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“Accept your fate with good grace,” another shouted

Matthew pushed out of the chair Wearing a srin, he said, “I shall expect both ency There can be no doubt as to the winners of this game”

A rapturous applause rang out One gentleratulations

“Daame, Chandler”

“We knew you had him after the first few hands”

Matthew placed his hand on his chest “I cannot take all the credit”

“Like all the best fillies, your wife pipped him to the post,” Lord Parson said

“Indeed” Matthew glanced at her The look of admiration in his eyes stole her breath “In this house, it is the queen who reigns supreme”

Chapter 20

The overwhelh Matthew’s veins had sated his hunger for revenge Boden would do one of two things Had he any sense, he would shrink back into the shadows, go about his business never to darken Matthew’s door again Equally, he could rant and rave about the unfairness of it all, swear they’d cheated and a host of other annoying things just to cause trouble

Perhaps he should have thrown Boden and Parker-Brown out onto the street Then again, looking at the lord’s sole ientleht too

One thing was certain Swigging the last of the brandy had dulled the lord’s aggressive nature Abandoned by Parker-Brown, Boden still sat at the card table, drowning his sorrows

Upon entering the ballroo strains of a waltz “Shall we dance, Priscilla? Shall we show these people how perfect we are together”

She glanced at hi with you would be a fitting end to a wonderful night”

They found a space on the floor, and he pulled her into an enify the end of the evening Hours of pleasure still await us”