“That is one possibility,” Heath replied. “Or I could pursue an alternate course. It might pain you more to be forced to close the doors to your club.”
The threat made O’Rourke scowl harder. “You mean you would drive me out of business.”
“If I must. I have no compunction about crushing a man who abuses women.” Heath paused to let that sink in before saying in a leading tone, “A gaming hell’s reputation is a fragile thing, wouldn’t you agree, Mr. O’Rourke? If word were to get out about certain dishonest dealings…”
“I run an honest establishment!”
“So I understand. But rumors of cheating are difficult to quell.”
His anger was evident, but he merely demanded, “What do you want of me, Lord Claybourne?”
“I told you. I want you to keep your hands off Miss Irwin.”
“Very well, I will!” he snapped.
“And I want you to withdraw your threat of imprisoning her friends.”
“Why the devil should I? That debt was entirely legit.”
“Legal perhaps, but still underhanded. You lured them to your Faro table and staked them well beyond their means to pay. But regardless of how the debt came about, they should have the funds to repay you shortly. If not I will cover the debt in full.”
When O’Rourke continued to glare, Heath smiled amiably. “I could have brought a draft from my bank today, but my ‘firebrand,’ as you call her, is rather proud and independent and wishes to handle the problem on her own, so I won’t interfere unless absolutely necessary. But one way or another, Mr. O’Rourke, you will be repaid.”
O’Rourke shook his head in irritation. “I don’t want your blunt, milord.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Fanny. I want Fanny.”
Heath settled into the proffered chair after all. He had suspected something of the sort. “Would you care to explain?”
O’Rourke’s grimace was part vexed, part rueful. “I’ve been head over ears for Fanny since the first time I saw her. I was her first protector, in fact.”
“But she didn’t return the sentiment.”
The games
ter’s mouth twisted bitterly. “Not back then. Even when I offered to make her respectable and wed her, Fanny turned me down cold. She was sixteen and wanted the grand life I couldn’t give her at the time. I’m rich as Croesus now and could set her up in comfort for life, but she still won’t bite at matrimony. Says she doesn’t want me for a husband, even though she’ll be whistling a fortune away. I fancy it’s because she thinks herself too good for the likes of me. But I know I can make her see reason if I keep after her.”
“So you are using that debt as leverage to persuade Fanny to return to you,” Heath mused.
“Yes. I don’t care about the blunt. And I wouldn’t really send those old bawds to prison. But you see why I don’t want you settling their debt. If you pay, I’ll have no chance to convince Fanny to wed me.”
Heath gave a brief nod. He could at least sympathize with the man’s dilemma, since he’d been trying earnestly to convince Lily to marry him. But sympathizing was not the same as condoning.
When O’Rourke continued, his tone was more congenial. “You seem to be a reasonable gent, milord. Surely we can come to a mutual agreement?”
“I believe so, since my terms are simple.”
“I won’t hurt Fanny again, you have my word.”
“Good. And if you mean to continue trying to win her hand in marriage, you will accomplish it without threatening her friends. This afternoon you will write to Fleur and Chantel and inform them of your willingness to wait for repayment for as long as they require. And you will be gracious about it.”
“Very well, milord,” O’Rourke said reluctantly. “I suppose you leave me no choice.”
Heath smiled. “That was precisely my intention, Mr. O’Rourke. I am gratified that you are such an astute businessman.”
Lily heard from Heath that afternoon, but his brief missive only reported that he had dealt with the problem of O’Rourke. Lily couldn’t feel entirely satisfied by the news. She had wanted the brute severely punished for hurting Fanny but suspected Heath had let him off with merely a stern warning.