They each took a card, and Elizabeth squealed.
“I have the king!” She exclaimed. “That is a good thing, is it not? Do I win?”
“You are the dealer,” Jackie laughed. “And the person with the second highest will be your partner.”
“That will be me, I suppose,” Lord Greene grinned. “For I have a queen.”
And so, the game began. Jackie had to admit that she also did not know how to play whist very well, but she covered that fact well. In fact, when in a team with the duke, she seemed to play better than she ever had before.
“My, Lady Jacqueline,” the duke smirked. “You are very good at this. It is no wonder you wanted to play cards.”
“Father and I used to play together,” she admitted. “I spent many nights in the drawing room with him, though we never played whist unless Mother was willing to join.”
“And I am most grateful for that,” Lord Greene laughed. “Because I would quite like to win a hand at some point.”
The four of them laughed, and Jackie noticed that Elizabeth was watching them.
“The two of you work well together,” Elizabeth said at last. “It is lovely to see, I have to say.”
Jackie couldn’t help but wonder if she meant this, or was trying to push them together for her own sake. Then she realized that they had won the third hand, and therefore the game, and knew that it had to be the former option.
“Brilliant,” the duke whispered.
“Again,” Elizabeth commanded. “And this time, the two of you are forbidden from working together!”
The four of them laughed before dealing once more, and this time as they went to choose their cards, Jackie’s hand brushed the duke’s. He did not flinch at her touch, nor did she, but she couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same rush that she had done.
She also hoped that nobody else could see the effect that it had had on her. She was not ashamed, far from it, but not much time had passed at all, and she wanted to be sure before she said anything to anyone, especially her sister.
She could not allow Elizabeth to get her hopes up if it would all be for nothing in the end.
“It isn’t fair,” Elizabeth muttered as they retired to their bedchambers. “Could you not have allowed me to win even one game?”
“Certainly not. It would take away from your victory if I simply gave it to you. Think of how happy you shall be if one day you do win, knowing it was all your own doing?”
“If?” She echoed, laughing, and the two ladies continued on their way until they reached Elizabeth’s room.
Suddenly, Elizabeth grabbed Jackie’s sleeve and pulled her back.
“I wanted to thank you,” Elizabeth continued. “For trying. I know that this is not what you wanted, but you are trying to see it through regardless and I truly am grateful for that.”
“Of course,” Jackie nodded, pulling her sister into an embrace. “I would do anything to take care of you.”
Especially, she thought, when it benefited her so well too.
Chapter 15
Relief.
That was all that Philip could feel as he closed his eyes that night; relief that Lady Jacqueline had given him another opportunity, that Lady Ophelia’s sudden appearance had only brought them closer, and that Lady Jacqueline had not run off with Lucien.
With every moment he spent with her, Philip could feel himself being drawn more and more to her. He had found himself wanting nothing more than to simply be around her that evening, which was what had possessed him to go to dinner.
It had been a frightening prospect, and he did not know what to expect when it came to her family, but he was grateful to see that they accepted him, even if they needed a moment to adjust. Only her father had seen him before, when planning the courtship, and even then he was wearing his mask.
And then they touched during the game. It was only their hands lightly brushing, not enough to make even the most stalwart matrons blush, but even so he had felt the strangest thing wash over him. Fortunately, one look at Lady Jacqueline proved that she had felt it too, and he was pleased to know that he was not the only one affected.
Then came a sense of unease as he lay in his bed. How could he prove to her how serious he felt about their courtship?
