***
Carrie went to her bedchamber to change out of her habit, still shaky from the experience. But Nicholas had been there and caught her. She remembered how safe she felt. Although she considered herself a confident woman, it made her realize how alone she had been after her father died. When she’d gazed up at Nicholas’s hard jaw, she saw her accident had unnerved him. His heart thumped so hard it felt like a drum.
Her admiration for him and her pleasure to see how good he was with Bella and Jeremy grew with each day. Might he care for her? He seemed committed to his course, to take her to London.
After dinner, the family gathered in the drawing room. Bella tried to persuade poor Scotty to dance a few steps of a reel with her. The long-suffering governess complained of her knees and sank into a chair.
“Play spillikins with me, Bella,” Jeremy said. “And don’t cheat.”
Nicholas smiled at Carrie. “Chess?”
She agreed, pleased to have another chance to trounce him, but with no real confidence in doing so.
They moved to the chess table, where Nicholas set up the pieces on the board.
“You gave me white,” she said. “I should thank you, but I suspect that was because I can be easily beaten.”
Nicholas studied her pink gown. “I don’t believe I’ve seen that dress before.”
“No.”
“It’s pretty. Is it a ploy to prevent me from concentrating on the game? If so, it might work.”
Carrie was surprised. It was the first flirtatious thing he’d said to her. She had chosen this gown especially because she thought it suited her.
She moved a knight in front of her pawns and gazed up at him, very much aware of how handsome he looked tonight in a coat that turned his eyes smoky blue. He raised his eyebrows as he studied the board and ran his fingers through his thick dark hair. Really, it was she who must keep her mind on the game.
“An interesting opening move,” he said.
“I won’t be such an easy mark this time. Your move, my lord.”
He chuckled.
But as the game continued, Bella and Jeremy grew quiet. With just the crackle of a small fire, the mood became intimate, as if she and Nicholas shared something bigger, more important than just a game of chess. She was very aware of him, his broad shoulders in his dark coat, his gray eyes observing the play, his long fingers when they toyed with a pawn.
Carrie breathed deeply and lost focus, not knowing her right from her left. Their hands collided when she held on to a piece too long. A frisson of feeling rushed through her.
“Sorry.” She wetted her lips and frowned slightly. When she raised her gaze from the board, Nicholas studied her, a question in his eyes.
“I’m a little tired,” she said, although she wasn’t at all. She wanted to stay up all night and talk, really talk to him. But Nicholas would never allow her to glimpse his innermost thoughts. Or give her some glimmer of what he thought of her. So, she ended the game before he could win and wished him a restful night.
Later, Carrie climbed into bed. She went back over the game. Just being near Nicholas made her heart race. Would she be able to think clearly enough to ever beat him?
She pummeled her pillow. Would there even be a next time?
Chapter Nine
When Nicholas returned to the library after breakfast, his dog leapt up to greet him, tail wagging.
“You are indefatigable, Chester.” Nicholas bent to pat him. “You exhausted yourself following my horse this morning. Have you forgotten?”
Chester returned to his basket, turned around, and sank down with his head on his paws. Seated at his desk, Nicholas opened his ledger and read the chapter he’d penned earlier. He cleaned his pen, dipped it in the inkwell, then stared at the page as the last few hours came back to him, banishing any thoughts of the Battle of Waterloo.
Carrie had been a mesmerizing opponent at their chess game last night. He found himself watching her rather than the board.
Yesterday when her horse reared, and she slipped from the saddle, his heart had dropped into his boots. He grew sweaty thinking of it.
Nicholas threw down his pen.
