CHAPTER ONE
1860“You will take that back at once, de Lamerie!”
The Earl of Wentworth glowered across the green card table as he slammed down his glass of brandy on the rosewood surface.
The Frenchman stayed impassive. He was a proud scion of ancient noble Huguenot blood whose family had not escaped the tyranny of a Catholic France to be dictated to by a mere English Lord.
He merely shrugged his shoulders in an irritating fashion and pursed his lips.
“I will not – it is very clear to me that these cards are marked,” he answered sardonically.
The Earl’s handsome face grew crimson under his black hair and his dark eyes flashed dangerously.
On the other side of the table, his best friend, Sir Thomas Babbington set down his cards and spoke softly,
“Come now, Wentworth. There has obvious
