Page 21 of Snowbound with the Earl
A shot of pain slammed into Graham, but he tumbled into the next chair before Lord Jersey could reach it. As Lady Dorsey instructed Jersey to write his name on a slip of paper and drop it into the forfeit jar, Graham glared at Turlington.
“Sorry, old chap. Didn’t mean to clip you.”
The hell he didn’t. Turlington had been looking for an excuse to cause Graham pain. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you,” Graham said.
Turlington gave a brittle laugh. “As though I’d be jealous of an old man like you.”
Graham left it alone. He was no more than seven or eight years Turlington’s senior, and he should act like it. When Lady Dorsey called out “Move-all!” again, he made sure to move away from Turlington. He claimed another chair, while Miss Edmonton lost hers and had to forfeit. On the next round, Lady Bonneville lost her chair. Not surprisingly, Turlington went out after that. Graham had to watch Turlington speak to Noelle, which meant he forgot to play the game and was the next to forfeit. He should have gone to Noelle then, but he didn’t know what to say. Should he make inane conversation about the weather? Should he comment on the game? Should he tell her how much he wanted to kiss her again?
While he stood there, watching Turlington make Noelle laugh and grinding his teeth in annoyance, Lady Dorsey concluded the game and ordered her footmen to move the chairs. “Now we shall have a game of Blind Man’s Bluff. Do I have a volunteer for the first blind man?” She held up a black strip of cloth. Turlington raised his hand, and everyone clapped. He bent so Lady Dorsey might affix the blindfold. In the meantime, everyone scattered.
“Two rules,” Lady Dorsey said as she tied the cloth. “First, everyone must stay in the drawing room. Second, once someone is caught by the blind man—or lady—the game pauses while the new blind man affixes the cloth. Are you ready, Mr. Turlington?”
“I am ready, my lady.”
“Good. Then when I say three.” Lady Dorsey moved away. “One, two, three.”
Turlington lurched about the room, his arms outstretched. Men and women stomped about, trying to attract him to their corner, while others tiptoed. Graham stood where he was, content to wait to move until Turlington neared him. But as he expected, Turlington moved toward where Noelle had been standing. Quietly, she crossed the room, coming to stand near Graham, while Turlington caught Mrs. Redmond. The older lady donned the cloth and began moving about, arms outstretched.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” Noelle whispered, her gaze on Mrs. Redmond. “I didn’t think you liked parlor games.”
“I don’t. I wanted to read, but Dorsey insisted.”
“Lady Dorsey knows all of your hiding spots now.” As Mrs. Redmond turned toward them, they moved along the wall and further away. In the meantime, Miss Rummage warned the lady about a table and Miss Edmonton giggled. Mrs. Redmond angled toward the source of the noise.
“Dorsey gave me a new one,” he said.
“Where’s that?”
Graham gave her a look. He’d been trying not to look at her directly since he’d come into the room and she’d caught her lip between her teeth. He didn’t know what he’d do if so tempted again. Her eyes were that warm cognac color he loved, and they gazed at him from under her thick lashes. How could he resist her? “If I tell you,” he said, not even knowing what words he might utter, “it won’t be a secret any longer.”
“It will be our secret,” she said.
He swallowed and his gaze dropped to her lips. She wet them, and he took a shuddering breath. “The conservatory,” he said.
She nodded. “I’ll see you there.”
He watched as she crossed the room, avoiding Mrs. Redmond, and spoke to Lady Dorsey. A moment later, Noelle left the room. Graham watched the door close behind her, his mouth falling open. Was she really making her way to the conservatory? Now? Was he really about to rendezvous with her?
Someone grabbed his arm and squealed. Mrs. Redmond removed her cloth and said, “Caught you!”
Graham sighed. No. The rendezvous would have to wait.
