Page 28 of Wagering for Miss Blake (Lords and Ladies in Love 4)

Once they’d reached The Rose and the Crown Pub, she’d immediately latched onto Lady Montford without giving him a second look. He’d sat with Hawk and Cam and the other gentlemen and had tried very hard to forget the nearness of Suzanna and the creamy skin he’d touched, lest he’d be unable to rise from the table with dignity when it came time to depart.

Giles walked up to Suzanna where she stood with Lady Penrose and Miss Granger. “Have you had a chance to begin Persuasion, Miss Blake?”

She regarded him coolly and shook her head. “No, not yet.”

“Oh, I just read that book last week,” Lady Penrose said. “It was very good. Probably one of Miss Austen’s best.”

“I really liked Pride and Prejudice, myself.” Miss Granger put her hand over her heart and sighed. “Mr. Darcy was so very romantic.”

“Indeed. One wonders how Miss Austen could write such romantic figures, given her spinster state.” Giles took a sip of his brandy and watched Suzanna over the rim of his glass.

As expected, she rose to the challenge and regarded him through narrowed eyelids. “An author makes up stories, Mr. Templeton. That is why it is called fiction. Do you think a writer who pens a murder mystery must commit murder to write about it?”

He grinned, happy to rile her. “Good point, Miss Blake. I bow to your superior intellect.”

“Ladies and gentlemen. Once the card players and billiard aficionados have departed, we will begin our games.”

“Which is it for you, Miss Blake? Billiards, cards, or parlor games?” Giles placed his empty brandy glass down and smiled at her.

“What is your preference?”

“Ah, no you don’t. I asked first.”

Lady Honora turned to Suzanna. “Oh, Miss Blake, you must join us in the parlor games.”

Suzanna stared at Giles, who adopted a very innocuous expression. She sighed. “Yes, I would be happy to join you in parlor games.”

“Wonderful, I would enjoy some parlor games, myself.” Giles grinned at Suzanna’s scowl. Score one for him.

They ended with three men and four women. Not to be deterred, Lady Honora scoured the room until she managed to pry Mr. St. Vincent from the card-playing group. “That’s perfect, now.”

“The first game is very simple. Each man will take a woman partner for this game.” Before she even finished speaking, Giles had moved next to Suzanna.

She stepped away.

He stepped closer.

She moved again.

So did he.

“Stop,” she snapped.

He regarded her, his eyes wide. “What?” Before she could answer, he turned to Lady Honora. “Miss Blake and I will partner for this game.”

She clapped her hands in delight. Hawk’s sister was so easily pleased. Too bad the woman of his affections was not.

Within minutes, everyone had a partner, and Lady Honora explained the directions. “Each couple will walk slowly past the table of items laid out. Every item begins with one letter of the alphabet. Once you have passed by, you must sit together and write as many items you remember. The couple who correctly identifies the most wins.”

Giles leaned toward Suzanna. “I’ll take the first half of the alphabet, you take the second.”

Suzanna smirked. “Do you always make the decisions for everyone?”

“No. Only for you and me.”

“There is no ‘you and me.’”

He hesitated and grinned. “There will be.”