If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 20

“That man over there is Senator Jeffrey Edmund.”

Anthony handed some bills to the staff, exchanging them for more chips, but his eyes remained fixed on the man who had just entered the club.

“Is that so?” Lockwood replied curtly, flipping over one of his cards. “Bet.”

Raising the stakes to avoid drawing attention, Lockwood discreetly kept an eye on Edmund, who had just entered the club.

From a distance, Edmund had seemed less imposing, but up close, he exuded a considerable presence. His hair, streaked with gray, was neatly combed back, and the man radiated the gravitas of a seasoned veteran.

Edmund’s influence was vast, touching everything from high-level appointments to military deployments and budgets. Lockwood had expected him to have a stern demeanor, but instead, Edmund’s face appeared rather gentle.

Of course, Lockwood knew all too well that this was merely a well-worn mask. He had learned through countless experiences that this was a man who wouldn’t hesitate to send hundreds to their deaths with the flick of a finger.

Lockwood lowered his gaze to the cards in his hand, pretending to scrutinize his hand in order to conceal the hatred simmering within him.

A straight…

It was a strong hand, but there was no guarantee of victory. The less he revealed his intentions, the better his chances of winning—much like his current situation. He couldn’t afford to be discovered until the moment he laid down his final card.

Lockwood scanned the room, trying to gauge Edmund’s hand. The men accompanying Edmund, who hovered around him like attendants, were all influential figures in Parliament.

Lockwood discreetly compared their faces to the information he had gathered, ensuring there were no discrepancies.

“You’ve won again.” Anthony laughed heartily, showing his empty hands. “Mr. Limberton, I think you could have become a great dealer instead of going into business. Maybe you should consider opening a casino. It seems to suit you.”

“I was just lucky today. If you don’t mind, let me buy you a drink.”

Lockwood casually draped his jacket over his shoulder, his eyes scanning for an empty seat near the senator.

“It’s my policy never to refuse a drink. Don’t worry about losing money. What I lost today is a pittance compared to what the senator took from me.” Anthony’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, “The customs duties they slapped on my shipyard earlier this year felt like getting thrashed by my childhood tutor.”

“It’s probably best I don’t ask how much.”

“I’m sure the textile industry won’t be spared either. That man is famous for his uncanny ability to sniff out money. You’d better brace yourself for a tax bomb.”

“I’ll be prepared.”

As they chatted, they casually approached Edmund.

A perceptive footman quickly moved the whiskey Lockwood had been drinking to the nearby table.

Anthony was tall, and the sight of two tall, handsome men walking together drew the attention of everyone around them. Even Edmund, who had been deep in conversation, glanced over as they approached.

Seizing the moment, Anthony flashed a broad smile and greeted the senator. “It’s been a while, Senator.”

“Anthony, I was wondering when you’d come over to say hello. How is Marquis Tobias?”

“My grandfather is still healthy enough to give me a good beating. He lost a lot of money earlier this year and has been a bit irritable ever since.”

“It sounds like he was talking about me.”

“No, not at all.”

“Of course not.” Edmund chuckled mischievously.

As Lockwood listened to their conversation, his brow furrowed slightly. They weren’t just acquaintances; they seemed quite familiar with each other.

Whether that would work in his favor remained to be seen.

After finishing their exchange, both men turned to face Lockwood.

“I don’t believe I’ve seen you before…”

Edmund’s eyes began to narrow with suspicion, but Anthony quickly stepped in to introduce him.

“This is my friend, Lockwood Limberton. He runs a textile business.”

Lockwood was momentarily taken aback by the introduction of “friend,” and Anthony grinned mischievously.

“Is that so?”

Edmund’s eyes narrowed further, as if assessing Lockwood’s worth.

“You know I have many friends.”

“Indeed. I hope you get along well with our Isabella.”

“No, no, that’s… Anyway, I need to drown my sorrows over the money I lost. Have a good time, Senator.”

Anthony’s face turned pale at the mention of Isabella, and as he showed his empty pockets, Edmund burst into hearty laughter.

“Very well. I have a prior engagement tonight, but how about dinner tomorrow evening? Your friend is welcome to join us if he’s available.”

“Thank you for the invitation.” Lockwood gave a polite nod.

Edmund seemed pleased with Lockwood’s composed demeanor and studied him for a moment before returning to his conversation with others.

“You’re lucky to have a wife, Mr. Limberton.” As soon as they sat down, Anthony let out a long sigh. “My grandfather, and everyone else, keeps pressuring me to get married. But even if Isabella were the last woman on earth, I’d never go near her.”

“Who is Isabella?”

Lockwood knew from his research that Edmund’s youngest daughter was named Isabella, but he feigned ignorance to see what Anthony would say.

“She’s the senator’s daughter. She was his only daughter, born late in his life, and she was spoiled so much that she thinks the whole world belongs to her. I teased her once when we were kids, and she made me pay for years.”

Judging by his reaction, the revenge must have been quite severe.

“If we end up dining together, be careful around her. She might have mellowed out a bit by now, but you never know.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The conversation then shifted to light gossip, most of which Anthony shared while Lockwood quietly nodded along.

Lockwood kept a close eye on Edmund, straining to catch any useful information.

However, as time passed, he found himself checking his watch more and more frequently, unable to shake a growing sense of unease. By the time they had nearly finished a bottle of whiskey, Anthony, now flushed from the alcohol, stood up.

“Oh, I’ve taken up too much of your time, considering you have your wife waiting. Let’s call it a night, and I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow.”

It was only after Anthony’s words that Lockwood realized the source of his discomfort. He couldn’t stop thinking about Georgiana, who was alone in the cabin. Though she should be fine with Henry nearby, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

His fingers hastened as he buttoned his jacket. As he descended the stairs and approached the cabin, he noticed Henry lingering near the door.

“Henry?”

“Oh, I was debating whether to go find you. It’s good you’re here.”

Henry let out a sigh of relief upon seeing him.

“What’s going on?”

“Lady Juliana hasn’t made a sound since she went into the room. I wasn’t sure if it was proper to enter a lady’s room without permission, so I was going to ask you.”

“Has she eaten?”

“She hasn’t had a single meal.”

“Could she just be tired?”

After everything she had been through, and having not eaten, her body must have been worn out. Even he would have struggled to endure such an ordeal.

“Still, she’s been so quiet that I think we should check on her.”

“Alright.”

As soon as Lockwood agreed, Henry knocked on the door. “Madam, I’m coming in.”

There was no response; the room remained silent.

“She might not hear from the bedroom. Open the door and take a look.”

At his command, Henry unlocked the door and hesitated as he entered.

“What is it?”

“It looks like she’s sleeping on the sofa. She must have been exhausted.”

Lockwood’s brows furrowed slightly as he followed Henry’s gaze.

In the unlit living room, Georgiana lay curled up on the sofa, still in her clothes. It seemed she had fallen asleep shortly after arriving. Her hat had fallen to the floor.

“Go ahead and leave. No, wait!”

Lockwood approached Georgiana to wake her but stopped short, feeling a strange heat emanating from her. He quickly called Henry back.

Though he hadn’t seen her often, he knew her normally pale, translucent face was now flushed red, even in the darkness. The warmth of her breath was palpable.

When he touched her forehead, he recoiled in shock. Her skin was burning up like kindling, her hair damp with sweat.

“Henry, fetch a doctor immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

Henry, who had also noticed her condition up close, bolted out of the room.

In no time, a doctor from the ship, carrying his medical bag, arrived with Henry.

“Let me catch my breath… Oh, there’s no time for that.”

The doctor, still panting from the rush, hastily opened his bag upon seeing Georgiana’s condition.

After asking Lockwood’s permission, he carefully examined her back and abdomen, his brow furrowing with concern.

“Has your wife had any recent falls or injuries to her abdomen?”

Both Lockwood and Henry shook their heads in unison.

“That’s strange.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“It seems one of her ribs is broken.”

Both men’s faces hardened at the doctor’s words.