“Brilliantly played.” Miss Weston reached across the table and placed a hand on Algenon’s as he gathered the cards.
He glanced up momentarily before swiftly sweeping the rest of the deck together. “Thank you, Miss Weston. It was really nothing.”
“Oh, but it wasn’t,” she cooed. “I can see you know your way around cards.”
Bile rose in Javenia’s throat. Miss Weston’s compliments were almost as disgusting as Algenon’s. Javenia glanced at him to see his reaction.
Nothing. He didn’t act pleased or annoyed. He simply slipped her the deck so she could deal for the next round. Splitting the cards into two, Javenia shuffled, focusing solely on her task. Tension filled her muscles as she realized that not only had Algenon not defended her, even though she knew Miss Weston’s remark had upset him, but he’d also not discouraged the woman from her pursuit.
Doubt crept in as she dealt the cards to each player. She had seen every sign that he despised Miss Weston, but what if he was now trying to resign himself to his father’s demands? Something tugged at her skirts and she moved her leg, afraid they’d gotten caught under someone’s foot.
With clubs now the trump, Miss Weston started the trick high with a king of spades.
Algenon cleared his throat and shifted positions.
Javenia raised an eyebrow at him. “No sending signals.”
“Can a man not clear his throat without being accused of collusion?” he complained.
“No,” Lord Hamdon said. “If I cannot nod, you cannot shift and clear your throat.”
Javenia smiled at Algenon in triumph.
A smirk pulled at his lips. “They somehow think we had time to set up a silent code, Miss Weston.” Then he turned to Lord Hamdon. “When would I have had time for that? You were playing at the game with her before I came along, so if anyone were going to cheat, it would be you.”
Lord Hamdon leaned forward over his cards. “Yes, but I am not on the same team.” He threw down a ten of spades.
Neither she nor Algenon had anything to beat Miss Weston’s card, so the trick ended in her favor.
“You were standing together before Miss Weston approached my table.” Lord Hamdon started the next trick playing a diamond. “Maybe you set up a secret code then?”
Algenon scoffed. “A secret code, in cards. Impossible.” He tossed down the king of diamonds, staring intently at Lord Hamdon.
The man glanced at the card, then gave a slight dip of his chin in Algenon’s direction.
Javenia didn’t know the significance of the interaction, but Lord Hamdon grew increasingly quiet after that, his shoulders stiff as his jaw worked back and forth in between plays.
On the last round, Miss Weston played an ace of hearts. Javenia frowned at the card in her hand. She couldn’t beat an ace.
Lord Hamdon sighed, and her shoulders slumped. Then he smiled and threw a ten of clubs on the pile. She turned to twit Algenon about their good luck, but he was already staring intently at her. The look was pointed, but she couldn’t decipher what he was trying to convey.
Miss Weston cleared her throat especially loud, drawing both their attention. “I suppose it does not matter what you have now that the trump has been played. Unless, of course, you have a higher trump?”
She batted hopeful eyes at Algenon, and Javenia fought the urge to roll her own. Even if Lord Hamdon won this trick, they would lose this round to Miss Weston and Algenon. But that did not mean she would accept defeat in the long game.
Algenon shook his head. “I am sorry, Miss Weston.” Then he threw down the king of hearts.
Javenia stared at it, the irony not lost to her. In her hand, she held the queen of hearts. Neither one beat Miss Weston or Lord Hamdon’s cards and so did not change the course of the game. But to be played together?
Her skirt shifted again, and she started to move away from the sensation when a warm hand settled on her knee. She swallowed. Her gaze slowly rose from the cards to Algenon’s face.
“It’s your play, Miss Harris,” he said softly.
Her heart thrummed in her ears, warmth permeating every inch of her. Had he really just placed his hand on her knee? What if someone saw them?
Honestly, she didn’t care. Part of her wished someonewouldcatch them and call them out. Then they’d have to marry to save face.
No. She took a deep breath and gave herself a good mental shake. She’d never force Algenon’s hand. She was not like themany other women in his past, and especially not like his father. To force his hand would lose her his respect.
