Paying off a debt, one way or another.

Reginald, Duke of Swansea, had raised the pot and William, Baron of Witham, wanted to call but he had nothing left. But with four kings in his hand, how could he possibly fold?

He knew he should never have sat down at the gambling table to begin with, but he was desperate. He had invested everything in a cargo of tea with the East India Company. It was safe and almost guaranteed to make a profit. And then those horrible savages in Boston had dumped the entire shipment into the ocean. His estate was on the line. He had used it for collateral to buy the tea. At the end of the month, the bank wanted their money back and if he didn’t pay, they would take his ancestral home, all his land, anything of value, including his title. And he and his wife would be homeless and penniless. They would have to go to a workhouse. And work wasn’t something anyone in his family had done for at least 6 generations.

So he joined this high stakes game. He almost hadn’t been allowed, but Reginald agreed to stake him, accepting the Witham land as collateral, even with the debt attached to it. Despite his pleasant demeanor, Reginald did not do this to be nice. He knew the value of the land and how much that value could be increased in the hands of an intelligent businessman such as himself. More than enough to pay off the debt and be very profitable for years to come.

And Reginald was going to get that land. To ensure this result, he cheated. He stacked the deck every time it was his turn to deal. But he played the long game. Often losing on purpose and making sure all the other players won enough hands to ally any suspicions they might have had. But there was never as much money in the pot when they won as there was in the pot when they lost. They might win 10 pounds one hand, but lose 11 the next. Slowly, their money found it’s way into Reginald’s pile. And William’s pile too. That was also part of the plan. He had to keep William at the table. Feeding him winning cards ensured that happened.

And now, William was sitting there with four kings and nothing left to bet. But, he couldn’t fold. If he won this hand, he would keep his estate, his home, his title, and be able to pay all his debts.

“Reginald,” he asked, “would you take an IOU? You know I’m good for it.”

“I don’t know,” Reginald replied, “I feel I was rather generous to stake you at the start of the game. I do have to be fair to myself, after all. How fair would it be to allow you to be able to beat me?”

“I understand,” said William, “But if I win, I’ll be able to pay you back. With interest. How does 2% sound?”

“Not as good as 3%.”

“Ok, 3%. Is it a deal?”

“I think I want more than money, actually.”

“What do you want? Name it.”

Reginald’s eyes turned hard and he said, “I want your wife.”

The entire room fell silent. While betting a wife wasn’t totally unheard of in these games, it wasn’t very common either. Most of the men there had never actually seen anyone make that bet.

William was shocked, “My wife?”

“Let’s be honest, your wife is one of the most beautiful women in London. Maybe all of England. One night with her is worth what I raised you. Either call or fold.”

William knew it was wrong, but he had four kings. Four fucking kings. How could he lose?

“Call,” he whispered and laid down his four kings. Everyone started cheering, William had an almost unbeatable hand. The best hand of the night.

Of course, Reginald knew he had four kings. He had purposefully dealt him those kings. For a moment, he frowned and slumped his shoulders. Then he smiled wickedly and laid down his cards.

“I have the 5,6,7,8, and 9 of hearts.”

William just stared at the cards. A straight flush. That’s how he could lose with four kings.

He was ruined. No house, no lands, no estate, no money, and his wife in another man’s bed. He wanted the ground to just open beneath him and swallow his body whole.

Reginald stood up, extended his hand to William and said, “Well played. I guess it just wasn’t your day, I’ll send word when you can come to my home and we can finalize all the legal details.”

He walked out leaving William to his grief. A few of the other men at the club placed their hand on William’s shoulder or said a few words of condolence, but most of them just left without a word. This would probably be the last time any of them ever saw him. High society was cruel to those who no longer belonged.

William made his way home. He didn’t know what to tell his wife, Emma, so he didn’t tell her anything. Maybe Reginald would forget or change his mind.

He didn’t. Early the next morning, a messenger arrived with the details about the meeting.

The assigned date and time arrived. Emma and William approached the door, but Emma still didn’t understand why she had to be there. William just said that she did, but wouldn’t say any more.

Reginald opened the door, greeted them and led them to his study.

Emma asked, “What is going on? Why am I here if it’s just a business meeting?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Reginald asked.

“William, you should not keep secrets from your wife,” he scolded.

To Emma he said, “You are here because a straight flush beats four of a kind.”

Emma looked confused, so Reginald added, “He lost a poker game to me.”

At that Emma turned to William with anger in her eyes, “You were playing poker? I thought you promised to stop gambling.”

“William,” Reginald scolded again, “you broke a promise to your wife? You should be ashamed.”

William just looked at the floor and mumbled, “I needed the money.”

“For what,” asked Emma?

“It seems,” Reginald said, “that your beloved husband invested in tea.”

“Not the tea the colonists ruined?”

“Oh yes. William isn’t any better at business than he is at gambling.”

“How could I have known the colonists would do that?”

“A good businessman always prepares for the worst. Just a like a good gambler always knows when to call and when to fold. But, as I said, William, you are neither. And that’s why you’re bankrupt.”

“Bankrupt?” exclaimed Emma, “We’re bankrupt? William, tell me you didn’t lose everything.”

William just kept looking at the floor, unable to meet her gaze.

“Our home? Our land? All of it? It’s all gone?”

“Oh yes,” sneered Reginald, “it’s all gone.