She glanced at him. “You light a bowl of liquor onfire, then try to snatch raisins out of it without singeing your fingertips or eyebrows off. It’s a reckless game.”
“Ah, I see. So you judge me reckless. Willing to throw caution to the wind for…raisins.” He smiled at her.
She huffed out a breath. “Youbrought it up.”
“I did, I did.” He arched a brow. If she was playing a game with him, he could do the same. “I’ve always liked Kiss the Monkey.”
Her cheeks flamed higher and for good reason. It was a very wicked game, though played often in good company, where the lady and gentlemen would kneel with their backs to each other and arms linked, then attempt to kiss from that angle. He was very good at doing so, knew how to bend his body to catch a lady’s lips with his.
“I-I’ve never played that one,” she said, a little softer.
He wrinkled his brow. “No? Should I suggest it?”
“Oh…my lord, I’m not sure if?—”
“What say we play a game!” Roderick called out with a mischievous wink for her. “Miss Lockhart and I have been discussing Kiss the Monkey.”
There was a ripple through the crowd and varying expressions of excitement and disapproval. But Clarissa’s father rushed forward, his eyes glittering as if this were his own plan. “Oh yes, my lord. A capitalidea. What fun. And since you have suggested it, I believe you and my daughter must be the first to play.”
Clarissa was pale now. “Father?—”
“Come clear those chairs away,” Mrs. Lockhart interrupted, waving at the servants. “It will open up a space.”
Clarissa glanced at Roderick and all the teasing he’d been doing faded away. Her bottom lip was trembling, as if she were terrified. He’d never intended that, only to tweak her a little because getting her ire up was a little crack in that oh-so-proper façade.
“As they do that, let me strategize with the lady,” he said, and drew her away from the giggling crowd of partygoers. She wouldn’t look up at him now. “You appear sick,” he said gently.
She shook her head. “I’m not. It’s a party game. I suppose there is nothing terribly untoward about it. I only…” She trailed off.
“Only what?” he encouraged.
She lifted her gaze to him and for a moment he couldn’t breathe. There was so much in those eyes, those lovely, unique brown-green eyes. All the emotions she was adept at suppressing shone at once. Pain and anger, worry and fear.
“What is it, Clarissa,” he whispered, and then corrected himself. “Miss Lockhart?”
She swallowed. “I’ve…I’ve never been kissed.”
He blinked. George had said this was her third Season out when they spoke about her in London. That would make her in her very early twenties. He hadn’t imagined that some green boy hadn’t stolen a sweet kiss in all those years. She was a tempting beauty, after all.
“I see,” he said, and pondered his options. “In that case, I’ll lose the game.”
She blinked. “What?”
“I only suggested it to tease you, but I can see now that it wasn’t fair given the circumstances. So I’ll lose the game and miss in my attempt to kiss you.”
Her brow wrinkled. “I?—”
She did not have time to finish her response. Her mother rushedover, grabbed her arm and began to drag her into the circle the guests had made for the game. “Come, you two. It’s time to begin!”
He knelt down on the floor and turned his back as she began to do the same. He felt her tremble as she linked one arm through his and then the other. The press of her back to his own was warm, and he could feel her sharp intakes of breath as they tried to position themselves best. It was a challenge, for she was petite and they didn’t exactly align perfectly, even on their knees. But then, that was part of the challenge of the game.
“Ready?” Mr. Lockhart asked, and then cried out, “Kiss the Monkey!”
They each twisted, rolling their upper bodies around for a moment, trying to find the proper way to partially face each other without breaking the link of their arms. At last Roderick found himself with an angle that would allow him to reach her lips. She had wetted them as they struggled and for the first time he noticed how full the lower one was. Her eyes shone as she stared at him, trying to fake a smile like this was fun when he could see that she was nervous. He leaned in, attempting not to make the moment where he missed her lips too obvious.
But to his surprise she tilted her head, and instead of dodging him, their mouths met.
It was the briefest and most chaste of kisses. Their lips grazed, perfectly fitted even in the awkward position. Hers were warm, soft, and he had the oddest urge to fully face her and let the kiss linger a bit longer. But he couldn’t. The party laughed and clapped as she turned her face away and they unlinked arms. Her cheeks were flamed dark red, but she allowed him to help her to her feet as he, too, rose. She stared at him a moment, then stepped away.
