The lady grew pale.
“But fear not, miss, I shall not leave your side.” He pasted a smile to his face.
The smileMamanbeamed back was just as false. “Wonderful, Roland. I’m sure Miss Mowry will be enchanted. After breakfast then, and perhaps a game of cards tonight?”
“Oh yes, Idoenjoy a game of whist!” The young lady seemed animated by the idea.
“Then we shall need a fourth player,” Wells noted. “Suggestions?”
“Perhaps your housekeeper or steward, my lord? Since you say both are educated?” Miss Mowry chimed in.
“Why not?” Wellesley’s lips twitched.Why not indeed.
Yet later, when Wells had located and informed his housekeeper of the evening’s plan, she was less than pleased by the idea.
“No,” Charles told him, adamant. “I have neither the time nor energy to sit about playing cards while there is so much on my plate.”
“Cuthbert doesn’t play, Charles, and Miss Mowry specifically requested whist, which requires four. I am sorry but you must.”
“I must?” She glared at him. “Since when is whist within my job description, sir?”
“Which job, Charles?” He loved to rile her. “For there are many varied descriptions to your two positions here. Would you prefer I inform Miss Mowry you will be partnering as my mistress tonight, rather than as my housekeeper?”
Wells caught her arm right before she could slap him. “Do not cross me, Fox, not with my mother here. I am in a foul enough temper and do not wish to battle you, too.” He softened towards her but did not let go her arm.
He could see her stewing, and with his other hand reached to trace her cheek. “Please, Charles, I barely see you anymore with the two of them constantly underfoot.”
“Fine.” She relented as he drew her to him, kissing her hard and fast upon the lips, making him ache for her that much more. It had been days since she’d shared his bed, for how could she when his mother now slept in his chamber and he bunked with his men in a hayloft? He sensed the hunger in her kiss, too.
“Thank you, Fox.” His lips brushed her ear. “I hope you trounce them both.”
“Not before I trounce you, Wells.” She smirked.
And trounce him Charles did, for the Duchess had of course paired Mowry with her son, and Charles with herself. The Duchess did not seem at all surprised to discover Almsdale’s housekeeper adept.
“And that would be another five.” Her grace smiled at their opponents. “One more round then?” She grinned at Miss Mowry.
Only this time the lady begged off. “Why yes, one more round, yet new partners please. I do not think Lord Wellesley is focused much upon his game, whereas your team, Your Grace, is formidable.”
“Indeed.” The Duchess winked at Charles, who tried hard not to smile back.
“A man is easily outwitted when two smart women team up.” Wells caught Charles’s eye. “I shall take Miss Merrinan, then, as partner, Miss Mowry, so that you may experience my mother’s brilliance firsthand.”
“Excellent, Lord Wellesley.” The lady rose to trade seats with Charles. “I am impressed by your skill, Mrs. Merrinan. How do you come to play so well?”
Charles hesitated. “My family played, Miss Mowry.”
“She plays a sharp game of chess too,” Wells chimed in. “Beat me more than once; a better opponent than my steward by far.”
“Chess, too?” The lady began to look alarmed as Charles hastened to intervene.
“Miss Mowry, Lord Wellesley fails to explain my father was the village school teacher here and so taught his daughters everything he knew, including chess.”
“School teacher?” The Duchess frowned. “But I thought your father was?—”
Charles quickly interrupted. “Shall we?” She reached for the deck to begin dealing another round of cards.
And without warning she felt a hand slide to her lap, startling her not a little. For the rest of the game it rested there, teasing and squeezing, till her concentration failed her and their team lost the match, though his lordship did not seem the least bit displeased.
