Gambling on a Scoundrel by Sheridan Jeane Read Free Book Online Page A

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    Tempy found a safe place to stand near the growing piles of bags and boxes, and she peered at the ship, scanning the deck for Ernest, but saw no sign of him. Of course, there were so many men on board wearing black frock coats and stovepipe hats that it would be difficult to spot him, even with his bright blond shock of hair. Even such distinctive hair wouldn't be of much use in identifying him while he wore a black hat.
    As Tempy picked her way through the piles of luggage, she congratulated herself on how prudent she'd been in deciding to find Ernest here. She could spot him as he walked in a line down the gangplank and then track his progress as he led the porters to his bags.
    Tempy's stomach growled again, and a woman standing nearby glanced at her, showing surprise when she realized that Tempy had produced the noise. The woman blushed and said, "It's a lovely day, isn't it?"
    Lovely day? Tempy glanced up in surprise. The bright blue sky was dotted by fast-moving clouds, and the temperature was rather pleasant. She nodded at the woman. "Yes, quite." Such a beautiful day seemed to suggest that good things would happen today, and Tempy's spirits lifted.
    The woman turned back to her examination of the ship. After a moment, she tut-tutted. "Will you look at that. Young people these days. That pair should be ashamed of themselves. Why, he's holding her much too closely. If she were my daughter, I'd box her ears, I would."
    Tempy couldn't see the couple in question since a loose strand of her hair was covering her eyes. "What makes you think they aren't married?" she asked. After tucking that errant lock back in place, Tempy glanced up at the ship again. She quickly located a man with his arm encircling a woman's waist. Their backs were to her, but based on their closeness and the way the man's hand lingered low on the woman's back, the two seemed quite enamored of one another.
    "Why, because she's wearing such pale colors. She must be unmarried."
    That made sense. Once married, a myriad of colors became available for women to wear, and most eschewed the pastels they'd been required to wear as debutantes. Tempy glanced down at her own pale green dress trimmed with forest green piping. If Ernest went through with his plan to marry his Venus, she'd be obliged to wear these pale colors for quite a long time.
    "The vicar says there should be enough space between two people for you to pass a glass of red wine between them without spilling a drop. Well, these two would never pass that test, I'll tell you that."
    The woman they were discussing turned her head to the side, providing Tempy with a clear view of her lovely face. She was quite stunning, and quite unlike most English beauties. She had full lips, dark, wavy hair, and large brown eyes. There was something about the woman that was both lush and mysterious. Tempy glanced at the man accompanying her. His face was still obscured.
    But it didn't matter. Tempy would recognize him even if he wore a canvas bag over his head.
    It was Ernest.
    When the temptress--the Venus , she corrected herself--shifted her head and revealed Ernest's face, his besotted expression caused Tempy to gasp.
    "Oh my, isn't she beautiful?" The busybody's voice now oozed treacle as her former disapproval vanished like a shadow at noon. "They must be newlyweds. See how in love they are?"
    Tempy didn't want to look...couldn't bear to look. She had to get away. This had been a horrible plan.
    A cab. She needed to find a cab.
    As Tempy prepared to escape, she took a quick step backwards and banged her heel hard against something quite solid. Her upper body kept moving while her feet remained locked in place, forcing her to lose her balance, and her momentum caused her to topple over backwards.
    With horror, Tempy saw her frothy white petticoats billowing up as she went sailing over a trunk. With a hollow thump, the back of her head made contact with the wooden dock.
    And then there was