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Chapter 1

LONDON 1890

He doesn’t have the ace

Daniel Mackenzie held four eights, and he’d backed that fact with large stacks of money

He faced Mortimer, as ten years older and had a face like a weasel Morti wo his straight Daniel knew better

The other gentle hell called the Nines had already folded in Fenton Mortiered to see the battle of wits between twenty-five-year-old Daniel Mackenzie and Morti in the air that any consumptive who’d dared walk in the door would have fallen dead on the spot

The game of choice at this hell hist, but Mortia stint in that country Morti Mayfair aristos of thousands of pounds And still they caentle out one by one until only Daniel and Mortimer remained

Daniel kept his cards facedown on the table so the nosy club fodder wouldn’t telegraph his hand to Mortiathered up more of his paper bills and dropped them in front of his cards “See you, and raise two hundred”

Mortireen but slid money opposite Daniel’s

“Raise you again,” Daniel said He picked up another pile of notes and laid them on the already substantial stack “Can you cover?”

“I can” Morti he wouldn’t have to

“Sure about that?”

Morti, Mackenzie? If you’d like to question my honor in a private room, I will be happy to answer”

Daniel refrained froar from the holder beside him and sucked sot?”

“Show yours first”

Daniel picked up his cards and flipped thehts, one ace

The roan, the lady dealer smiled at Daniel, and Mortimer went chalk white

“Bloody hell I didn’t think you had it” Mortimer’s own cards fell faceup—a ten, jack, queen, seven, and three

Daniel raked in his money and winked at the dealer She really was lovely “You can write me a vowel for the rest,” he said to Mortimer

Mortimer wet his lips “Now, Mackenzie”

He couldn’t cover What idiot wagered the last of his cash when he didn’t have a winning hand? Mortio and walked away

But no, Morti part of the ga Scotsht in a kilt

A hard-faced uessed that said ruffian had given Morti for someone who had The man wasn’t pleased Mortimer had just lost it all

Daniel rose from the table “Never mind,” he said “Keep what you owe ood play”