“It was not a social occasion for you, then.”
She faltered. “Yes, well, well, yes, I chatted with the other ladies. And Alice, of course, was there and it’s always good to see her.”
“Miss Danforth.” His voice was flat, his words uninflected.
“She’s awfully good at whist, too, when she puts her mind to it. If Lady Huxley ever let me partner someone else and I drew Alice, I am sure we would win even more handily than Lady Huxley and I do.”
“It’s very good of you to make sure your hostess wins.”
“Yes, well, it’s not really good of me. I wouldn’t want to lose my invitation, would I?” She giggled. “And I do like winning. In and of itself. Even though whist is quite a simple game.”
Thornwick moved his head very slightly. She couldn’t see his face well since the sunlight was behind him.
“It’s important to know how to lose, too, Phoebe. Graciously.”
“Yes. Believe me, I have heaps of experience in losing. Did you know I had played almost a thousand games of chess against Geor—I mean, Lord Danforth—before I won one?”
“A thousand games?”
“Nine hundred and seventy-six. Of course, we started playing when I was eight.”
“But to play a thousand games. I would have thought a girl would have given up long before getting to that number.”
“Oh, but I was determined, Arthur.”
How she wished he would move away from the window so she could tell from his expression what he was thinking. She crossed the room, getting closer to him, looking up at him. As always, his face was pleasant. Mild. Charming. No furrow in his brow. She stood in front of him and reached up impulsively to touch one of his curls.
“I do like your hair.”
He reciprocated by brushing her hair with a fingertip. “And I like yours, too, Phoebe. But I must admit, I’m afraid of touching it and causing more of it to fall down.”
“It’s all right if you do, Arthur. I’ll fix it again.”
“Our children will likely be fair-haired.”
Our children. A thrill passed through her. She felt his hand on the side of her neck. She held her breath. Now he would kiss her again.
But he didn’t. He just looked at her with his heavy-lidded, almost-sleepy blue eyes fringed by blond lashes.
I want to kiss him but I can’t. George said I shouldn’t. Receive. Receive. Don’t give.
She filled the silence. “Lady Fitzhugh was at my table for the first game and she told me she had been friends with your mother when she was younger.”
He moved his hand from her neck to her shoulder.
“I am so looking forward to meeting your mother, Arthur.”
“Yes, well.” He took his hand from her shoulder. “I’ve been thinking I should have a little house party at the end of next week. I know it is still officially the Season, but the estate is only half a day by carriage from London, and it’s been so hot here in town recently. It’s always a good deal cooler in the country. And perhaps a house party might be an appropriate occasion for you to meet the duchess. Before you make her a dowager by becoming the duchess yourself.”
How delightful! She would get to see the house where she would be mistress and explore the whole estate with him, see the famed gardens and lawns, and meet his mother. And get away from the swelter of London? That would be perfect.
“That would be perfect,” she breathed, almost giddy with excitement.
“You don’t hide your enthusiasm, Phoebe. I quite like that about you.”
“Why should I hide it?”
“No reason at all.”
