The last man I had kissed had been my late husband. I had never understood why people enjoyed it so much. Because of him, I was not a stranger to kissing someone out of obligation.
Choosing Alexander was not a possibility. Miles and I had never even kissed in the years of our friendship, nor in the weeks of our courtship before it was halted. He had always been a gentleman. How could I ever tell Miles that I had kissed his brother? I couldn’t.
My choice was already made.
“Well, who do you choose?” Lady Tottenham asked.
I swallowed, my breath lodging in my lungs. “Lord Kirkham.”
I didn’t dare look at his resulting smile, but I did check Alexander’s face. His dark eyes glinted with surprise, then amusement. Hopefully my decision would lower his opinion of himself just a little.
I strode toward Lord Kirkham with as much confidence as I could manage. He stood to meet me. I had to appear like I owned my decision, not that I was deeply regretting it. The other guests didn’t bother to hide their surprise. Miss Rowley giggled, crossing the room to whisper something in Miss Morton’s ear. They both laughed.
I would have to have a word with Lady Tottenham in the morning, but for now, all I could do was kiss the brute in front of me.
Lord Kirkham chuckled, deep in his throat. “I don’t consider this a loss in the slightest. You and I are the true winners of the game.”
You and I? I gulped. I planned to initiate the kiss, the lightest of pecks, but Lord Kirkham swooped in before I could prepare. His mouth covered mine, and all I could taste was the raw bread dough I had sneaked from the kitchen as a child. I wrenched myself free after what felt like an eternity, though I knew it had only been seconds.
I swiped at my mouth with my glove as soon as my back was turned. It came away dusted with flour.
I returned to my seat, my cheeks blazing.
“You have something just there.” Alexander gestured at my face, just to the right of my mouth. I swiped angrily at it.
His smile grew. I wanted to throw my fist at it. He seemed quite pleased to have had his revenge by seeing me humiliated. A bicorn hat and coat was nothing compared to this. I swiped at my mouth again, checking my glove for flour. Tears welled up in my eyes, and the reason was difficult to pinpoint. I blinked them away fast.
Memories surged through my mind. The baron was much like Lord Kirkham, boorish and arrogant. His kisses were just as unwelcome. He hadn’t been kind. He hadn’t thought of anyone but himself. My legs shook beneath my skirts as I crossed my ankles. A tremor had started through my entire body, and I didn’t know how to stop it. I prayed no one noticed.
Lady Tottenham was speaking again, but I couldn’t comprehend her. I was fighting hard to hold my tears at bay.
“Here,” Alexander’s whisper caught my attention. My anger nearly prevented me from looking at him. I squared my shoulders, jerking my gaze in his direction.
He slid a white handkerchief into my hand.
Had he seen my tears? My humiliation intensified.
“For the flour,” he whispered. “There’s some on your nose.” For a moment, I thought he was offering a kindness, but then his lip twitched.
He was still laughing at me.
All the stories Miles had told me about Alexander and the trouble he had caused their parents made sense. It made sense completely. I could easily understand why Miles didn’t like him, and why they hadn’t seen eye to eye over the years. Who could get along with such an impertinent tease?
He and Miles couldn’t be more different, and not just in character. Seeing Alexander’s face now, there was very little similarity in his and Miles’s features. If I didn’t know better, I would have never assumed they were brothers. Miles’s face was warm and inviting. Alexanders features were much darker, his countenance brimming with mischief.
“I hope I have provided you all with enough entertainment and romance for this evening,” Lady Tottenham said. “You may all be excused to your bedchambers. Sleep well, for the games have only just begun.”
I was the first one to stand. I forced myself to stand tall as I tried to escape the heat of the room. Lady Tottenham stopped me at the door, her wrinkled fingers wrapping around my forearm. “Please do not ignore my invitations in the future. I take my games quite seriously, as should you.”
I nodded, shocked by her foreboding tone. “Forgive me. It will not happen again.”
She released my arm, and I slipped into the corridor. The fresh air cooled my skin as I put as much distance between myself and the other guests as possible. My feet carried me fast, though I refused to ever run in public.
Quick footfalls bounded up the stairs behind me. “My lady.”
Drat it all. I had almost made it to the top. The deep voice was already familiar enough to recognize. I didn’t want to turn around, so after a pause, I continued walking.
“Are you all right?” Alexander’s voice came again.
