“We’ll play for sweets,” Michael said.
“Lieutenant Thorpe, you are a man of genius,” Hannah breathed.Her face beamed with anticipation and a new determination to win.
He rested his wrist upon the table, watching her as she focused on her cards.Mrs.Turner explained the rules, urging Hannah to choose five cards to exchange from her hand.
“The seven is the lowest card and ace is the highest,” the widow explained.“You should try to exchange the most cards, in order to hold the advantage.Then you will count the number of points in your hand.”
Hannah’s mouth was pursed, as though she were contemplating the best combination to discard.After she picked up her new cards, Mrs.Turner explained more of the rules while Michael exchanged his own cards.
“The winner of each trick will receive her choice of confections from the tray,” the widow said, reaching for one of the caramels.“I had best sample these to ensure that they are of good quality.”
“Shouldn’t we each sample a bit?”Hannah offered, eyeing the sweets.
“Not unless you win.”Michael arranged his cards.“That would be cheating.”After she’d arranged her hand, he asked, “What is your opening bid?”
Before she answered, Hannah took another glance at her cards.“What penalty will the loser pay for losing a trick?”
“There’s no penalty for losing.The winner gets the sweets, and that’s fair enough.”
“No, Lady Hannah is right,” Mrs.Turner said.“The loser should pay a forfeit.”
“I will not bleat like a goat.Or sing.”He didn’t care what the women wanted; some things were beneath his dignity.
Hannah offered him a stunning smile.“I think it should be answering questions.The loser has to tell the winner the truth, no matter what is asked.”
“Even better,” Mrs.Turner said.“We will take turns playing against one another.”From the bright color in the woman’s cheeks, it appeared that she had not suffered unduly the night before.Michael wondered if she had any memory of what she’d done.Probably not.
Hannah won the first trick.Her lips curved upwards with victory as she chose one of the caramels.Her eyes closed as she chewed the confection.“I could eat a hundred of these,” she breathed.
And didn’t he want to be the one to give them to her?The exquisite expression on her face was like a woman in the throes of sexual fulfillment.
Michael focused his attention back on his cards, ignoring the rigid arousal he was forced to hide beneath the table.
“Time for your forfeit,” Hannah demanded.She reached for a glass of lemonade that the waiter had brought earlier, thinking to herself.After a moment, she asked, “How did you and my brother Stephen become friends?”
Her question surprised him.He’d expected her to inquire about Von Reischor or the journey to Lohenberg.
“I met Whitmore at school, years ago.”
Her face turned curious.“I didn’t know you’d gone to Eton.”
Michael dealt the next set of cards, shrugging.“I did receive an education.My mother insisted on it, though it was an unnecessary hardship.”
Mrs.Turner’s face turned serious.“It was important to Mary.She wanted our Michael to have a better life than they could give.”With a smile, she added, “He was the best student there.”
“Really.”Lady Hannah’s mouth softened in thought as she arranged another card.
Michael sensed the unspoken questions.Common men rarely attended schools that educated the upper classes.The truth was, he didn’t know why he’d been allowed to attend.The headmaster had never made mention of it, though Michael was certain his fellow students had suspected his humble beginnings.
Knowing that each day he spent at school was another coin taken away from his parents, he felt he had no choice but to excel at his studies.And although he’d learned Latin and French, he’d found little use for it.A gentleman’s education didn’t amount to much without a title.
In the end, he’d followed the path of several friends, joining the British Army.Whitmore had been his closest friend and had considered a military career as well, before he’d become the heir.
Mrs.Turner played against him in the next round, and Michael spied Graf von Reischor approaching.Though he nearly lost his concentration, he managed to win the trick.
When Hannah offered him the tray, he chose a chocolate-dipped cream.
“Take it,” he bade Hannah.
