Page 40 of One Scandal Too Many
“Too much,” he supplied. “No one could have predicted how this day would go.” He smiled. “I’m glad that I was able to help you.” He motioned to her leg. “I should try to look at it. Even in this low light I might be able to see if we should be concerned.”
“I think it is all right,” she said. A part of her was reluctant to lift her skirts to allow him to look at her ankle, even though he clearly already had. She’d been unconscious then, though. Charlotte hadn’t been able to stop him. Shouldn’t she want to now? “There’s not really any need...”
“Charlotte,” he chastised. “You know there is.”
She pursed her lips together, preparing to argue with him, for what purpose, she didn’t quite know. Just because she could? It wouldn’t be the first time she was contrary for the sake of being so. She sighed. Charlotte had awakened to the darkened cabin, and it had become tedious rather quickly. It struck her then that she was truly alone with him. The chances of anyone finding them together were slim. Perhaps this was something she hadn’t dared to hope for, but now that she had it... this could be an opportunity. Especially as her reputation was already surely ruined. “Very well,” she conceded, and pulled the quilt free so he could look at her ankle. She was tired of being a good girl and doing as she was told. Not that she always did, but now she was determined to be herself. She wanted Declan, and devil take it, she would have him. Even if it was only for a little while.
He knelt again and lifted her skirts, then raised her ankle so it rested on his knee. He unwound the cloth he had tied around it and ran his hand over her exposed flesh. She shivered. His touch was almost too much, and he had barely placed his fingers on her. What would it be like if he could do more than this?
“It looks all right. The swelling has gone down.” He glanced up at her and grinned. “In this case, I think your assumption is correct. I am going to leave it unbound. I don’t think we need to be concerned there is a more serious injury here. You shouldhave a quick recovery.” He set her foot down. “I found some cards earlier. Would you care to play a game to pass the time?”
She was quiet for several moments. Charlotte wanted to do something far more scandalous than play cards. He didn’t appear ready to hear that proposal yet, though. So instead, she tilted her head to the side and studied him. She met his gaze and slid her lips up into a sensual smile. He’d get a game, all right. It just might not be the one he suggested. “By all means, love,” she said in a coquettish tone. “Let’s play cards.”
*
Charlotte was scheming.He’d lay odds on that fact. Declan couldn’t find it in himself to care. He understood what this night meant, and he couldn’t even care about that. He’d wanted her, and he could have her now. She’d muttered she thought she might be in love with him. Somehow, he doubted she recalled saying those words. He was willing to take a leap of faith where she was concerned. She need not worry about her reputation. Declan would ensure nothing ill happened to her.
She was his. Even if she didn’t quite know that yet.
“What game shall we play?” he asked. He stood and walked over to the bag he had set by the door. It held the provisions he had brought, along with the cards. He set it down on the floor by the settee. “I also have some bread, cheese, and wine if you’re hungry.”
Her lips twitched. “And where did you get all that?” She sounded suspicious, and perhaps she should be. He had hoped to have a picnic with her. Declan just hadn’t anticipated it would be in this cabin during a storm.
“I had it with me,” he told her honestly. “It’s lucky I did.”
“Or we’d starve?” She lifted a brow. “That wouldn’t happen overnight.”
“True,” he agreed. “But it would be a miserable one without something in our stomachs.”
“Also true,” she conceded. Charlotte motioned toward the cards he held in his hand. “What should we play? Do you have something in mind?”
“Well,” he began. “There are only the two of us. We are limited a little. Faro would be too difficult.”
“We could play piquet,” she said. “or vingt-et-un.”
“How good are you at piquet?” He narrowed his gaze. “That can be a complicated game.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not that difficult. My brother taught me.” She blew out a breath. “Though he made me promise never to mention that fact to our father. He wanted to thwart him in some way at the time. He’d made Warren mad. I am not certain why now.”
“Warren?” Declan said.
“Finley,” she replied. “I suppose I should refer to him by his title.” She shrugged again. “He’s my brother. I don’t think about him as a marquess first.”
Declan did not know the Marquess of Finley well, though now that she said the name, it sparked a memory of a sort. The Duke of Amberwood had crossed paths with Finley, but not just Finley. Amberwood didn’t speak much about it, but it had something to do with a duel that had gone afoul. He would have to ask the duke about it when he returned. At the time, he hadn’t cared about the details. But knowing that Finley was Charlotte’s brother, he had to know everything now.
“If I had a brother,” he began. “I doubt the title would be first either.” He held up the cards. “Game first, or food?”
“I am not hungry,” she told him, then wrinkled her nose. “The thought of food is turning my stomach.” She nodded at the cards. “We still have to decide on a game.”
“Vingt-et-un would be much simpler,” he suggested. “And we can eat later when you think you’re up to it.” He wouldn’t push her to eat. At least not yet. “If vingt-et-un gets too boring for you, we can try piquet.”
Charlotte nodded. “Very well.” She leaned back against the settee and patted the spot next to her. “Now sit next to me. It’s disconcerting looking down at you. If we are to play, I want us both to be comfortable.”
Declan wasn’t about to argue with her suggestion. He wanted to sit next to her. Hell, he wanted to do much more than that. He wasn’t certain how much he could push for from her. Even though she seemed to be feeling all right, it still had been a traumatic day for her. He could wait. He should wait.
He handed her the cards. “Would you like to deal first?”
“All right,” she said. Charlotte took the cards and shuffled them. Then she laid two cards in front of her. One was placed upright and showed a ten, and the other faced down. Then she put two in front of him. They equaled ten. Nowhere close to the twenty-one he needed.
