And so, they began.
Within minutes, Anna forgot about the intense stares and why she had come down to the party, as Colin punctuated each fervent turn with a funny look, a dramatic gasp, or a playful accusation. Her laughter shook her shoulders and made her eyes stream as she slammed another card down.
“Minx!” Colin cried, grinning. “That card before was a spade, not a jack!”
He put down two cards as if she wouldn’t notice.
“Sneak!” she accused, snatching up the offending cards and tossing them back across the table to him.
“Ah, too keen-eyed by far,” Colin replied, as she rushed to place a heart on the center deck, their hands brushing as he tried to place his card down first.
There was no awkwardness at the accidental touch, just a fresh ripple of merry laughter.
On and on they went in their bubble of giddy mirth until there was just one card left to play. On the top of the middle deck was a two of hearts… and Colin observed her with curiosity, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Will she be victorious, this lady who says she cannot play cards?” he said, as he sucked in a breath.
With a smirk, Anna slowly put down her final card. “The ace of hearts, Lord Belford.”
“And with that, mine is broken,” Colin sighed, clasping a hand to his chest while his eyes twinkled with mischief. “A splendid victory, Your Grace. Yes, you cheated, but you did it so excellently that I would doubt what I saw.”
Anna laughed. “I thought that was the purpose of the game, to cheat discreetly?”
“It is indeed. I am just envious of your talents, and something of a sore loser,” he replied, his manner so friendly and welcoming that she wished she had befriended him sooner.
He had been her neighbor for all these years, and she was only now discovering how pleasant he was. Not a romantic prospect, not at all, but something akin to the brother she had never had.
“Shall we play again?” he asked.
Anna nodded. “I should like that.”
“Splendid!” He scraped up the messy middle deck and began to shuffle the cards, his gaze wandering around the room as he did so.
Without thinking, Anna followed his gaze… and gasped softly when her attention settled on Jeremy. He stood on the opposite side of the room, leaning against the bookshelves, a half-empty glass of amber liquid in his hand. She noticed the whiteness of his knuckles and worried he might shatter the glass, before her gaze flicked up to his dark eyes.
He watched her with such intensity that her skin started to flush, half-remembering their encounter in her dressing room, half-worrying that he might stride over to repeat the sentiment that had caused them to part ways:“… just because I won’t wed doesn’t mean I will let ye belong to anyone else. I can’t let anyone else have ye. Not as long as ye stay here.”
Truly, from his grim expression alone, she feared for Colin’s safety. As if to confirm her worries, Jeremy’s black eyes turned toward the marquess, glinting with such danger that Anna’s heart lurched in her chest.
“Lord Belford,” she said, struggling to keep her voice steady.
Colin looked up from his card shuffling, oblivious. “Yes, Your Grace?”
“I have a sudden need for fresh air,” she told him. “Do you think you might excuse me for a few minutes? It is suddenly too warm in here. But I promise, I shall return to continue our game.”
Colin glanced at Jeremy, and the faintest hint of a smirk lifted his lips. “Of course, Your Grace. Would you like me to accompany you? Bring you a refreshment?”
“No, thank you,” Anna said quickly, as she rose from her chair, beckoned for Katherine, and headed out into the cool evening air.
Hopefully, that would be enough to ensure Colin’s safety for a while, though she did not look back to check. She could not, worried she might meet those shining black eyes instead… and forget that she was supposed to be concentrating on everyonebutthe duke.
CHAPTER 22
Jeremy’s mind had twisted into knots, his blood boiling with every laugh Anna had willingly shared with Colin, every accidental touch of their hands while playing cards, every smile she had cast at the man, and every fond look she had given him.
She had not looked at Jeremy once, not until the end. Whether it had been her intention or not, the jealousy within him had reached infernal temperatures, infuriating him to the point that he had almost walked out at least a handful of times.
But she was on the terrace now, away from the far too friendly attention of Colin.
