Page 33 of Married By Twelfth Night
Richard almost snorted, but a quick swipe of his nose prevented any rude sounds from omitting.
Craig chuckled. “And what of you, Miss Steele? Are you a regular card shark?” There was plenty of flirtation in Craig’s voice, and Richard’s hand nearly crumpled his cards. She was not his next conquest. The mere thought nearly made him growl.
Grace shook her head. “Young ladies are never card sharks, Mr. Craig, but I will try not to disappoint you with my abilities.”
Now who was being modest? At least she seemed to be intelligent enough not to melt into a puddle over Craig’s remarks. Richard leaned back in his chair, trying to shake off his attack pose.
The first round was played with painful slowness. The Craigs preferred to banter with their partners and cared little about strategy. Each time Grace laughed at something Craig said, Richard’s temper flared and his smile barely hid his gritted teeth. But why? Why was jealousy pillaging his reason and leaving it to hang from the rafters? Nothing had felt the same between them since their frank conversation on their carriage ride and his impulsive decision to kiss her wrist. But she was not his intended, and letting Craig flirt with her could be good for her future.
Grace won the first trick, and a few minutes later, the second.
“How did I manage to secure the best partner?” Craig asked, giving a subtle wink. Richard caught it and his careful social face disappeared behind furrowed brows. How dare he take such liberties. They had met not a half hour ago.
Miss Craig gave her brother a pouting face. “Not the best. No one can compare to Mr. Graham.” Her head turned toward him and produced another round of eyelash flutters.
Grace set a card down. “Indeed, when Mr. Graham concentrates on his hand, he can play exceptionally well.”
The dig made him swing his eyes to hers. So he had played badly this round. How was he supposed to concentrate with this ridiculous conversation happening before him?
She narrowed her eyes so quickly he almost missed it.
Why wasshemad? She was supposed to be courtinghim, not falling for a perfect stranger. His long knee swung to the side to nudge her leg.
Her leg nudged him back, and not in a gentle, romantic way either. Shewasmad.
As subtly as he could, he motioned his head toward the floor.
Her brow quirked in confusion, but she quickly turned away so no one would see.
A few moments passed before he caught her eye again. This time with his hand between them, he motioned to the floor.
Her look of exasperation nearly stole all his ire and made him laugh, but he resisted. They needed to talk. He motioned again.
Grace let her hand of cards flutter to the floor. “Dear me.”
“Let me help,” Richard said. They both lowered to the ground and shifted under the tablecloth to reach the fallen cards.
“What is wrong with you?” Grace hissed. “You’re positively sullen and glaring at everyone.”
He leaned close so they wouldn’t be overheard. “What is wrong with me? What about you?”
She shook her pretty head and whispered, “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
His nose nearly touched hers, and he was drawn to her like water in a desert. “Besides flirting with strangers.” He didn’t know what he was doing, but whatever it was, he seemed to have lost all self-control.
“Speak for yourself!” Her eyes, a bright green, seemed to dare him to say otherwise, but it was a breathlessness in her voice that snagged on something in his chest.
“I’m trying to be your friend and . . .”
Why wasn’t she pulling away? Richard lost all the fight in his tone and tried to blink away the sudden tumult of feeling. He made the mistake of dropping his gaze to her mouth—rose pink, the bottom lip slightly fuller than the top. His heart pounded. A thread of desire stitched the air between them, cinching them ever closer.
He was going to kiss her.
“Did you lose a card?” Craig asked, pulling up the tablecloth.
Richard jerked back, knocking his head on the underside of the table. Grace’s smaller form slipped out from under the table with far more finesse.
“Not at all,” Grace said, her voice shaky but self-assured. “Mr. Graham was kneeling on one, but they’ve all been rescued.” He caught a subtle tremble in her hand, but by the time she climbed back to her seat, she appeared completely unruffled and intent on avoiding his gaze.
