case we have a real problem, as I’m not about to give up Horngate. Even for you!”
    “My motivation isn’t love, but compassion. I feel sorry for Miss Montgomery. She seems like a nice person who’s been used badly by her cousin.”
    Penny winced. While it was touching that James was so concerned for her, she didn’t like being pitied.
    “It’s true you’ve always had compassion for the downtrodden and oppressed. An admirable enough quality but hardly practical. If there’s anything my upbringing’s taught me, it’s that a man has to look out for himself.”
    “Quite true for men, but women don’t always have the same opportunities. I’m merely trying to give Miss Montgomery some say in her life.”
    Both men were silent for a time. Then Revington said, “Before I accept the wager, I want to know how you intend to determine which one of us has won. How, exactly, do you intend to gauge my feelings for Penny?”
    “I presume you’ll be honest and honorable. And even if you do try to lie, I think I’ll be able to discern your true feelings.”
    “Very well. I’ll accept the wager, even if I find the whole matter quite ludicrous. I have no doubt I’ll win.”
    There was another bit of silence when Penny guessed they were shaking hands to seal the agreement. She was on the verge of slipping away when Revington said, “I presume the requirement that I stay in London with her means I must do everything I’ve agreed to already. Take her to see the sights and all that?”
    “Of course. You must continue to escort her to places and circulate in society. Go through all the motions of courting her properly.”
    Revington groaned. “This is going to be a dashedly long month.”
    Penny tiptoed away from the door and made her way up the stairs. Once in the bedchamber, she sank down on the bed, her thoughts spinning. James had offered a way out of her predicament. All she had to do was make Revington fall in love with her. Then, when he asked her to marry him, she could refuse and he’d be bound by his agreement with James to give up Horngate and set her free.
    Was such an outcome possible? The notion of Revington falling in love with her—or with anyone—seemed too nonsensical to contemplate. He was a hardened, cynical gamester, and he’d made his motivations quite clear. He wanted Horngate, and nothing would dissuade him. And his feelings for her were equally clear. He dreaded having to spend a month in her company. Absolutely dreaded it.
    She shook her head, feeling a bit put out by his obvious distaste for her. Of course, she was at least partly responsible for his outlook. But now it was time to change tactics. Instead of scaring him off, she somehow had to induce him to fall in love with her.
    She got up restlessly. If, by some miracle, her plan were successful, then rejecting his offer of marriage would be quite cold and unfeeling. She would have cruelly manipulated him for her own ends.
    On the other