Wicked Wager Read Online Free

got potential, just as the house does.” The other man sounded irritated. “But do you really have time for any of this? Shouldn’t you be getting back to London? If you’re gone too long, the deep-pocketed players will find someone else to lose their money to.”
    “Will they? In only a day?” Revington’s voice rang with sarcasm. “Why don’t you stop fighting me, James? It’s no use. You know how stubborn I am.”
    James sighed. “So, I do. But dash it, you’re also usually impatient. Are you really going to sit around here all day waiting for the chit to show herself?”
    “Of course not. We’ll give her a little while longer. If she’s not back before three, we’ll walk down to the stables and fetch her.”
    Penny motioned to Tad that she’d heard enough. They crept back down the hall and out the way they’d come.
    “I, say, what are you going to do now?” Tad’s freckled brow furrowed in concentration. “You could hide from him. Horngate is big enough that you might elude him for a few days.”
    “Hide from him?” Penny shook her head. “I’m mistress here. I won’t sneak around like an errant child avoiding punishment.”
    The groom shook his head. “He’s a greedy bastard. You can hear it in his voice. And stubborn, too. Said so himself. It’s not going to be easy to convince him to give up Horngate.”
    Penny was having the same thoughts, but she refused to give in to them. “It’s far too soon to admit defeat.” She squared her shoulders. “I’m going up to change. The second phase of my scheme is about to begin.”

Chapter Two
    “Given up yet?” James put down his cup and jerked his head toward the clock on the mantel.
    Marcus grimaced and got to his feet. “I suppose I’ll have to fetch her.”
    The next moment, Miss Montgomery entered the room. She was dressed in a hideous green day dress at least ten years out of fashion. It hung on her slender form like a sack. She’d made some attempt to arrange her hair, but it was an inept effort at best. Wisps floated around her face in wild disarray.
    She smiled at them, then hurried to the refreshment table. “Cook makes the best cherry tarts, don’t you think?” She stuffed one into her mouth, juice dribbling down her chin. “And these cucumber sandwiches… Mmmm…divine.”
    As she gobbled down several, Marcus watched in amazement. The chit was more than eccentric. She was downright batty. Or maybe she’d never been taught the manners of a lady. Stuck away in the country, orphaned at a young age, she might have had no one to teach her.
    But Mrs. Foxworthy, the housekeeper, appeared gracious and polite. Odd that a servant would seem more well-bred than her mistress. Was he being gammoned here? Had Withersby convinced his cousin to present herself as an ill-mannered, awkward gapeseed so he would back out of the marriage? But the woman appeared so innocent, those wide blue eyes incapable of deceit.
    She turned from the table, still chewing. “So, when do we leave for London? I can’t wait to see all the sights. The opera, the balls and parties, Almack’s.” She approached him, smiling ingenuously. “And if it’s possible, I would very much like to be presented to the Prince Regent. It’s my fondest wish.”
    For a moment, Marcus couldn’t speak. He cleared his throat. “Miss Montgomery…I—that is, there’s no reason for you to come to London at all. You see, under the circumstances, this marriage is really a business arrangement. While it is necessary that we exchange vows in order for me to…um, take ownership of the property, it really isn’t going to be a marriage in the true sense of the word.”
    Something flashed in her eyes, a hint of pure fury. Then it was gone, her expression as wide-eyed and guileless as ever. “Oh. Adrian didn’t tell me any of that. He made it seem that you…that we…” She looked as if she was going to cry.
    James cleared his throat, and although Marcus refused to look at him,