He spoke her name as if it was a caress. She remembered another piece of gossip she’d overheard—Letty Bainhurst claimed Camberly was a prodigious lover. None better, she said.
And Willa wondered exactly what Letty meant, even though her imagination sent heat to her cheeks and other regions of her body.
Matt took a step toward the door. “I should take my leave. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.” He looked to Willa on the last word, and she felt herself blush again.
He’d won her over. Effortlessly.
“Of course. Of course. You will seeplentyof your bride after the morrow when you join the ranks of the rest of us poor husbands who find ourselves unable to escape the weight of the parson’s knot.” Her father laughed at his own jest and escorted Matt out into the hall, where a footman waited to help him with his oilskin coat, gloves, and hat.
Her father was beginning to say something else to Camberly when the corners of his mouth tightened. Willa moved forward so she could see what had displeased him. Her mother lingered in the hallway as if she had just come out of one of many rooms.
Joanne Reverly was a touch taller than Willa. She’d been a fiery redhead in her youth but now her hair had turned the color of a mouse pelt. She had a habit of staying in the shadows or tucked away in card rooms among her friends as if she didn’t wish to draw attention to herself.
Her husband had always been the one to make the decisions. Her responsibility had been to carry out his wishes. Her acquiescence had never gained her his respect.
Willa walked down the hall and took her mother’s arm. “Come, the duke has paid a call.”
“That is nice,” her mother answered, allowing herself to be directed to the gathering by the door. She gave a small curtsey to Camberly. “It is good to see you again, Your Grace.”
“Especially under such happy circumstances, no?” he answered, pulling on his gloves.
“Ah, yes,” her mother agreed. Her glance shifted to her husband. “All is good.”
“It will be the affair of the decade,” her father promised the duke. “It will be remembered throughout all of history.”
The pleasant expression on Matt’s face didn’t waver, except Willa noted his gaze went from one parent to another with sharp scrutiny, and she wondered what he was thinking. Few people cared about the dynamic between Leland Reverly and his wife.
And Willa realized that if she had cried off, it was her mother who would have paid a price. Her father would have blamed her for Willa’s rebellion. Willa was now thankful that Matt had eased her doubts.
Peters, the butler, held the front door open, but Matt eased closer to Willa. “I’m sorry we were interrupted.” He spoke for her ears alone.
She was as well, but she didn’t trust her voice to speak, not when her father was obviously straining to catch every word between them.
Matt took her hand. Lifting it to his lips, he surprised her by turning it over and kissing her wrist. His lips lingered there a moment, right upon her pulse, and she thought she might faint from the surge of heat that shot through her.
He met her eye and then smiled. “Six points,” he whispered, reminding her of his intent to play the “game.” His husky tone hummed through her body.
“Four points,” she managed to croak out. “That wasn’t worth six points.”
His grin turned wolfish. “I shall take that as a challenge.”
“I pray you do.”
Where had that come from?She had started off so angry with him that she had been willing to risk scandal, to now counting the minutes until she would see him again.
He had convinced her to trust him. He’d slipped past her doubts and wariness. Although the impetus for their marriage was money, she was beginning to believe therecouldbe something meaningful between them.
It had also not escaped her notice that when the servants had helped him with his coat, he’d murmured a thank-you. He was male,andhe was appreciative?
Perhaps Camberly was different.
He released her hand. “Until the morrow, Willa. I shall be waiting for you at the church.” With a cocky set of his hat, he was out the door.
She watched him toss the street lad a coin and gather the reins of his horse. The animal seemed hardly tamed, and yet, he was up in the saddle and on his way.
She placed her hand over her wrist where he had placed his kiss. She’d lied. It had definitely been worth six points.
My lover’s kiss is like no other, an answer to my soul...
