Page 75 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
He could manage that. The various denominations were marked in different colors. He didn’t have to add anything up. “How did you know how much?”
“I kept a tally as the chips went in.”
In her head? She didn’t even need to put it on paper? “Remarkable.”
She scoffed. “Not really. I’m sure everyone at the table is doing the same.”
Bloody hell. She was sharp. He would have to ensure that she never found out about his inability to conquer numbers. Otherwise, she might think him a complete ninny, and why would she ever want a man who couldn’t keep up with her?
Darling gathered up the cards, began shuffling them with ease. “Say, Ashebury, I had a rather interesting conversation with Lord Sheridan recently. He demanded that I revoke your membership.”
Every movement at the table stilled. Glasses lifted partway, people leaning in to say something to their spouse, wrists flicking to toss another chip toward the center of the table. Except for the shuffling of cards. Their rush of sound punctuated the otherwise hushed silence as all eyes came to bear on Ashe. Minerva’s delicate brow furrowed, her dark eyes reflected concern.
“He said there was an altercation between you two,” Darling continued, his hands never stopping the incessant shuffling.
“I’d hardly call it an altercation,” Ashe said.
“He claims you tossed scotch onto him.”
Sheridan’s pride obviously prevented him from admitting that he’d also become intimately acquainted with Ashe’s fist. “An accident, I assure you. I stumbled, and my scotch flew. I couldn’t stop it from landing on him.”
With a nod, Darling began dealing. “That was Thomas’s account as well, which was the reason I didn’t bother you with it earlier, but as you were here, I thought I would ask.”
“Just clumsiness on my part.”
“I never much liked Sheridan,” Rexton said.
“I hope Lady Hyacinth does. I hear they are to marry,” the Duchess of Lovingdon said.
“That came about rather quickly. How did he manage it?” Minerva asked.
“A compromising encounter in a garden, from what I understand. Better her than you, I say.”
“Did he call on you?” Lovingdon asked.
Minerva waved a hand, before picking up her cards and beginning to arrange them. “Several days ago. I feel for the girl. He wants only her dowry.”
Even after the girl had insulted her, she could still work up sympathy for her. Ashe wasn’t certain he’d be able to do the same, and yet he wasn’t surprised by her feelings. She possessed a decency that he’d found lacking in many of the ladies with whom he’d flirted over the years.
“She’ll be a countess,” Langdon said.
“She’ll be unhappy.”
“I doubt it. From what I understand, she arranged to be discovered in the garden.”
“Still, she has my sympathy, and I saw you swap out your card, Langdon.”
“You weren’t even looking at me.”
She merely gave him a triumphant smile that caused Ashe’s gut to tighten. He wanted that smile. He wanted all her smiles.
Langdon tossed down his cards, crossed his arms over his chest.
Minerva glanced over at Ashe, her lips still upturned, and it was all he could do not to lean in and plant a kiss on them. “We may cheat at cards, but we do own up to it when we’re caught.”
“It’s a good thing I’m not playing then, as I don’t know how to cheat.”
“I could teach you if you like.”
