“Double?”
Henry stared at his friend as Lord Stoneleigh nodded.
“Yes, that is precisely what I am saying. He has given you double. The man has been very foolish indeed.” Trying to catch his breath, Henry squeezed his eyes closed, shock running like ice through his veins. “Read it!”
Opening his eyes, Henry stared at the paper, still struggling to fully believe what Lord Stoneleigh had said. This was more than he had ever expected. Lord Stoneleigh was grinning at him as Henry shook his head, staring down at the amount that Lord Warrington had written on the document. It could not be retracted. Henry had warned him of that, and thus, this vast amount now belonged to Henry himself.
“He… he has given me back more than he stole from me.”
“It appears so. A good deal more!”
Henry shook his head.
“I can hardly believe this. It is extraordinary!”
“But it is just as you deserve,” his friend replied as Henry frowned. “After what you have endured, this is perfectly fair.”
Taking a deep breath, Henry folded up the document carefully and then looked his friend straight in the eye.
“Thank you, Stoneleigh.”
“For what?”
“Thank you for all of your support, and all of your aid. I do not think that I would have been able to achieve this without you.”
Waving a hand, Lord Stoneleigh shrugged.
“But of course.”
“And as for this vast fortune I now possess, I have an idea for what I will do with the surplus.” Tilting his head, Henry grinned at his friend. “I will speak to Colbridge. There is no better gentleman than that young man – and with no guarantee that his uncle will leave him enough to even live on, when the time comes for him to take on the title, this is the least that I can do.”
Lord Stoneleigh grinned.
“An excellent decision!” Clapping Henry on the shoulder, he put out one hand towards the door. “Come now. Let us go and find ourselves something to drink. We have a good deal to celebrate!”
Chapter Fourteen
“You have stolen from me!”
The loud shout caught Emma’s attention, and she whirled around, ignoring the grasping hand of her mother. The evening had been entirely successful, and she was just about to take her leave of Lord Stoneleigh’s townhouse when that shout rent the room.
She did not hesitate, but hurried back towards the drawing room, coming to stand just behind a few gentlemen and ladies who were now all staring at Lord Warrington. He was pointing at Lord Thornbridge, his whole body shaking furiously, his eyes wide, his face no longer bloodshot but rather pale. This was, Emma realized, that moment that Lord Warrington had understood exactly what he had done. The shock must be very great indeed.
“I have done no such thing.” Lord Thornbridge’s voice was clear as he took a small step forward, willing to speak openly so that the crowd would have no doubt of his innocence. “There were many gentlemen present at the table. All of them can state clearly that I offered you many opportunities to end the game, but thatyouchose not to. You persisted and now I own a great deal of your fortune.”
“That is all mine! You will not get it from me.”
Lord Thornbridge shook his head.
“I am afraid that it is not so, Lord Warrington. The deed is done.”
Lord Warrington licked his lips, baring his teeth as his hand balled into a fist, waving it threateningly towards Lord Thornbridge, who did not so much as blink.
“I claim that fortune.” Lord Warrington’s voice was low, his eyes now narrowed slits. “You cannot steal it from me.”
“I did not steal it from you.” Lord Thornbridge lifted his chin slightly. “Iam not that sort of gentleman.”
“You cannot deceive me.”
