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Chapter 25
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Scoundrel With A Noble Heart Chapter 26
"I hope I'm doing this right. I'm not sure I recalled Mama's recipe correctly."Marguerite muttered as she put a baking tray filled with cookie dough into the oven. Turning back to the kitchen table, she took off the dish towel wrapped around her right hand and draped it over the chair before taking a seat.Standing on the other side of the table, the Cook, a nice, hearty woman in her late forties stopped chopping onions and glanced at her with a fond smile, "I'm glad to have you around again, Maggie. I never thought I'd see the day you'd be back here baking cookies."A wistful smile curled up on her lips as memories of the good old days wiggled their way out of the far recesses of her mind. She and her mother used to spend time together in the kitchen baking a lot of cookies and gingerbread, only to share them with the servants and casino staff. Back in the day, the heavenly smell of freshly baked cookies along with laughter of the happy servants always wafted on the air here.She'
Scoundrel With A Noble Heart Chapter 27
For the dozenth time Matthew's gaze flicked at the doorway that evening. He didn't know when it started, but he found himself expecting to see Marguerite coming through that door, and it had nothing to do with the food she'd always brought for him. It was just good to have her around. He truly enjoyed her company, and she seemed to feel the same way. However, she had been a little bit strange when she left his room this afternoon, he wondered if he'd made her uncomfortable with his earlier answer. He'd known it might sound ridiculous, still, he couldn't give her anything other than an honest answer. As if on cue, the next time he glanced at the door, it clicked open and Marguerite swept into the room with a dinner tray. She immediately paused when their gazes met, fixing her eyes on the floor as she continued to walk toward him. Matthew almost opened his mouth to greet her but then refrained, afraid that after his inappropriate remark, she might feel the need to keep her distance fr
Scoundrel With A Noble Heart Chapter 28
Marguerite had been standing in front of the ornate wooden door of Goddard's office for ten long minutes before she managed to muster enough courage to knock. She had strengthened her resolve and braced herself, knowing that it wouldn't be easy, still she flinched when she heard Goddard's voice from within the room. Taking in a steadying breath, she turned the latch and pushed the door.On the other end of the room, Goddard was sitting on a high chair behind a huge mahogany desk. Clearly not expecting to see Marguerite, he seemed a bit surprised. He put down his quill pen and beckoned her to come in.As her gaze swept briefly over the scattered papers on the huge mahogany desk, Marguerite immediately spotted an untouched platter of food on the far corner. It was almost nine o'clock, the food must have been sent to his office a couple of hours ago. She hated to see such a sumptuous meal go to waste, worse yet, to see Goddard ignore his own well being."What do you want to talk about?"
Scoundrel With A Noble Heart Chapter 29
Three months later,Standing in front of the enormous, double-sided door of Goddard's gaming house, Matthew pulled the coat he wore above his uniform closer around him, grateful for the outerwear had kept the cold air from getting into his skin. The evening started with a downpour that had lasted for almost two hours before eventually abating to a steady drizzle just a few moments ago. Thankfully, Marguerite had had the coat delivered to him as soon as it began to rain. Though the clothing seemed a little bit well worn, it was of finest quality he guessed that it was Goddard's old stuff. Thinking about everything Marguerite had done for him, Matthew couldn't thank her enough for being so kind and thoughtful. He'd been thinking of some ways to return the favor, and he decided to give her a little present, something to bring a smile to her face. He'd planned to go buy her present tomorrow in his free time.As he observed his surroundings, his gaze drifted from the slushy streets, where
Scoundrel With A Noble Heart Chapter 30
It all seemed, at first, like a dream, Matthew couldn't believe his luck. Sometimes he had to pinch himself, in case he was dreaming about it all. He got trained right away, by Goddard himself and some of his dealers. He'd got quick hands, so it was no wonder that he mastered how to shuffle the cards in no time. But he surprised them all, as much as himself, with how quickly he grasped the concept of probability. For the first time in his life, he found fascination in what he learned, and in a very short time, he'd learned several gambling techniques. At first Matthew thought it was sheer luck when he beat one of Goddard's men in cribbage, but after he managed to win easy victories over some other dealers shortly afterwards, he started to realize that he had one extraordinary talent for numbers and rapid calculation of odds. However, it took a while before Goddard allowed him to plunge into the field.Matthew experienced the same odd stirring the minute he set foot on the floor of the
Scoundrel With A Noble Heart Chapter 31
"Good heavens!"Marguerite hurried outside, followed by Matthew.When they entered Goddard's chamber, the old man had been laid down in his bed, two servants standing at the bedside. The heavy velvet curtains were drawn to allow sunlight into the room while the sheer curtains were left closed to soften the sun's rays.The very sight of the unconscious Goddard brought Matthew up short. It wasn't until he saw Goddard in close quarters that he realized that the man looked much older and frail. Matthew wasn't aware of it before because most of the time he met his employer at night, but in the daylight he noticed that his employer's complexion was dull and lifeless, and his skin had turned bluish gray. Matthew didn't know for certain what was ailing the tireless man, but he guessed after all these years, Goddard's heavy drinking and damaging lifestyle finally took a toll on his health.Within minutes the doctor arrived, and they waited outside during the examination. As the minutes ticked
Scoundrel With A Noble Heart Chapter 32
Matthew froze as the words struck him like a bolt from the blue. It took more than several seconds for him to find his voice."Sir, please don't get me wrong, but there's nothing between me and Maggie.""Stuff and nonsense. Maggie loves you. She has loved you since the moment she met you. Don't say you haven't known it."Goddard's last sentence rendered him mute. He'd be lying if he said the idea never occurred to him, but he never really thought about it. In fact, he wouldn't dream of such a thing. Goddard had been so kind to allow Marguerite to befriend him, but he wouldn't dare to raise his eyes too high."I... I don't deserve her.""Quite the opposite. I can't think of a better candidate. You are honest and loyal, and I know you love her too. Otherwise, why'd you never take a lover, with the pretty ladies just around the corner?"Again he couldn't seem to find an appropriate answer. He'd never expected that his employer would have taken note of his celibacy. With the finest houses
Scoundrel With A Noble Heart Chapter 33
Failed to find a sufficient reason to decline, for the first time Matthew submitted to his friend's persuasion. However, he insisted they rode in their separate coaches, in case he found the play unbearable and decided to come home earlier. Not an hour later, they had settled in a private box at one side of the building. They had sneaked up late as per his request, to avoid being seen by the crowd. As a famous rake, Jacob was a magnet for attention, and being in his company was guaranteed to drag anyone under public eye, something Matthew would rather avoid at any cost. From his perch up high on one side of the theatre, Matthew looked down on the crowd in the cavernous hall below. No fewer than six hundred people packed the auditorium, leaving not a single seat vacant. Apparently Jacob was not exaggerating when he said that the London public had gone wild for the show and its main attraction, a beautiful ballerina who'd risen to great fame within a very short time since her debut. Th
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