Cast in Ice (11 page)

Winnie looked up from the stool she sat on in front of her dressing table and watched Tilly make the final touches to the blond wig on Winnie’s head.

“I can’t believe how this changes you,” Tilly said. Disbelief filled her eyes.

“Are you sure no one will recognize me?”

“Even your father wouldn’t recognize you, my lady.”

Winnie stood when Tilly finished and gave her appearance one last glance. The gown Tilly had chosen for her was something Winnie would never wear. It was a sickening olive green that lacked any distinguishing features. It was perfect to aid her in her attempt to avoid drawing attention to herself.

She wore no jewels, nothing that would attract notice. And Tilly had styled her hair in a simple look. The shape reminded Winnie more of the look a governess would wear, or perhaps a maid.

She perused her overall look and breathed a deep sigh. She was as ready as she’d ever be.

If she was fortunate, Nick Stillman wouldn’t be at
The Dove
tonight, and it wouldn’t take her overly long to win the amount she needed.

“Have Hodgekens bring the carriage to the back, Tilly. Tell him I’ll be right down.”

“Are you sure, my lady?”

Winnie shook her head. “What other choice do I have?”

Tilly didn’t answer, because there was no answer. There was no other choice.

Nick walked through
The Dove’s
main level. He tried to concentrate on the reason he was here—to observe the running of the gaming hell, and discover what he could about Basil Ellsworth and Harvey Willard, but his mind kept reliving the kiss he and Winnie had shared. Then hearing her words as she told him that nothing had changed and that there could be nothing between them.

He knew she was right. Knew he was the last person she could love. But that didn’t change his feelings for her.

He’d never met anyone like her. Didn’t think he could care for anyone as much as he’d come to care for her. She had an inner strength that could battle any obstacle, even a problem as horrendous as the danger her mother presented. She was sacrificing everything for her family, as if the responsibility of being their guardian had fallen on her shoulders.

And she needed him. More than she would ever admit, a part of her was crying out for his help. And her silent pleas were ripping his heart from his chest.

Nick moved from one table to the next. Only when he bumped into one of
The Dove’s
security providers moving quickly through the room did he realize that something out of the ordinary was happening.

He stopped, and let his gaze take in his surroundings.

Several of
The Dove’s
hired security personnel stood beside Basil Ellsworth. Ellsworth’s gaze was focused on the three men and one female seated around one of the gaming tables.

Nick recognized the three men, at least he thought he did. He’d never seen the female before. He was sure he’d remember if he had. Her hair was a pale blond and the style nondescript, almost unflattering, as was her gown. She wore no jewelry that might attract attention. The only thing of note was the massive pile of chips in front of her. She’d obviously won most, if not all of the hands they’d played.

Perhaps that was what had drawn Ellsworth’s awareness. Perhaps he suspected the female of cheating, or if not cheating, of having an abnormal run of good luck.

Nick stepped closer to the table. He kept Ellsworth in view, as well as the security around him. Nick told himself he should step away, and not concern himself with what was happening. That whatever it was, it didn’t involve him. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to himself.

But there was something about the female at the table that intrigued him. Something that he couldn’t explain.

Then, Ellsworth nodded at the security person standing closest to the blonde, and he leaned forward and whispered something in her ear.

Her reaction was unmistakable. Alarm. Concern. Fear.

Her shoulders stiffened and Nick noticed the slight trembling of her fingers when she reached to gather her chips.

She swiftly placed her winnings into her reticule, then rose to her feet.

The security guard placed his hand beneath the blonde’s elbow and escorted her away from the table.

All eyes focused on what was happening. Nick didn’t remember anything like this occurring before. There’d always been winners, some of them winning large amounts. But they’d never drawn Basil Ellsworth’s attention. Never been escorted from the Blue Room.

Nick maneuvered to the side of the room, near the stairs. They would have to pass close to him if their intention was to take the female to the second level. He wanted to be as close as he could to her. He wanted to make note of any characteristics she might have that would help him identify her, should he need to. He also intended to watch to see which room they took her to.

He hadn’t intended to show his hand yet, but if he heard any raised voices, or cries of distress, he had to do whatever he could so the female didn’t come to any harm.

Basil Ellsworth led the way, and two security personnel followed behind him, one on either side of the female.

They were close to where Nick stood near the stairs, would pass dangerously close to him in order to escort her to the rooms the owners used as offices―if that’s where they intended to go.

Nick didn’t move, but held his ground. He kept his eyes focused on the blonde as she approached, examining her for any distinguishing mark or mannerism that might identify her if it became necessary.

She was near enough to him now that he could make out the floral design in the unflattering gown she wore. She was taller than many of Society females, not overly tall, yet not short. About the same height as Winnie. And her build was about the same as Winnie’s.

The first wave of warning speared through him. The first wave of alarm. No, it couldn’t be her. Nothing about the woman walking toward him resembled Winnie. Not the hair. Not the style of gown nor the color. This was nothing she’d wear. And yet…

When she came close enough, he moved his hand. Nothing threatening that would draw the attention of the men walking beside her. Just enough that she would notice. And lift her gaze.

She did. Their gazes locked and a pummeling blow, thrown with the force of a dozen fighting giants punched him in the gut. The air left his body and he struggled to keep from reacting.

The female was Winnie. The hair wasn’t hers. The clothes weren’t hers. But the eyes were hers.

And the fear in her gaze when she looked at him terrified him.

. . .

Winnie followed Basil Ellsworth up the stairs. Her legs trembled more with each step she took. She wasn’t sure why he’d singled her out.

She hadn’t lost. Nor had she won an exorbitant amount from any one player. She’d taken care so that the amount she’d taken from each player wasn’t an amount that would be impossible for them to repay.

Nor had she stayed at the same table for an exceedingly long time. She’d moved from table to table, and had cashed in her winnings each time she moved. That way the chips she brought with her to each table wouldn’t draw attention.

But something had. Something had made Basil Ellsworth or one of his employees notice her

From the moment the security person had whispered in her ear, everything had turned into a blur of confusion. She didn’t remember rising from the table, or following the man as he led her to the stairs, or anything else until now.

She climbed the stairs and followed Basil Ellsworth down the hall. He stopped in front of a door on the second level and knocked.

A voice from inside beckoned them to enter.

One of the security personnel opened the door, and Basil Ellsworth stepped to the side to allow her to enter.

Winnie hesitated, but a rough clamp at her elbow pushed her forward. She entered the room and looked to the man seated behind a massive oak desk. He rose when she entered.

“Please, my lady, have a seat,” he said, pointing to one of two chairs placed in front of the desk. Winnie chose the chair to the left. The door closed and the two guards who’d escorted her up the stairs stood as sentry on either side of the door. Basil Ellsworth came forward and took the empty chair to her right.

Winnie took a moment to study the man behind the desk. She’d never seen him before, but she doubted she’d ever forget him.

He was tall, but not overly tall, with a muscular build that reminded her of someone who’d spent a great deal of time fighting in the ring. He was dressed immaculately, as if he’d just come from a Society event. There was something striking about his features. Perhaps it was the sleek cut of his dark, almost midnight-black hair. Or the high arch of his cheekbones, or the angular cut of his jaw. Or, perhaps it was his thick black eyebrows that arched above ebony eyes and seemed to pierce through her.

But what might have been attractive characteristics on another person, gave this man a sinister look. He was all harsh lines and rigid features that didn’t seem to match. Winnie had always considered Basil Ellsworth frightening. But the unforgiving cruelty she sensed in Harvey Willard terrorized her.

“I’m sure you would be more comfortable without your mask, my lady. Why don’t you remove it?”

“Thank you, but I prefer to keep it on.” Winnie knew she needed a show of strength if she had any chance of surviving this interview. Her bravery, however, didn’t last long.

“Do as you’re told,” Willard said, his voice low, his tone threatening. “Take the mask off.”

Winnie slowly lifted her hand and removed her mask. Her attempt to keep her hands from shaking was futile. Even though she tried to give the man the impression she wasn’t intimidated by his demands, she was.

“Now, who are you?”

Winnie lifted her chin and leveled him a stern look. “My name hardly matters. Why have you singled me out? I’ve done nothing to warrant such treatment.”

“You don’t think so?” he asked, sitting back down behind his desk. “What is the total of your winnings tonight?”

“Would you like to count it?” Winnie said. “I won it honestly.”

The man she assumed was Harvey Willard leaned forward in his chair and anchored his forearms on the top of his oak desk. “Did you?” he asked.

He pushed himself up from his chair and stepped out from behind the desk. He walked toward her until he stood directly beside her. Winnie had to lift her face in order to see him, which she did. She refused to cower in her chair like a frightened mouse. She refused to give him the upper hand.

Willard took a threatening step toward her. “How did you do it?”

Winnie didn’t have to feign surprise. Her shock was genuine. “Do what?”

“Win that many hands in a row.”

“You think I cheated?”

“I
know
you cheated. No one has the luck you exhibited, unless they cheat.”

“I assure you—”

“Assure me all you want. I just want to know how you did it. Where do you have the cards hidden?”

Winnie shook her head. “I haven’t hidden any cards.”

Willard’s hands tightened into fists. “This will go much easier if you answer my question instead of playing ignorant.”

“But I don’t—”

Before Winnie could finish her sentence, Harvey Willard’s hand arced through the air and connected with her cheek.

Pain shot through her head like an exploding cannonball, and a fireworks of bright lights erupted behind her eyes.

“Where do you hide the cards?” he demanded again.

Winnie shook her head. “I haven’t hidden—”

Willard’s hand slammed into her cheek a second time.

Before she could recover, the two men who’d forced her to follow Ellsworth up the stairs stepped beside her, one on each side. Strong hands grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to her feet.

Her chair crashed to the floor behind her, and Willard’s hand reached for the front of her gown. With a harsh jerk, the material ripped in two. Except for her shift, she was exposed to the waist.

Winnie struggled, but it was no use. The hands holding her only tightened.

Willard yanked on each sleeve, and the fragile seams separated. One by one, the tattered pieces fell to the floor.

“Where are they? How do you do it?”

“I told you—”

Willard lifted his arm again.

Winnie couldn’t stop a loud scream from echoing in the room. She closed her eyes, preparing for the pain that would come when he hit her. But no pain came. Instead, the door burst open. It slammed against the wall with such force a picture hanging near the door crashed to the floor.

“Get away from her!” a loud, angry voice demanded.

Winnie turned her head. She recognized Nick’s voice, but couldn’t believe he was here. That he knew she was here and in need of rescue.

She struggled to focus on him, but her vision blurred. When it cleared enough to see him, she realized he had a gun in his hand. And the gun was pointed at Harvey Willard’s chest.

The grip on her arms loosened, and she realized she was free.

“Come here, my lady,” he ordered. “Now.”

Winnie struggled to cover her indecency as she stumbled to Nick’s side.

“You won’t get away with this,” Basil Ellsworth said, his voice an eerie growl.

Ellsworth’s angry glare burned through her and Winnie realized what a risk Nick had taken in coming.

Both Ellsworth and Willard seethed with fury. Ellsworth ran his thumb and forefinger over the braided handle of his whip. It was obvious how desperately he wanted to snap its long leather cord and strike Nick’s hand. But the gun in Nick’s grasp was pointed at Harvey Willard’s chest, and Ellsworth couldn’t risk the gun going off and a bullet killing Willard.