“I asked what your plan is. The way I see it, you have a challenge ahead of you. The young lady does not seem as though she can manage on her own.”
“Do not speak about her like that. I guarantee you that she will do just fine,” Aaron added with confidence, although he didn’t really feel it.
“You must hope she does, otherwise you’ll lose your bet,” Marius warned.
“Does she know you placed a wager on her—” Henry started but then snapped his lips shut as something, or rather someone, caught his eye.
Aaron frowned, turning around to see what the Earl was looking at when?—
“A wager? You placed a wager on me?” Judith snapped, and he inhaled sharply, catching a whiff of assorted sweet perfumes.
“Judith…”
“Indeed,” she replied, her lips twitching with displeasure.
“You look lovely.”
And she did. Clad in a mauve-colored gown that was cinched underneath her bust, she was a vision. The dress flattered her curvaceous figure, her hair pinned up with a silver band running through it.
He noted she had minimal makeup, her eyelids a hint of color reflecting the hue of her dress and her lips a pinkish red. She was a vision, there was no denying it. However, the fire in her eyes did not add to her allure.
“He is in trouble,” Henry intoned and winked at her. “I do wish you the best of luck. Not too much,” he said, then walked away.
Marius joined him, leaving Judith alone with Aaron. Her maid, Marianne, stood a few steps behind her, awkwardly staring at the ground.
“Did you place a wager on whether you could find me a husband?” Judith asked.
Aaron wanted to deny it, but that would’ve been a lie. “I did not mean to.”
“So, you accidentally placed a wager on me and my marital prospects?”
Why must she challenge me at every turn?
“Well, if it makes any difference, I wagered that I can find you a husband and that you will be betrothed before your brother returns. So that should give you confidence in… my confidence.”
He rubbed his temple. What was wrong with him? Confidence in his confidence? What did that even mean? Sometimes being around her seemed to jumble up his brain.
“I should’ve known,” she hissed. “Everything is a game to you. Everything. Well, I will tell you, this is my life, not some frivolous sport that you can place wagers on.” She paused. “How much did you wager?”
He gulped, surprised by the sudden change in her demeanor. “I…”
“Well? I should know how much my happiness is worth,” she pressed sharply.
Unable to come up with a smart response, he told her the truth, and she nodded.
“Not too shabby. Well, I shall forgive you, but only if you give me half.”
This totally shocked him, and he staggered backward two steps. “Half?”
“You are lucky. I’m not demanding all, since it depends on me whether you win or lose a tidy sum.”
“What would you do with it?” he asked, although he should be happy that demanding half of his wager was all she was asking for. She could’ve just turned around and gone home instead.
“I will do as I please. Perhaps I will buy a new gown. I will take my friends to Brighton for a weekend. I hear the boiler room is marvelous. Didn’t you tell me yesterday that I should live my life?”
“Touché, Lady Judith, touché. Very well. I agree. Half shall be yours.”
She glanced at his friends, and he realized that it must’ve been a blow to her confidence to find out that other gentlemen had wagered against her. He was about to comfort her when she looked at him with a shrug.
