Hold on to your Dreams by Beryl Matthews Page B

walked towards the front door. Gertrude was going to dislike him even more after this, but he had never stood a chance of winning her, so he would ignore her scorn. Gambling was a regular activity in the army and what the men did with their money was up to them, but he’d never tolerated cheating, and he wouldn’t now!
    Fortunately, Sutton Melrose was alone and Alex was immediately shown into the library. He was shocked by the man’s appearance. Some of the bruises were still visible. He had aged ten years and Alex wanted to lift some of the burden if he could. And that wasn’t just because of the feelings he had for the daughter; he liked and respected her parents. The fact that their son was putting them through this made him angry.
    After the usual greetings were made, Alex wasted no time in setting out his proposal, making sure it was presented as a business venture on his part. He knew this was the only way Melrose would agree to the transaction.
    An hour later he was with his bankers, making arrangements for the money to be transferred that very day.
    Satisfied with his morning’s work, he returned home and waited to see if David would bring the boy to see him. It would be interesting to see if the youngster was as good as Gertrude believed.
    On the stroke of three, David ushered two scruffy youngsters into the library. The boy had locked his gaze on Alex, his eyes wary. The girl was turning round and round as she took in every detail of the room.
    ‘Millie insisted on coming as well,’ David explained.
    She stopped at the sound of David’s voice and studied the tall man for the first time. ‘You don’t think I’d let Fred come here on his own, do you? You might be posh, but that don’t mean you ain’t up to no good. Mr Gardener said he was Miss’s friend so we trusted him, but we don’t know nothing about you.’
    ‘What you want me for?’ Fred spoke, still suspicious.
    ‘Miss Melrose told Mr Gardener that you’re clever with cards. I’d like you to show me.’ Alex pulled a cord and when the butler appeared, said, ‘Bring refreshments for my guests, please, Hunt.’
    ‘Yes, sir.’ His expression remained composed, showing no disapproval about the strangeness of his master’s guests.
    ‘Right.’ Alex placed two chairs at a small table, motioning Fred to sit opposite him. ‘Sit in the chair next to Mr Gardener,’ he ordered Millie.
    After giving the pale gold satin chair a careful examination, she sat on the floor.
    ‘What are you doing down there?’
    ‘I can’t sit in that! I’ll make it all dirty and then you’ll tell me off.’
    David was shaking with silent laughter and Alex was only managing to keep a straight face with difficulty. Without saying a word, he stood up, lifted the girl off the floor and dumped her in the chair, then sat down again.
    She bristled, offended. ‘Well, don’t swear at me if I mess up your posh chair!’
    ‘I won’t. I don’t care if you’re covered in mud, you will sit properly when you’re in my house.’
    She snorted, not a bit frightened of this important man. ‘I don’t suppose you have to bother about cleaning.’
    ‘That is done for me. Now, will you be quiet for a while?’
    ‘Suppose.’ She folded her arms and glared at David. ‘Is he a friend of Miss Melrose?’
    ‘Not exactly.’
    ‘Thought not. She’s got more sense than to let herself be bossed about by him!’
    ‘Millie.’ Alex spoke quietly, but there was no mistaking the authority in his tone.
    She clamped her lips together for a moment, wriggled in the chair, and then said, ‘I don’t like you very much.’
    ‘You are not alone,’ Alex remarked dryly. He turned his attention back to Fred, who had been watching the exchange with amusement. Placing a new pack of cards on the table, he pushed them towards the boy. ‘Let’s see what you can do.’
    Fred ignored the new cards and pulled his own, dogged-eared ones from his pocket. ‘What you want me to do?’
    ‘We’ll