I nearly inhaled the cake into my lungs. The dinner had been nothing short of a feast. Alexander must have thought I was a glutton now. I didn’t know how I would prove that I had eaten all twenty-three as the riddle had specified, but I had to try. Lady Tottenham’s game was underway, and I didn’t want to ruin my chances now. “I cannot resist sweets,” I said with a shrug.
“Do not stop on my account.” Alexander pushed the plate toward me. He poured me a cup of tea.
“Thank you,” I said, glancing up through my lashes as I took a sip. The tea burned my tongue. I sputtered, coughing out the hot liquid. My eyes watered.
He leaned his arms forward on the table. “The fastest way to victory is to wound your opponent.”
I lowered the teacup with a glare. “Well, then. Shall we start the game?”
His expression didn’t falter, amusement still gleaming behind his eyes. “A simple chess game sounds rather boring, does it not? I suggest we raise the stakes.”
I raised one eyebrow. “Are you suggesting that I gamble?”
“No.” He poured a splash of cream into my teacup before preparing his own. “I don’t gamble.”
According to Miles, gambling had been one of Alexander’s worst habits. Hearing him deny that he ever gambled at all was difficult to believe. What reason could Miles have had to make Alexander out to be such a villain? It seemed more reasonable for Alexander to lie in order to paint himself in a good light than it was for Miles to lie in order to condemn his brother.
One of them was lying. How could I not assume it was the man across from me? I hardly knew him. I would sooner trust Lady Tottenham with my hair arrangement than I would trust Alexander’s mischievous smile.
“What are you suggesting then?” I asked.
He picked up one of the roses from the vase, rolling the stem between two fingers. The rose spun, a blur of red velvet petals. “A bargain.”
I raised my brows. “That is vague. What are the terms?”
“If you win the game, you may choose a woman from among the guests at the party for me to court. If I win the game, I will choose a gentleman for you to court.”
I gaped at him, an astonished laugh escaping my chest. “You would allow me to chooseanywoman here for you to court? Even Mrs. Pike?” The woman was at least fifteen years his senior. Mrs. Fitzgibbon was at least five, and I was closest at one.
“Well, I do specialize with older women.” His lips twisted in a smile as his eyes met mine.
I chose to ignore that remark. “Why do you want the opportunity to choose a gentleman for me?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “You know that I’m waiting for—” I stopped myself. We had agreed not to speak of Miles.
Alexander set the rose down in front of his teacup. “That’s exactly why I want the opportunity. I want you to be sure that Miles is the man for you. If the man I choose doesn’t win over your affections by the time Miles returns, then you will have proven me wrong.” He took a sip from his teacup, setting it down firmly on the saucer. “I don’t think Miles is your match, and I want the chance to prove it.”
Our rule not to speak of Miles had already been broken, and it hadn’t even been a day. A wave of frustration anchored me to my seat. I took a steadying breath. Proving Alexander wrong would be a pleasure, though I didn’t want to be forced to court any of the men at the party. If I had to guess, he would probably choose Mr. Hatcher or Mr. Amesbury. I drummed my fingers on the table. If I won, I could have the pleasure of matching him with anyone I chose. He would regret suggesting the bargain at all. Miss Morton or Miss Rowley would love the opportunity to court Alexander, and it would hopefully serve to humble Miss Octavia as well.
Alexander wasn’t aware of my hours upon hours of chess practice. He didn’t know who he was competing with.
“Very well, we have a bargain,” I said. I ate two more desserts from the plate, popping one in each cheek. My stomach protested, but I still had sixteen to go. I would have to spread them out over the course of the game.
Alexander looked far too pleased with my reply.
And too confident.
“Go on, make the first move.” Alexander sat back in his chair, picking up a cherry tartlet from the plate. I kept my eyes fixed on the pastry. He took a bite, wiping a drop of jam from his lower lip with his thumb. I looked away fast. I had already forbade myself from finding him attractive, and looking at his lips would only make matters worse.Focus, Anne.
I moved my first pawn, sitting back while Alexander made his move. I snatched up another two pickings of my own from the plate. If he went on eating, my twenty-three would run out before the game was over.
His eyebrows lifted and his hand froze over the board as he watched me pick up another hot cross bun. “Ten,” I whispered by accident. I chewed fast and took another sip of tea. Thirteen to go. I counted the items that remained on the plate. There were only sixteen remaining, which meant Alexander couldn’t eat more than three. I would have to keep one eye on him the entire time. The footman in the corner of the room might have been watching to see how many I ate—to see if I deserved another clue in Lady Tottenham’s game.
I moved another piece, and Alexander made his second move. His hand reached for the plate of sweets. I panicked and snatched up two more, moving them to my side of the table. I cast him an innocent smile.
After ten minutes of strategic play, I realized that Alexander was not as unfamiliar with the game as he had portrayed. He knew exactly what he was doing. After twenty minutes, he struggled to keep a serious expression as he watched me devour the plate of sweets. He was winning the game because I was too preoccupied with a different one. I didn’t know where my desperation to obtain another clue had come from, but I could taste my victory along with almost twenty small pastries.
Alexander only reached for the tray twice, but that was enough to make panic rise up in my chest. I had been eating three times as fast as he was, but I still had four to go. Alexander had already eaten his allotment if I were to claim all twenty-three of mine. My stomach ached as I took my turn on the chess board.
I grimaced. I should have been more focused throughout the game. I had never been skilled at dividing my attention. I stuffed a miniature pear cake into my mouth.
