Gamble With Hearts by Hilary Gilman Page A

to see Miss Wrexham alone in any event. He rose after the usual half-hour and took his leave very properly. If he held Charlotte 's hand a fraction longer than was necessary, no one noticed. As for Charlotte , she was so sunk in confusion and misery that she hardly knew what she did.
    If Charlotte was not in the happiest frame of mind, the same could not be said for her young friend, Mr Edridge. He spent the afternoon happily preparing for his first evening in London without his sister's watchful eye upon him. Obviously it behoved him to purchase a new waistcoat for the occasion; and a marvellous confection of flowers, birds, animals and anything else that had occurred to the diseased mind of the manufacturer, it was. His sister regarded this garment with some misgiving when he rather shyly presented himself in the drawing room, but she was a kind woman and forbore to comment. Indeed, she assured her young relative that he had never looked so well.
    Unfortunately, he arrived early for his appointment and was forced to undergo the stares of several of the club's members as he waited in the draughty hallway. Charles was late as was his invariable habit, but when he arrived he seemed genuinely pleased to see his young guest.
    ‘Hallo there, Edridge, not late am I?’ he called airily as he entered accompanied by two equally fashionable young men. ‘Allow me to present Captain Richard Osborne and Lord Vivian Fitzroy. Ricky, Fitz, this is a new friend of mine, Edridge.’
    The gentlemen shook hands and within half an hour they had dispensed with formality and Mr Edridge was begged to address his new friends as Charles, Ricky and Fitz. He then shyly disclosed that his own name was Sebastian, for which they generously forgave him.
    After a long and sustaining repast comprising plump roast pigeons, a ragout of veal, devilled kidneys in red wine, grilled lamb chops, a rib of beef, and a few dozen oysters, they felt sufficiently refreshed to repair to the card room where they were hailed good humouredly by several young bucks. Charles and the Captain took their places at the Faro table, while Edridge and Lord Fitzroy watched, for, as Fitz confided: ‘They p-play d-devilish high and my p-pockets are p-pretty much t-to let 't-till next quarter.’
    To Edridge it was all fascinating, and he would happily have stayed behind Charles' chair all night had he not found himself addressed.
    ‘Well, my young friend, how goes your evening?’ questioned a friendly voice. Edridge turned to find Ruthin at his elbow.
    ‘Oh, it's you, sir!’ he exclaimed. ‘I say, this is beyond anything great. I've been hoping to see you.’
    ‘My dear boy, why?’
    ‘Well, sir, I was hoping I might have your permission to call on you and perhaps—perhaps—’
    ‘Perhaps?''
    ‘Well, I thought that you might not object if I were to offer to—er—to drive Miss Milverly in the Park, if you please, sir!’
    ‘I am sure Amelia would be delighted to accept,’ responded the Marquis, sternly controlling a quivering lip. ‘Shall I convey your kind invitation to her?’
    ‘Would you, sir? I don't know how it is, but when I try to talk to females I get into such a muddle I sound like a regular noddy!’
    ‘I know, my boy,’ replied the Marquis sympathetically. ‘But, believe me, we all have to suffer it. I prophesy that in a few years females will be swooning at your feet as a result of your golden-tongued oratory.’
    ‘Now you are roasting me, sir,’ protested Mr Edridge, laughing.
    ‘Of course. Do you object?’
    As it was clearly impossible to declare to the Marquis that as Miss Milverly's father he was above all criticism, Edridge merely assured him with fervour that he had no objection whatsoever to being roasted. Ruthin then turned his attention to his other young protégé who was still seated at the table, a pile of rouleaux before him. He was a keen gamester but, nevertheless, he managed to indulge in racy conversation while placing his bets