Page 10 of Stolen by My Knave
CHAPTER FOUR
Jack led Lady Elizabeth out of the parlor and to the library. He recalled seeing exactly what he had in mind there the last time he was in the room. The game was, indeed, one of skill and intellect. A good game took hours to complete, and since he had a hard time pinning down Lord Clifton, he might as well enjoy the blasted house party in other ways. The solitary thing that would be preferable was Lady Elizabeth naked in his bed. Something that didn’t have a chance in hell of happening... Not unless he intended to marry her.
If he convinced her he loved her though she’d be more than willing. Her earlier remarks about soul mates told him a lot about her. She was a dreamer, but soul mates didn’t exist. Some people were lucky enough to find love, but not many. Love was a foolish concept he’d never found to be especially heartening.
He stopped in front of the game and gestured toward it.
“Chess?” She quirked a brow.
“Indeed,” he replied. “It is challenging and a puzzle all in one. It’s up to the player to unravel its secrets and lead the pieces to victory.”
“I’ve always been fascinated by the pieces on a chessboard, but I must admit to never discovering a particular love of the game.”
Jack grinned. She was a novice then. How could he use that to his advantage? It was part of who he was. He’d had to fight for everything he had, and he saw a weakness and pounced. The lovely Elizabeth didn’t know what she’d given away with her statement. It was a gift, and he didn’t turn away from a blessing of any kind.
“Then you’ve played before?”
“I have,” she admitted. “Though always with much reluctance. Tell me, Your Grace, why should I do so now with you?”
She was baiting him. Normally he’d not succumb to so obvious of a ploy, but for more time with her he’d comply. Lady Elizabeth was special, and he had a need to discover exactly how much.
“You’ll not stay for the pleasure of my company?”
“That’s hardly an incentive.” She lifted her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Otherwise, it would work when one of my brothers used it. They seem to think their company is desirable as well.”
Jack suppressed a smile. She wanted to stay. He’d stake everything on it. She was playing hard to get, as females often did. It was her right to do so, and he’d allow it—for now. When he believed she was ready for more he’d play his cards differently. At the moment, he had to think of a way to gain her acquiescence to play a round of chess.
“If you insist, we can make it interesting,” he replied. “Name your terms.”
She tilted her head upward and met his gaze. The dark blue irises appeared to gleam with excitement. So the lady enjoyed a challenge of different means. He’d keep that in mind for their future endeavors. He planned on meeting with her at every opportunity while he was at this infernal house party.
Originally, he planned on meeting with Clifton and leaving with all due haste. Now though, he discovered a reason other than the earl to enjoy the event. He’d successfully avoided Lady Clifton and her machinations. The countess was aware of his desire to evade marriage at all cost. She hadn’t taken it well, but agreed to give him his space.
Elizabeth intrigued him enough for him to want to engage in other activities. Chess was only one part of what he’d like to participate in with her. Maybe, if he was lucky enough, she’d want to explore all the possibilities.
Elizabeth turned her head and glanced at the chessboard. “We can place a wager of sorts,” she replied.
“And what would we gain with this wager?” He lifted a brow. Jack was even more interested than he’d been before. She was constantly surprising him. What would he uncover next? “What is it you’d like to win from me?”
He hoped she was after a kiss. Jack found he wanted to kiss her rather badly. Elizabeth was firmly in the do-not-touch column of his life, but if she asked him to kiss her—who was he to deny her that pleasure? Perhaps he was a fool for wanting something he couldn’t have. It was his lot in life and quite familiar to him. He was used to being unwanted. First his father, and not long after, his mother had abandoned him as well. He fully blamed his father for the path his life had taken. His mother had unwisely fallen in love with the man, and Jack had been the result. How she’d not realized his intentions from the start, Jack would never know, but he’d never do something so imprudent.
Elizabeth believed in love. A completely foolish idea she must be disabused of at some point. Lust was recognizable and something achievable. They could explore each other and find pleasure in each other’s arms. Love led to hurt and disillusionment. That was something Jack sadly discovered firsthand on his mother’s knee. His father, the arse, had thrown them both aside without a second glance.
Elizabeth glanced at him and shrugged. “Nothing so illicit as your tone is implying.”
“Then why don’t you clarify it for me, love.”
She narrowed her gaze. “I told you to not be that familiar with me. Don’t use an endearment you don’t mean.”
“I apologize,” he replied. “It’s a slip of the tongue.”
He’d like to do a whole lot to her involving that particular appendage. Jack dared not say such words aloud. She was right though. The endearment was something he said all the time. It came naturally to him, and he couldn’t help it from entering into a conversation with a beautiful woman.
“You’re forgiven. For now anyway.” She smiled. “Now as to our wager. We’ll play a version of twenty questions. For every chess piece we each capture we can ask the other a question, and it must be answered.”
He wasn’t sure he liked that game. There were parts of himself he didn’t exactly want to reveal. Jack wanted to learn a lot more about her though, so perhaps her concession would be useful. He’d have to make sure to win more pieces and not allow her to ask too many questions. “And what does the winner gain in the end?”
She bit her lip and tilted her head. “What would you like?”
