As a united front, they gathered their wraps then walked to the carriage and climbed inside, doing their best to avoid the worst of the snowdrifts around them. After snowing quite heavily for most of the day, it looked like a winter wonderland and Araminta couldn’t have been happier. Olivia, however, turned her focus outside to stare blankly at the darkness beyond. She still wasn’t eager to attend the gathering, but at least she was in the coach.
Araminta smoothed her hands down the front of her ivory gown and then glanced at Isadora and Calliope seated across from her. Isa had chosen a sapphire blue dress to wear, and Araminta decided that it complimented her black hair rather nicely. In turn, Calliope had opted for a rose gown, which actually brought out the copper tints in her hair. Not many ladies would dare to wear pink with such coloring, but then, Araminta realized that there wasn’t much Calliope couldn’t get away with. And even then, she would likely defy convention to do it anyway.
As they arrived at the Everlakes’ stately townhome with its large white columns, they alighted from the carriage with the assistance of a footman as they walked up the expansive steps.
Inside, Araminta could hear the buzz of activity and laughter coming from various rooms and as their hostess sailed over to greet them in a plum-colored dress with diamonds winking at her throat and ears, she said with a wide grin, “You must be the Bevelstroke sisters, the toast of London this Christmas season. I’m Lady Everlake.”
Araminta laughed and then offered a polite curtsy. “I’m not sure about that, my lady, but yes you are correct in that we are the daughters of the late Duke of Marlington. My name is Araminta, and this is Isadora, Calliope, and Olivia.” She gestured to each of her sisters in turn, who nodded respectfully.
“It’s lovely to have you here this evening,” the countess remarked. She held up a hand, and a footman walked over to hand them each a sheet of parchment. “This is a guide to where the various games will be held. There will be refreshments on hand so you won’t get parched.” She offered a kind smile. “I do hope that you enjoy yourselves.”
“I’m sure we will,” Araminta returned. “Thank you for the invitation.”
As the lady moved away to greet more guests that had arrived, she turned to her sisters who were perusing the various games. “I know where I shall go first,” Calliope announced. “Charades!” With a slight squeak of excitement, she headed in that direction.
“I think I shall broaden my mind with some riddles.” Isadora was the next to leave.
“I don’t see Spillkins listed, Minty,” Olivia said somewhat anxiously.
Araminta patted her arm. “Never you fret. I see board games listed in the front parlor, so perhaps we will get lucky in there.”
Lord Blakely pulledat his cravat in agitation. “Must we engage in such absolutely boring pursuits?” Seb nearly whined. “I have debased myself more often than not in the quest for a particular female, but this one truly tops the list.”
Grey rolled his eyes. “I doubt this is the worst thing you’ve done by far. Either way, you might recall you are here as a favor to me. I was told this is where the Bevelstroke sisters would be this evening so here we are. Besides, I doubt it will be as awful as you imagine.”
As their hostess walked forward, Grey shot his companion a warning look.
“Curse women and their red hair,” Sebastian grumbled under his breath, although he adopted a perfectly charming grin, as if there wasn’t anywhere else he’d rather be that evening than the Countess of Everlake’s residence.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” She greeted them with a broad smile. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“It’s nice to get out of the gaming hells from time to time,” Grey teased.
She laughed. “I imagine it’s easier on the purse anyway. My late husband was an inveterate gambler, so I understand the appeal of the card tables.” As they were each handed a paper, she said, “You will find the various games in each of these rooms.”
As she moved to speak with some other guests, Sebastian folded the paper and tucked it neatly into his pocket. “I shouldn’t be needing this. My interest will be piqued wherever I can find a certain lady.” After a scandalous wink at Grey, he sauntered off.
Grey, in turn, studied the sheet before him and tried to imagine which entertainment Araminta might enjoy. As he was considering it, he walked past the front parlor where several people were inside, enjoying chess and backgammon, among several others. But it was the two women he spied seated on the floor that captured his attention.
Araminta was a vision in her ivory gown with bits of gold threading, but it was the brilliant smile on her face that temporarily struck him immobile.
Almost without conscious thought he eventually found himself moving forward. “Is there room for one more?” He didn’t even know what they were playing, but when Araminta glanced up in surprise and those mesmerizing silver eyes met his gaze, he didn’t really care.
“I suppose that would be all right.” He thought he saw her breathing catch as she looked across at the rather solemn blond girl. “Do you mind, sweeting?”
The girl shook her head. “No. It’s fine.”
Grey could tell that the youngest Bevelstroke sister would have preferred that he went away, so as he sat down and joined them, he decided that his first order of business was to put her at ease. With his focus on her, he asked gently, “What are we playing?”
She flicked her gaze toward him and then dropped it back to the floor. “Spillkins,” she replied.
“Hmm.” He had played the game many times with his sister in the nursery as they were growing up, but this girl didn’t know that. “I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the rules.”
As he’d hoped, she scooped up the sticks off the floor, adding her own and Araminta’s to the pile, and then she let go of them, allowing them to fall into another messy disarray. “The object is to remove the most sticks,” Olivia explained. “Without moving the others.” She carefully demonstrated, slowly plucking one from the set. “As long as you don’t move a stick, then you get another turn. If you do, it passes to the next player. The game is over when the last stick is removed.”
“Sounds rather simple,” he murmured.
She glanced up at him with a shrug. “It is. You can go first.”
