A Rose Between the Thornes Read Online Free Page B

you.” He laughed as her eyes widened. “At cards, in the first instance, or all bets are off. What say you?”
    Sophia looked at each of them in turn. Her heart leaped with the thought of what his statement meant. She could see no catch, but felt certain there must be one. Slowly, after the silence grew so long and she saw them glance uneasily at each other, she nodded.
    “No man beats me in any other way, and if I can help it, not at cards either.” She smiled. “Gentlemen, let us play.”
    They played. At first Sophia was satisfied with her game. The scores were even, no one person played to a greater degree than the others. Then slowly she saw her score falling behind. She became suspicious. Sophia had no false modesty, she knew she played cards well. Her mind was well suited to the intricacies of the game. However, now she wondered; just who was cheating and how.
    ***
    Nat was not surprised at the way she played cards—in the manner he assumed she would make love: with total concentration. And she was good, very, very, good. He hoped it bode well for their future entanglements.
    With that silent communication only twins understood, he flicked a nail over the edge of his card. Time to win.
    Slowly, carefully he helped his sibling, as they both inched ahead. Nothing obvious, nothing to arouse her suspicion, although he knew Jasper was playing as illegally as he. Nor by too many games, for in no manner did either one of them want to startle her. If they caused her to renege, they would have no recourse to endeavor she paid her dues. Not with a wager such as they had made. Nevertheless, cheat they did, just enough to ensure interesting interludes to come.
    He glanced at an elaborate timepiece on a nearby mantle.
    “Our hour is up,” he observed, trying to keep satisfaction out of his voice. “What is the score, Jas?”
    Jasper glanced at him, and then at Sophia, sitting between them, lips pursed.
    “My lady, you owe us twenty nights, where we choose our delights. As and when we desire. You agree to this?”
    Nathaniel looked at her pale face. Her eyes glittered with suppressed emotion. He could only hope it was passion, not temper. He waited. What would she say?
    It seemed an age, as she slowly looked from one to the other, before nodding. “I do not fail to honor my bets, gentlemen.” She stood up, all dignity. “Even though I doubt the validity of your win. Now, I will leave you, and trust you will inform me of when and how I pay my dues?”
    Both men rose and bowed.
    “Of a surety, my lady,” Nat replied. “We will inform you in due course. And may I say?” He kissed her hand. “How much we enjoyed playing with you, and will do so in other ways, I am certain.”
    Sophia snorted, there was no other word for it. “Toyed with me more like. However a bet is a bet. And I assume there will be no cheating with my payment?”
    Jasper burst out laughing, ensuring some disapproving looks from the matriarchs playing whist on a nearby table.
    “Never, on our oath.”
    “Hmm, do I trust your oath? It seems I must. I bid you good night, gentlemen.” She curtsied and walked away, dignity in every step. No one would have known from her demeanor she had wagered her body and lost.
    Nat looked at his brother. “Plot and plan? And play cards for more than penny stakes?”
    Jasper nodded. “Mrs. Carstairs’?”
    “Mrs. Carstairs’ it is, but for cards only. No cunts, not now. We need to keep our cocks in our breeches. Conserve our cum until we spill in the lovely Lady Rose.”
    Nat laughed. “So true. Now, I feel we need to make our farewells to Mama and begin.”
    They did. In a manner guaranteed to make their opponents curse and mutter under their breaths. Several hours later, slightly bosky, and several hundreds of pounds richer each, they made their unsteady way along Pall Mall.
    “So, we are decided?” Nat asked. He carefully swerved around the watch, a stray dog, and a lamppost. It had been many a week since