Page 24 of The Rules of Courtship
“Are you ready, Mr. Rose?” Miss Edmonds asked.
He brought his attention to the cards in his hands and smiled. “Yes.”
Oliver and Miss Edmondsmade a fortunate and intelligent team. Together, they had won the game three consecutive rounds.
“I suppose you don’t want to shuffle teams now?” Mr. Edmonds asked, giving his sister a flat look. Miss Temple had returned to the room and taken Miss Jane’s place after the second game. Neither of the Temple twins were very good at cards, but it was not obvious from watching their faces. They clearly enjoyed playing, regardless.
“As long as we continue to win, I plan to keep Mr. Rose as my partner,” Miss Edmonds said with an air of authority.
The proclamation was a bit much for Oliver, but he did not argue with her. Mr. Edmonds raised his eyes above Oliver’s head. “Miss Wycliffe, would you care to join us? We are about to begin another game.”
“I will spectate,” she said. “You already have four.”
“Nonsense.” Mr. Edmonds began to stand. “You can take my seat.”
Miss Temple looked over her shoulder, searching the room, the golden curls at her temples swinging with the movement. She huffed a breath. “No, take mine. I wanted to dance tonight, but I cannot find my father to gain approval. Shall I look for him again?”
Miss Edmonds glanced around the room before her gazedropped shyly to the table, nodding. “Yes, please do. A dance would be splendid.”
Kellinger and Bailey were sitting near the fire, chatting amiably, a picture of opposites—Kellinger in a fine green coat and yellow waistcoat, a patterned cravat at his throat and hair styled in the Brutus manner, Bailey beside him in dark navy and neutral colors. They appeared to be a fop with his staid companion, and Oliver wondered briefly if that was how he and Samuel appeared to others, as well.
He searched the room for his cousin and found Samuel with Miss Jane, playing a game of chess against the far wall. Lord Rocklin was nowhere to be seen.
Ruth took Miss Temple’s vacated seat, and the cards were dealt. She looked at Mr. Edmonds sitting across from her. “I must warn you. I haven’t had the greatest luck tonight.”
“You and I can lose together, then,” he said, flashing her a grin. “My luck is the same as yours. We will enjoy ourselves, at the very least.”
“Naturally,” she agreed.
The game continued with Ruth and Mr. Edmonds devastating the other team and winning by a large margin. Oliver leaned back in his seat, gathering the cards near him and tossing them into the center of the table. “Our luck’s run out then, Miss Edmonds.”
She gave him a smirk. “I suppose we could not have expected it to last forever. Good things usually don’t.”
“That is a cynical viewpoint.”
“No negativity tonight, Emily,” her brother said with an edge of reprimand. “We are enjoying the time we have with these fine people.”
A look seemed to pass between the siblings—a communication only they understood. Oliver glanced at Ruth and found her watching them with mild interest as well. She seemed to have caught it, too.
“Shall we try again?” Mr. Edmonds asked, gathering the cards into a stack and shuffling them.
Ruth pushed back from the table. “My mother wanted an early night, and I think I will join her. She is not yet entirely recovered from her illness these last few days.”
“Does she have need of anything?” Oliver asked. He had noticed Lady Helena leave the drawing room an hour ago, but hadn’t thought much of it. Mr. Watson had departed around the same time.
“Companionship, I imagine. She does not like me to waste time sitting beside her, as she says it, so she has spent a good deal of the day alone. I am sure she would prefer my father, but I am all she has tonight.”
“Do not underestimate how much she adores you,” Oliver said.
Ruth gave him a look before her eyes shuttered, hiding her feelings. “Yes. Well, good night.”
A chorus of replies answered Ruth while she rose from her chair and left the room.
“We have not gone out to look at the stars yet, Philip,” Miss Edmonds said to her brother.
“Stars?” Miss Temple asked, joining them again.
“We haven’t been to the countryside since last summer,” Miss Edmonds said, “and you know how difficult they are to see in London.”
