Page 15 of The Scoundrel's Christmas Challenge
Lucius turned. Christiana stood before the fire, the golden light shimmering against the deep-blue velvet of her dress. Her bodice was trimmed with tiny paste diamonds, drawing attention to her full bosom. The skirt clung to her curves as she moved toward him, a smile turning up her plump pink lips. He wanted to pull the diamond hairpins from her hair, letting the thick tresses fall across her shoulders like a wave of liquid amber.
He drew in a steadying breath. “Since your challenge was cards, I thought I’d follow your lead for the rest of the time. Do you care for cribbage?”
“I do. We can talk while we play.” She walked to a shelf along the back wall and fetched a board and pegs. “I hope your family is doing well?”
Lucius shook his head. “Annoying but wonderful as always. Wine?” He poured her a glass when she nodded.
They settled at the table and took turns cutting the deck. He pulled the ten of spades, but she won the deal with the two of hearts. She shuffled the cards, then offered him the chance to cut the deck. He declined with a grin. “You wouldn’t cheat at a game of the heart.”
She laughed, a delicious sound that tickled his insides. “My sister said to give you her love.”
“How is Lady Annette? I miss her and her humor.” Christiana dealt them each five cards, then they each discarded two face down, forming the crib. She reached across the table and laid her hand on his arm. When had she taken off her gloves? He swallowed a groan at the sensation of skin upon skin. “I heard about the unfortunate mishap of her first Season, but I never learned the name of the gentleman. I’m sorry he came here this week in his father’s place.”
He stared at her hand, noting the absence of a ring, the slender fingers on his cuff, wishing he could hold them there. “You had no idea I was coming either. In truth, I didn’t know until yesterday morning.”
“I assume you found satisfaction after the debacle?” She pressed her lips together to hide a grin. He cut the deck, she turned up the five of clubs, and the play began.
“Of course. Why do you think he blanched when he saw me?” Lucius laid down the Jack of hearts. “Ten.”
“I haven’t heard anything about her in years. Where did she disappear to?” She pulled the six of hearts from her cards and laid it in front of her. “Sixteen.”
“At Beecham Manor, enjoying her own house party while choosing a husband.” He set down the six of diamonds, making a pair. “Twenty-two for two.” He moved his first peg two holes. “It seems my father is finally going to marry Lady Henning, but they both want my sister settled before the wedding.”
“And how does she feel about a betrothal?” Christiana pulled out the five of spades. “Twenty-seven.” She blew out a breath. “No, no, no. That look tells me you have a four.”
His grin widened at her pouting lips when he laid down the four of hearts. “Thirty-one for two.” He moved his second peg two holes past the first one for going out exactly on thirty-one.
They added up their cards. Lucius went first, scoring two for a run of three and four with a run of four and moved his peg six more holes. Christiana added hers along with the crib from the beginning of the game and claimed fourteen.
“Lord Beecham is a kind and caring man, so I’m happy for him.” She collected the cards and passed them to Lucius.
“Like his son?”
“Which one?”
“You think you’re a clever girl,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m happy for him too. It may also be the only way my sister faces her fear and realizes all men outside her family are not beasts.”
The deuce if he hadn’t missed Christiana’s banter. They could volley back and forth as quickly as a lively game of battledore and shuttlecock. Though he could think of better things to do with the racquet than hit a piece of cork with feathers in it. Bollocks! Now he couldn’t remove the stupid smile from his face.
“Lady Annette is a wise woman. Most men are beasts.” She picked up her cards and discarded two as Lucius did the same. “Though I know how she longed for a family, and marriage is the only way to attain that.”
“I’ll ignore part of your remark. My father’s friend was there, and I have a suspicion the two of them have formed an attachment.”
“How old is he?” She gave Lucius her full attention. “She must be, what, twenty-four by now?”
He nodded. “I believe Lord Weston is around forty.”
“The Page brothers were the scourge of London when your sister first came out. Are they allowing these men to woo her, or must she be observed from a distance?” She drummed her fingers on the table, deciding which card to throw, a tiny smile tipping up one side of her mouth.
“We’ve matured.” He laughed. “But you’re right, we are still a wee protective.”
“My father was twenty years older than my mother. They were smitten with one another until the end.”
“You’re right. It’s not a terrible gap of years. He’s young at heart, fit, and I like him.”
“High praise, indeed, coming from you. How does your younger brother fare in India?” she asked, returning her attention to the cards in her hand.
“Jeremiah is married with a son. We have yet to meet the babe, but he should be coming home by Easter.” He watched her fret over the next card to play and wanted to smooth the lines creasing her brow. He didn’t want her to worry about anything for the rest of their lives.
