Knaves' Wager by Loretta Chase Read Free Book Online

one way or another."
    She must know she could not win, yet her features betrayed no hint of distress or alarm. In spite of himself, Lord Brandon had to admire her sang-froid , even as he acknowledged his own uneasiness. It was, after all, preferable that Robert know nothing of his family's machinations. The young man was stubborn and, as Elise had reminded, impetuous.
    "It seems we are at point non plus ," she said after a short, tense silence. "Yet how sordid we are, to goad and threaten each other. From you I had expected better. Of all I had heard, never once was it said Lord Brandon bullied women. What sport do you find in that?"
    The marquess glanced at her calculating face.
    "No sport at all, I agree." he said cautiously. "The matter is so absurdly simple it is a wonder I have kept awake throughout."
    "Naturally. You are more accustomed to using guile. This requires neither wit nor daring. There is no difficulty, no challenge. I am an unworthy adversary. I cannot fight you on equal terms," she said. "I am not even your social equal."
    Lord Brandon's expression softened slightly. "If you were, my dear, we should not be having this discussion."
    "Thus I am left with no chance to better myself — not even to make my future secure. You will have these letters in the end, and I do not doubt you will soon drive Robert from me as well. You have not the courtesy," she added, her voice dropping, "to fight me fairly."
    "You yourself admit the match is unequal. What would you have?" he asked. Though his tone was lazy, Lord Brandon was fully alert.
    "A champion," she said. "I ask the right to choose a champion to fight on my behalf. Not Robert," she added quickly, before he could express his disappointment. "A woman. One who is your social equal. One strong enough to defy you, which I dare not."
    "A champion, is it? You wish another woman — a lady, I take it — to wear your… er, favour? That bears at least the distinction of novelty. Pray elucidate." He raised the wineglass to his lips.
    "Madame Davenant," she said.
    He put the glass down.
    "It is simple enough. Seduce her and I set Robin free as you and all your noble family wish. Fail, and you set me free — absolutely. You and all of them must cease to trouble me."
    Lord Brandon gazed consideringly at her for a long moment. Then he laughed and said, "Elise, you are a wicked woman."
    There are many wicked women," she answered with a shrug. "But I am intelligent."
    "That I readily admit. I had suspected so before. Now I am assured of it. You must know the challenge is irresistible."
    "I took care to make it so. I am not blind. I have watched how you change when you see her. The ennui leaves you. You are tense, like the hound when he scents the fox. You want her. That, any woman of my" — she paused briefly — " profession would know. But you will not have her, I think. Not this one, my handsome, powerful lord."
    "Naturally you believe so. You would not have proposed this otherwise."
    She smiled. "We understand each other, then. Do you accept the challenge?"
    Lord Brandon's reflections consumed approximately thirty seconds. Since he had not particularly cared in the first place what absurdity Robert committed, Robert's future and his family's distress were a minor consideration. Besides, they would be distressed only if Brandon failed, which was inconceivable.
    In the second place, the marquess had fully intended to seduce Mrs. Davenant. That, after all, was why he had come to Town instead of boarding the first sailing vessel bound for the Continent. Elise's challenge only added piquancy to the pursuit, made it a bit different — yes, more exciting, perhaps — than usual.
    I accept," he said.

    Lord Brandon was granted eight weeks in which to effect Mrs. Davenant's fall from virtue. This was an absurdly generous amount of time. Elise, however, had laughingly maintained she might grant him an eternity and the result would be the same. Her patent belief in the task's