“I have my own demands,” said Duke Richard.“I want you armed.”
ChapterTwenty-five
Anthony pulled out an ivory chess set.“Since we have two days to drive ourselves stir crazy, how about around, dear brother? Haven’t had the joy of triumph in a longtime.”
“Would you play against Alexandra? The gamewill be a distraction for her nerves.”
“Where are your manners, Nicholas? To beatyour fiancée would be the height of bad etiquette,” Anthonyjoked.
Nicholas winked at Alexandra and drew out achair for her at the table.
Alexandra smoothed her blue muslin skirts.“On the island, Nicholas introduced me to the rules, so I have arudimentary idea of how the game is played. Am I to understand, youhave never been beaten in all of England?”
“There is that,” Anthony conceded. “I’ll golight, even teach you a few strategies.”
“Oh my, to be granted such leniency.”Alexandra purposefully fluttered her hand over her heart.“Overwhelmed by your charity, I shall remain a shadow in the sun ofyour greater knowledge.” She heard Samuel’s snort come from behindthe pages of theLondon Chronicle.
Nicholas poured a drink.
“Tapping the claret to celebrate my victory,brother?” Anthony needled.
“At the very least, you should allow her togo first.” Nicholas leaned indolently against the fireplace mantlewhere he could obtain a full view of the game.
“Of course, ladies come first,” Anthonysaid.
“Forgive me if I’m clumsy,” Alexandra said,making a bold move with her castle.
“Interesting,” said Anthony over the droneof conversation between Aunt Margaret and Rachel.
Anthony made his next move and on and on thegame evolved. Alexandra paused overlong, making appropriate sighsand exaggerating her confusion in moving her pieces, and asking forfurther instruction from Anthony. She felt Nicholas smirking behindher. Indeed, Anthony was a superb player. The clock ticked in thehall and Duke Richard leaned over on the premise of procuring abook from a table. Even Nicholas’s father was intrigued.
Alexandra moved another piece. Anthonyfrowned. Good. She had him exactly where she wanted him.
The clock struck two bells, two hours hadeclipsed. Alexandra stretched, glancing around the room. AuntMargaret ceased talking and had hobbled over to the chess table.Rachel sidled next to Aunt Margaret. Alexandra prayed Samuel wouldkeep reading the paper and not indicate anything untoward. He’dbeen watching all the time.
Anthony rubbed the back of his neck. “Lookslike you played quite a bit of chess on the island.”
Pasting a demure expression on her face, shemoved another piece in a predatory advance. “Am Isatisfactory?”
He straightened in his chair. “Very.”
Your brother is an apt tutor, is he not?”She managed to keep a straight face.
“Adequate,” Anthony allowed.
Alexandra suppressed a laugh, sat calmlywith her hands folded in her lap, totally aware of Anthony’s scowl.Of course, he had his reputation, but to admit his brother wasbetter was too difficult for his ego to swallow.
Drat. Anthony moved and it was a brilliantcounter. She moved her king into play and Aunt Margaret harrumphed.Alexandra raised her head in question, finding herself under thematronly aunt’s stare. She lasted five seconds before AuntMargaret’s lips twitched. Rachel nodded her head in approval.
“Nicholas, you should sit and rest,” goadedhis aunt. “You’ve stood the whole game.”
“And miss the championship of alifetime?”
“It’s hard to concentrate with everyonehawking over me,” complained Anthony.
Alexandra twisted her head around. WithNicholas’s knowing grin, she radiated with pride. He was cheeringfor her. Anthony tapped his finger on the table, studying theboard. With the dawning realization of the outcome, his mouthdropped open and Alexandra moved her queen in for the kill.“Checkmate.”
Anthony scraped his chair backward andstood. “Impossible! I’ve been outfoxed. I demand a rematch. How canyou play so well? I’ve sparred against the best in England.”
