Page 16 of Tutoring a Lady into Sin
He shook his head. “Not exactly. When you know how to play your hand and take the time to read others, all the luck in the world does not make any difference.” Phineas reached for a glass of lemonade and handed it to her. “Try to drink at least a sip of that, Christianna. I noticed how you became pale suddenly, and I want to make sure you recover quickly.”
She took a small drink of the liquid, but no more. “It is tart,” she whispered, and Phineas held out his hand for the cup. She gave it to him, and he took a quick swallow, then made a disgusted face.
“Oh, that is truly awful. Why did no one say anything before?” He put the cup back onto the table.
Christianna shot a hasty look around the gathering. “I think we might be the only people drinking the lemonade. Everyone else seems to be enjoying either a bit of brandy or a glass of wine.” Her eyes flitted toward Percy just as he lifted his glass and toasted the two females at his side. Her body gave an involuntary shudder.
“Come with me,” Phineas said as he stepped away from the drink table and motioned for her to follow.
“I am not sure I am very good company right now,” Christianna confided as she trailed after him. “I think I may need to retire for the evening…make it an early night.”
“And if that is the way you feel, you should go up to bed shortly, but allow me to monitor you a moment longer.” As they approached one of the corner tables, he pulled out one of the chairs and helped her into the seat. “I believe the game is Vingt-et-un, my lady.”
The dealer nodded as Phineas sat next to her. “Do you really wish to play this game, Phineas?” she asked.
He leaned near to her as the dealer passed them each two cards. “I wish to see you smile again, Lady Christianna.”
His comment had what she imagined was the desired effect, as all at once, the corners of her lips tugged upward, and she smiled serenely back at him. “Is that better?” she teased.
“Quite.” He tapped his cards on the table in front of himself before peeling up the corners to have a look at his hand.
She did the same, then murmured, “So, now is the time when you tell me that you are not just a master at Commerce, but you also excel at Vingt-et-un.”
“I would love to possess such skills, but as it turns out, I am not so accomplished at this game,” he said as he laid a token on the table, increasing his bet.
“Then why did you lead me over here and suggest we play?” Christianna asked as she laid down a chip, too.
“I find that the best thing to do when one is feeling poorly is to try a change of venue. I am always recommending for my patients to leave the city for a bit. They may go to the countryside or head to the sea, but I find that often whatever is ailing them will magically disappear once they leave it behind,” he explained as the dealer nodded at them, silently asking if they wanted to check or be dealt another card.
Christianna gave a surreptitious glance over her shoulder. She scanned the crowd quickly, but from this angle, she could not see Percival at all. She knew the duke was still playing Hazard because she could hear his voice as well as the accompaniment of gleeful girlish laughter that seemed to follow him everywhere. But she could not see him teasing the other young ladies, flirting with them shamelessly, and that made a world of difference.
“You may be onto something, Doctor,” Christianna murmured as she nodded to the dealer, indicating she wished to be given another card. “While the lemonade was not quite what I needed, I find being here, playing this new game, to be working wonders.”
“Yes, well, it is my job to offer support for those in need,” Phineas said as he heaved a disgruntled sigh and folded. “Bust,” he mumbled. “I told you. I cannot seem to do well whenever I play this game.”
Christianna revealed her own hand. “Twenty-one,” she chirped. “I suppose that means I have won the hand.”
Phineas laughed delightedly. “If I did not know better, I would accuse you of being a card sharp. You lured me away from a game where I was likely to win nearly every hand only so you could take my money now.”
Christianna clucked her tongue in a faux-scolding manner. “But I am not taking your tokens…he is.” She giggled as the dealer reached forward and grabbed the small stack of chips Phineas had bet. He leaned forward and watched in dismay, and as he did, a strand of his hair fell into his eyes. Unthinkingly, Christianna reached forward and brushed it aside for him.
“Thank you,” he said as he looked up at her. The candlelight created a soft glow in the room, and when it caught Phineas’ green eyes, they glittered. She smiled back at him.
“The least I can do is help you fix your hair,” she retorted, and that made him laugh loudly.
“Let us have another hand then,” he said as he motioned for the dealer to shuffle the cards. “Perhaps you may teach me a trick or two.”
“But if I tell you all my secrets, will it not be you winning the hand and me pouting about losing?”
He smiled broadly. “You forget, Christianna. In Vingt-et-un, the aim is to best the house. So, between the two of us, there need not be a winner or loser. We can work together to defeat…him.” He shot an intense stare at the dealer, and the whole thing was so comical Christianna burst out laughing.
“You know,” she said as she quickly calmed herself, “I am normally more reserved when out in town. I try not to laugh so boldly as I never wish to draw attention to myself.”
“Then you deprive everyone, including yourself,” Phineas said as he flipped up the corners of his cards and peeked at them.
“How do you mean?” Christianna asked as she mimicked his movements.
He lowered his cards back to the table and looked directly at her. “You have the most glorious laugh I have ever heard. Has no one ever told you as much before?”
