He was the only one.
Could he and Rhoda find happiness together?
And was she, Emily Goodnight, good enough for the likes of Lord Carlisle?
Parlor Games
“Let’s play a parlor game!”
Emily’s heart raced at Sophia’s announcement. Her two friends had discussed this earlier, promising to help Emily in her quest. Everyone knew parlor games, in a ripe setting, had the potential to devolve into inappropriate interactions between single persons… even married ones.
“But not Charades,” Rhoda inserted. “Something new! Something fast!” Mrs. Mossant and Rhoda’s youngest sister, Hollyhock, had retired for the evening, leaving Emily, Sophia, Rhoda, and Coleus downstairs with Prescott and three equally available bachelors.
Oh, yes, most certainly they’d premeditated whatever was to come next.
“I know just the game.” Even without her spectacles, Emily could make out that Sophia had gone to stand beside Prescott. Those two never missed an opportunity to touch one another. Even now, Emily would bet their hands were entwined amongst the folds of Sophia’s skirts. “Cecily wrote me of a parlor game some ladies in her neighborhood played last winter. One of them was called Beast of Burden.”
She then went on to explain the rules and how it was played. The game was a scandal! Emily bit her lip and wondered if she might be able to cry off and return to her room early for the night.
“So, if I’m to understand correctly.” The lieutenant rose from beside her and crossed to pour himself something from the sideboard. “The gentleman crawls around on the floor carrying the lady on his back so that other gentlemen might kiss her?” And then a bark of laughter. “I’m game if the ladies are.”
And Emily had thought they’d traveled to Eden’s Court to put scandal to rest. Cecily’s husband had several acquaintances who weren’t members of theton. Surely, such a game was only played amongst the demimonde… or worse! How could Rhoda and Sophia imagine she could secure an honorable gentleman under these circumstances?
Rhoda crossed the room and sat beside Emily. She then took hold of Emily’s hand and squeezed it tightly. Of course, Rhoda would have realized that Emily would disapprove. “Of course, we’ll play, won’t we, Em?”
And the only way Emily could escape at this point would be to fight with Rhoda to get her hand back. “I, er, suppose?”
Prescott wasn’t quite as obliging. “I can’t abide my wife kissing anyone other than myself.”
So unfashionable!
Emily sighed.So utterly romantic.
“The kiss can be either on the cheek or the lips. Like brothers and sisters,” Sophia reassured her husband. Could those two get any closer to one another? Romantic, yes, but also a bit annoying at times.
“As long as my objections are known.” Of course, Prescott would defer to Sophia’s wishes.
“One more thing,” Rhoda added. “Everyone is blindfolded except for the maiden and the beast.”
Emily contemplated the ramifications of the game and how she could make the rules work in her favor while Sophia sent for the blindfolds. General disorder ensued around her until chairs had been organized into what Emily presumed to be a circle. She couldn’t see much but found herself adapting, nonetheless.
Somebody placed a scarf in her hand, but just as she went to tie it around her head, Sophia’s voice stopped her.
“Emily is first.”
Rather than argue, Emily rose slowly from the settee and awaited the next name. The scarves were handed out, and everyone was instructed to sit boy-girl-boy-girl.
“And Blakely, you’re to be the beast.” Emily didn’t appreciate the humor everybody found at this statement. He wasn’t as beastly as all that.
“Now we all put our blindfolds on,” Sophia instructed.
When a large figure appeared before her, she leaned forward to study him. Ah, Blakely had removed his jacket.
“Who’s your preference, Miss Goodnight?” Lord Blakely leaned in and asked softly.
The question stumped her. She’d already informed him that she was contemplating Carlisle. Unfortunately, his nearness addled her brain. “Er. Doesn’t matter, I suppose.” She wished his distinctively masculine scent didn’t disorient her so much!
And then he knelt and settled on his hands and knees. “Climb on.”
