Page 56 of The Duke and the Lady in Red
“I never cheat,” Rexton announced.
“You also seldom win,” Darling said. “I’m more than happy to teach you.”
“Mother would be appalled—are you free for a lesson tomorrow evening?”
Rose laughed. She didn’t want to like these nobs, but she did. She didn’t want to recall how she had entered this establishment searching for an easy mark. She’d certainly misjudged there.
They played a few more hands, then Darling cracked his knuckles. “Let’s take a small break, shall we? I need to check on a few things.”
“Your staff will let you know if anything is amiss,” Lovingdon said.
“I’d like to see for myself. I shan’t be but ten minutes.”
Chairs scraped back as everyone stood. Rose knew a few seconds of light-headedness. She looked at her glass. It was nearly full. While she’d been sipping the scotch as they played, she hadn’t had that much.
“Are you all right?” Avendale asked, taking her elbow.
She smiled at him. “Yes, I’m feeling rather lovely, actually. I like your friends.”
“They like you as well.”
“How do you know?”
“Because they’renotcheating.”
“Perhaps they are, but they’re letting me win. I suspect people cheat for all sorts of reasons.”
“If you’re looking for a noble one, you won’t find it here.” She suspected he might be wrong. She was good at reading people. These seemed ... genuine. They cared for each other, looked out for each other. She was glad Avendale had them, although she wasn’t certain he appreciated exactly what he held.
“Avendale, may I have a moment?” Lovingdon asked.
“Yes, of course.” He looked at her. “Do you mind?”
“No, not at all.”
They walked away several feet. Rose wished she had the ability to read lips, wondered what was so urgent that Lovingdon—
“He did it for me,” the duchess said.
Turning, Rose found herself staring into kind, but inquisitive, blue eyes.
“I wanted a moment alone with you,” the duchess explained. “It became obvious rather quickly that Avendale was going to hover. I’ve never seen him smitten.”
“If you’re implying he’s smitten tonight, I fear you have misjudged things.”
“How did you meet?” she asked.
“At the ball here, opening night.”
“Are you a member then?”
“Yes.” She wanted to deflect any further questions away from herself. “I was surprised that you and Mr. Darling seem to have the same parents.”
The duchess smiled warmly. “My parents took him in when he was a lad. I grew up knowing him as my brother.”
“Your parents are ... ?” Inwardly she groaned at the habit that had her searching for details that would help her identify how best to take advantage.
“The Duke and Duchess of Greystone.”
