Page 21 of The Duchess in His Bed
“You’veneverloved a woman?”
He grinned. “You haven’t earned the right to ask another question.” He doubted she would. Her luck should be running out.
“True.” She set aside the chalk, walked around the table until she was in front of him. “I need you to step aside.”
“I think you could get a better shot from across the way.”
Narrowing her eyes, she glanced over the table. “Possibly. But I like my chances here.” With a pointed look, she jerked her chin to the side.
He situated himself at the head of the table, near the farthest corner from her so he could watch her more closely. She didn’t hesitate. Another series of bounces and clacks.
“When was the last time you were with a woman?”
Damnation, how was she managing to set herself up so she was hitting both balls, fairly flawlessly, moving each into position so she could strike both again?
“Mr. Trewlove?” she prodded.
Right. The annoying question. How long had it been? Several weeks before his brother Finn had given him this property in late November. Since then he’d been too busy getting it ready and striving to build his clientele while continuing to manage the Cerberus Club. “At least six months. How long since you slept with a man?”
Had she been with anyone since her husband died?
She gave him a sad smile, a small pouting of her lips. “My observation skills are somewhat lacking, but I don’t believe you’ve had a turn and earned a point yet, so you can’t ask any questions.”
She took three steps to the right, lined up her shot, and delivered another scoring play. Her saucy grin nearly had him drawing her into his arms. “Do you pay for your pleasures?”
He stared at her, at the confidence rolling off her. Four perfect shots. What were the odds that a novice—
Understanding dawned—bitter and sweet. Not four. Seven. The practice shots had been designed to make himbelieveshe was unfamiliar with the details of the game. To add to her ruse, she’d claimed the incorrect ball as hers and asked silly questions of him regarding the rules. He released a great bark of laughter. “You conniving minx. I do believe you duped me. You’ve played before.”
She had anticipated that he might sulk or mope about, perhaps even get angry with her and refuse to play, but she’d wanted to gauge the type of man he truly was. For some reason it had been important as the moment of actually being intimate with him grew closer to becoming a reality, as the intensity with which he looked at her had seeded doubts as to whether she could truly go through with the venture. But of all the reactions she’d expected of him, laughter had never been considered. She rather wished he hadn’t laughed. It was boisterous and joyous, reached deep down inside her and made her want to laugh when she hadn’t in months, perhaps years. Not full laughter, not the sort that made her eyes water with tears. He grinned at her as though she’d suddenly been crowned queen, as though he quite enjoyed being made sport of. Or perhaps he enjoyed that she’d managed to pull one over on him.
“You have played before,” he repeated.
“You haven’t any points to ask questions,” she reminded him, “but then you didn’t really phrase it as a question, rather more as conversation, so yes, I have played. Many times. And I did mention we had a billiards room. You were forewarned.”
“Where all the gents go without the ladies in attendance,” he said in a falsetto voice that was more teasing than mocking and made her smile.
“When we had company. Otherwise, my husband, my sisters, and my brother played. I enjoy the challenge of controlling the ball.” Especially when she felt herself losing control elsewhere. “Some men might have taken offense at my tricking them.”
“I, on the other hand, applaud your cleverness. I was a swindler in my youth with my little peas. I appreciate a well-played dodge.”
“Dodge?”
“That’s what they call it on the streets, when you gain something by underhanded means or by lying.”
“I never lied,” she was quick to point out. “I simply omitted the truth of things.” She waved the cue stick over the table. “Shall we continue?”
“By all means.” He walked over to the wall, leaned against the space between two large heavily draped windows, and crossed one foot in front of the other and his arms over his chest, appearing relaxed and satisfied. “But know this, sweetheart. If you miss those balls, I will show no mercy. My questions will be designed to make you blush from your toes clear up to your hairline.”
She didn’t know what possessed her to think his inquiries would be more exciting than hers, tempting her to deliberately miss the next shot. “You still haven’t answered the question about paying for your pleasures.”
“I don’t. The ladies flock to me.”
She arched a brow. “Not for the past six months or so.”
“No. I’ve been too busy managing my businesses, in particular making a go of this place.”
“Once the Season is fully underway in the next few weeks, you’ll no doubt see an increase in interest and profit.” Since Parliament had opened in February, most of the nobility was already in Town and the Social Season would soon begin in earnest.
