Catherine gasped again.
Cyclops sighed.
Ronnie lowered his soup spoon with a clank on the edge of the bowl. "Is Lord Cox the one everyone's talking about?"
I glanced at Matt but he was looking at Ronnie. "Everyone's talking about the newspaper article?" he asked.
Ronnie nodded. "Gossip spread up and down the street as soon as the newspaper came out. No one knew who this mysterious illegitimate lord was, although plenty made guesses."
"It's quite a scandal," Catherine added.
"Don't repeat his name to anyone," Matt warned. "Not until it's made public."
"We won't," Catherine assured him. "Isn't he your cousin's husband?"
Matt picked up his spoon. "Patience. They married recently."
"How awful for her. For both of them. So is it true? He really is illegitimate and this Longmire fellow is the real heir?"
"It seems so."
"It's unclear if Lord Cox should give everything to him yet," I said. "He's seeking legal advice."
"He should give it up," Ronnie said. "It's not his. Everything should have gone to this Longmire fellow."
"He's a turd," Willie cut in. "So India and Matt say."
"I guessed that from the threatening letter he sent us," Catherine said.
"It seems to me he thinks he's entitled to everything without working hard for it," Duke chimed in. "A successful business, the baronetcy."
"That's hardly fair," Ronnie said. "If he's the rightful heir, he should have it."
"Aye," Cyclops agreed. "And it can't be easy to compete against a magician in the same kind of business. Especially a magician who ain't afraid to use his magic."
"Good point," Ronnie said before tucking into his soup. "I'm glad we don't have any watch magicians with shops or we'd struggle to sell a single piece."
"Ronnie," his sister hissed with a glance at me.
"India's different. Her father didn't practice his magic. He used hard work, experience, and know-how, just like I plan to."
"I used my magic," I told him.
"That's different. You didn't know you were using your magic. You can't be blamed for that."
I thought his logic a little skewed, but we dropped the matter, thankfully. The subject of Mr. Longmire didn't come up again through the next four courses or afterward, as we played cards.
Willie joined us in the drawing room only briefly. "I have an appointment with a nurse to keep," she said, smiling.
"A nurse?" Duke asked. "Not the same one who broke your heart."
"A different one. And my heart weren't broken. It was bruised and it's fine now."
Duke huffed as he stretched out his legs. Like Willie, he elected not to play poker with us. "You sure about that? And anyway, does Brockwell know about this nurse?"
"It ain't his business."
I lowered my cards. "Of course it's his business. You and he are together."
"Except when we ain't."
I frowned. "I'm confused."
"So am I," Ronnie added.
"I'll explain later," Catherine whispered from where she stood behind a seated Cyclops. She'd claimed she didn't know how to play poker so would watch and learn. She'd stood at Cyclops's shoulder the entire time.
"Look, India," Willie said huffily. "Jasper and I have an understanding. He can see other women if he wants, and so can I. Or men. Whatever takes my fancy."
Ronnie eyed her as if he'd never truly noticed her before. His curious little smile gave away his thoughts before he returned to studying his cards.
I pointed my hand of cards at Willie. "Brockwell says that, but does he really mean it?"
"Why would he say it if he didn't mean it?
"Because he's trying to appease you. He wants to keep you happy and he thinks he needs to let you be free to do that."
She thrust her hands on her hips. "I do want to be free and he does know that, but that don't mean he hates the idea of it. He ain't the jealous sort, and he ain't got no truck for your sentimental nonsense, India. He likes our arrangement just fine."
"India's right," Duke said.
"What do you know about it? I know Jasper better than all of you, and he ain't pining for me or just going along with it to please me. He's got his work and that's all he really cares about. If I don't see other people then I'll pester him when he's busy trying to solve murders, and that ain't a sight no one wants to see."
"London thanks you for your sacrifice," Matt piped up. He pushed a pile of matchsticks into the middle. "Who's still in?"
"That's an audacious bet," I said.
"I'm out," Ronnie said, throwing his cards down.
I also threw in my cards.
Cyclops stroked his chin and studied his hand. Behind him, Catherine watched, biting her lip.
"Go on," Matt said. "You can afford it."
"Give me a minute," Cyclops said.
"Or just fold like I know you're going to.
Cyclops glared at him through his one eye then tossed down his cards with a click of his tongue.
"You knew you'd won that, didn't you?" I said to Matt.
He smiled as he raked in his winnings.
"How?" Ronnie asked.
"You were all distracted," Matt said. "If you'd paid attention to the game and not Willie's conversation, you'd have realized I also had nothing." He showed us his hand. He didn't even have a pair.
"I wasn't listening to her," Cyclops said, crossing his arms.
"And yet you were the most distracted. I knew you had a poor hand, although I suspect it was still better than mine."
"A pair of queens. How did you know?"
Matt's gaze lifted to Catherine, although she didn't notice. Cyclops gave a good-natured grunt.
"India, I saw your cards when you pointed them at Willie," Matt told me.
"Did I?"
"And me?" Ronnie asked, picking up his port glass. "How did you know you could beat me?"
"Er…"
"Because you're just easy to read," Willie said. "Duke you should give him some help."
Duke finished off his port and stood. "Not tonight. I'm going to a real game. Cyclops?"
"Not me," Cyclops said.
Willie clapped Duke on the shoulder. "Come on, we'll leave together. Woodall can drop me off then you, then he can wait and—"
"Don't ask Woodall," Matt said. "It's getting late, and I won't have the staff waiting up for you. Take a hansom."
Willie grumbled as she left with Duke.
We didn't play much longer before Ronnie and Catherine left too. Cyclops walked her to the door, her hand on his arm, their voices low as they talked.
After they left, I sidled up to him. "You two seem happy. Does this mean you're going to speak to her parents soon?"
"No."
"But you looked so content together."
"We are, and I ain't risking that by going to her parents and declaring myself."