Page 37 of One Night of Surrender
The shorter man picked up his mug, then shot a look at the other man when he hesitated.There was something very odd about them.Val slowly rose.“I’ll come along with you, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course they don’t mind,” Jack said.“They wouldn’t turn the owner away.”He stage-whispered to the two gentlemen, “This is the Duke of Eastleigh, one of the ‘Wicked Dukes’ the place is named for.He generally gets what he wants.”Jack winked at him, and Val rolled his eyes.He also noted that the taller of the two gentlemen looked straight at him and then quickly averted his gaze as if meeting Val’s eyes could set him on fire.
Val asked Doyle for the key to the ball box and followed the gentlemen, who were led by Jack, into the billiard room.It adjoined both the main and private parlors, but the doors were kept closed since the lighting in the billiard room was far brighter than anywhere else in the pub.
One of the four tables was already in use, as a pair of gentlemen were at play beneath the oil lamps.They warmly welcomed Jack and Val and the new arrivals.
“Here you are,” Jack said.“Have you played before?”
The tall gentleman shook his head, while the shorter one nodded.“Many times.”
Val went to the locked box where they kept the valuable ivory balls, and withdrew a set.He set the two white cue balls and the red ball on the nearest table and relocked the box.
Jack inclined his head toward the taller gentleman.“Good luck to you.”Then he turned to Val.“I’m going back to the salon.You coming?”
Val was far too interested in uncovering the mystery of these two gentlemen.He had his suspicions and felt certain he could confirm them in relatively short order.“No, I’m going to stay and watch.”
The taller gentleman shot a look toward Val, and it was all he needed.He knew those cobalt eyes, and they didn’t belong to a man.He also knew the voice of the other man because he, rathershe, came in here often, though in a different disguise.Clearly, Viola was trying to mask her identity because if Val knew it was her, he’d likely recognize her friend.Which begged the question, why would Viola risk it?Surely she would know he’d puzzle it out.
The perimeter of the room contained a handful of tables and chairs for spectators.Val situated himself in a chair nearest their billiard table and settled in to be entertained.“How many points will you play to?”he asked.
“Six,” Viola answered as she moved to the wall and selected a cue rather than a mace.What would Isabelle choose?Did she even know the difference?
Suddenly, Val couldn’t resist the opportunity before him.He stood and joined her at the wall.“Since this is your first time, may I recommend a cue?They are far more accurate than the mace.”He selected one and offered it to her, noting that she kept her gaze from meeting his.“The leather on the end will help guide the ball as you seek to strike the others on the table or if you can achieve a hazard point.”
“A hazard point is when you put one of the other balls in a pocket,” Viola said, careful to keep her voice pitched low.Viola explained the rest of the rules they would follow that night, using everything Val had taught her.If he hadn’t discerned her identity before, he would have now.
“Why don’t you have a few practice rounds to show your friend, Mr.—?”Val suggested.
Viola responded.“I am Mr.Gates, and this is Mr.Beaufort.I’ll go first to demonstrate.”She explained to Isabelle how to strategize what to hit and where, as well as showed her how to hold the cue.Viola was quite accomplished at billiards and achieved a hazard, sending the red ball into a pocket.
“That doesn’t look terribly difficult.”
Val bit his lip lest he laugh at the comically low pitch of Isabelle’s voice.“Go on and give it a try.”
Isabelle assessed the table and went up to the edge.She realized she was too close and took a step back.Then she angled her cue and missed hitting the ball entirely.
Viola sniggered, and Isabelle shot her a heated look.Val swallowed a laugh.“May I show you?”
He took a cue from the wall and moved to her side of the table to model how she should approach the shot.“You want to hold the cue so that you can control its movement.Like this.”He gripped it low and then guided the upper portion with his other hand.
She tried to mimic what he did, but still wasn’t quite mastering the stance or grip.He leaned his cue against the table and stepped behind her to position her arms.
That was a mistake.
She may have been dressed like a man, but he was all too aware she was a woman.And not just any woman, but Isabelle, the source of every dream he’d ever had.
He tried to keep the contact minimal, but it didn’t matter.At this proximity, her scent filled his senses.Moving quickly, he adjusted her grip on the lower part of the cue, then reached around and leaned forward, his chest pressing against her back as he showed her how to guide the stick toward the ball.Then he demonstrated, controlling her movements.
The cue struck her ball and hit Viola’s.And Val tore himself away before he was unable to.
He picked up the cue and replaced it on the wall.“Very nice.”He meant it to describe her strike, but it applied to so much more.
Oh, this was madness.
He went back to his chair and the table where he’d set his tankard.Lifting the mug, he took a long drink.
“More practice, I think,” Viola said.“You go again.”
