Page 18 of A Wager With A Rake
“And might you fetch the parchment and ink for scorekeeping?”she asked, nodding toward his desk.
“You don’t trust me to track in my head?”
“Not in the slightest.”
Court feigned a huff as he rose and gathered the items she’d requested, as well as his decanter of brandy and two glasses.He set the parchment and quill near her on the table and then picked up the cards.
“You wound me, Tess.”
She rolled her eyes at him before flashing him an amused grin while he poured them each a healthy pour of brandy.“Not a fatal wound, I trust.”
He chuckled, low and rough, pushing one glass toward her.“At least not yet, but the evening is young, I suppose.A bit of brandy shall ease some of the sting.”Candlelight glinted off his signet ring as he shuffled a few more times and then set the deck before Theodosia.She cut the deck and handed it back to him before he dealt the cards with swift flicks of his wrist.
For several moments, they played in charged silence, the brandy feeling as smooth fire sliding down her throat with each sip.Theodosia watched Court from beneath lowered lashes, his chiseled features appearing even more dangerous in the candlelight when he was deep in thought.She shook off the realization as she must focus on the game at hand.The stakes were far too high.
Not that she minded in the slightest if she were to spend a week at the mercy of the man across from her, but she needed Rosewood.Her comfortable, contended future on her own terms depended on it.
Each time their eyes met over their respective card play, the heat sizzled between them, and the air grew thicker.They finally broke the silence with friendly banter and jested at each other’s skill, which she must admit he proved to be a formidable opponent.Not that she was surprised.She knew she wouldn’t best him easily, but she held her own.
She slammed her fists onto the table when he won the first game.
“Are you sure you don’t wish to go ahead and declare me the winner now?”he teased.
“Deal the bloody cards,” she grumbled.
He laughed and stacked the deck to shuffle.“Now, now.Don’t tell me you are already rattled.A skilled gambler must keep their cool better than that.”
She reached out and cut the deck, rolling her eyes at him.“Just lulling you into a false sense of security.”Reaching for her glass, she downed the rest of her brandy, which Court promptly refilled, as well as his own.
In truth, she had a good measure of his gameplay from the first game.She might have lost, but she had learned quickly how to read strategy from what she had been taught and felt confident she would beat him in the next game, barring the most unlucky hands of cards.
The second game went by with only a few jabs at each other, since each of them concentrated on their cards.Theodosia took an early lead, and Court appeared on edge, which turned to a flash of irritation when she crossed one hundred points.
She almost jumped from her chair to dance in delight when she won the game.To his credit, he was mostly a good sport about it, besides throwing his cards on the table.
“You don’t appear to have much to say now, Court.”
“I would hate for you to lose every game, so I hope you revel in this victory because you shan’t have another.”
Theodosia smirked at him, feeling quite confident she’d win the last game, thus securing the first official win in their wager.Their glasses were empty again, and Court refilled with healthy pours.
They began the final game, and there wasn’t a word said between them, each of them remaining focused.If it weren’t for the crackling of the fire and the movement of the cards, there wouldn’t have been a sound in the room.
At last, Theodosia displayed her final hand with a triumphant flourish.“I believe that’s the game, my lord.”Satisfaction curled through her veins, heady and sweet.
Court stared at her cards, genuine surprise overtaking his features before melting into admiration.“Well played indeed.”He inclined his head.“But don’t expect it to occur again tomorrow, dear Tess.”His tone wasn’t as confident as his words.
Theodosia cast him a wide grin and lifted her glass in a toast.“To chance.”
Court’s sensual mouth quirked.A mouth she already knew she longed to kiss, and she had to force herself to quit staring at his full lips.He touched his glass to hers with a faint clink.“To chance,” he murmured, “and to my very dangerous opponent.”
They drank, eyes locked, and something unspoken passed between them again.
Trying to think of something to speak about instead of how much she longed to crawl into his lap, she drained her glass and slammed it on the table.Not the most ladylike action, but the effects of the brandy had taken the edge off of her control.
Suddenly, he rose from his chair and moved to his desk.“I have something for you.Perhaps you might call it a bit of a trophy for your first and only win in our wager.”
She eyed him curiously as he returned with a box that he set before her.
