Page 6 of King Takes Queen

He swallowed his first response—a declaration of love—and shook his head. “I don’t know what I want anymore.”

“Do you want to board theQuarter Moonin the morn?”

“No.”

She finally raised her chin so that their eyes met. “Then why not fight for what you want for once? You’ve always claimed you never wished to venture abroad. It was why you declined to work for the Foreign Office, time and time again.” She stepped up and reached out to take his hand. “If you truly desire to remain on English soil, then I suggest you challenge me to a game of chess. But we must conduct the chess match in private. I don’t want anyone, especially my family, to know about our match.” Minerva sighed. “I guess there would have to be one exception…we would have to inform the Head of the Foreign Office, since they instigated this debacle.”

“In private? Impossible. There are too many who are already aware of my predicament. If I remain, your brother, Isadora, Avondale, and his sister all will assume I have challenged you to a match.”

“Hmm… You would make a terrible spy, with your inability to keep anything a secret.”

Ha. Little did she know he did have secrets—like his true feelings for her. “Why are you so certain you shall win?”

Minerva countered, “Why do you believe there’s a chance you could win?”

He was running out of patience. Anthony lowered his tone and growled. “Minerva.”

In typical Minerva fashion, she pointed her index finger in the air. “First, you haven’t played in years.” Adding another finger, she continued, “Second, with all the swell you have consumed, I’m certain you’ve damaged more than a few brain cells, and third, I never lose.” It was her turn to search his features. She released his hand. “You’re worried I’ll not try to defeat you and trap you into marriage?” She placed her hands behind her back and puffed out her chest. “Let me assure you, my lord, I have no interest in marrying you or any other gentleman of my acquaintance. If you don’t want my help to ensure you are not shipped off at first light, simply say so and I shall leave.”

Damn the woman. She was simultaneously infuriating and desirable. There was no doubt in his mind that he was capable of placing her in check and winning, but she deserved a family of her own. And that was the one thing he could not give her.

For years he had witnessed the glow that would appear around her when she was surrounded by her siblings, and every time he would imagine a gaggle of mini Minervas tugging at her skirts. His heart would fill until hurt. The thought of being thousands of miles away from her was killing him.

He wasn’t certain how it all came about, but he had found himself cornered into an impossible situation. But Minerva was right—it was time he pursued what he desired.

“Lady Minerva Malbury, I challenge you to a game of chess—do you accept?”

All the color drained from her cheeks. “I do.”

She was scared. He was too.

He traced a finger along her jawline and tipped her chin up. The uncertainty in her eyes crushed his soul. Where was his brave, brazen bluestocking?

He dropped his hand to his side and said, “It is your wish for our game to be conducted in secret.”

Minerva nodded.

He loved her—faults and all. To play in secret had a variety of risks and pitfalls for them both. But he could make it possible. He could grant her this one wish.

“Very well. I shall inform the Head of the Foreign Office of our match personally. Then I’ll relocate to a dwelling on the east side and let everyone believe I’ve left Town. Will you be able to sneak out to conduct the game until completion?”

Eyes wide, Minerva stared up at him. “You intend to reside in the shadows for the duration of our match? You would do that for me?” She was fully aware of his preference for company. He hated being alone.

Before he could change his mind, he walked over to the side table next to his bed and retrieved a piece of parchment, quill, and ink. He penned the address of the residence he had let out for years. The location many believed belonged to a mistress that was in fact nonexistent. In order to deflect questions, Anthony had kept up the appearance of maintaining a fake mistress for years, even talked and complained about her as if she were real. It was quite astonishing how simple it was to fool others with very little evidence.

An image of the infamous Madame Rose flashed before him. His brief but intense interlude with the opera singer was the only instance where he had even considered the idea of a mistress. Except when he had closed his eyes with the willing woman in his arms, all he pictured was Minerva. It was as if in his mind, the two women were one.

He shook his head to clear his muddled thoughts and handed Minerva the address. “It shall be a challenge to live in Town in secret—however, if we work together, it shouldn’t be too hard a feat, wouldn’t you agree?”

Minerva took the note from him and tapped the corner of the parchment against his chest. “A challenge for you, mayhap, but not for I.” Her cheeks regained some of their color and the corner of her lips curved into an almost smile. “It takes at least a six months by ship to reach India. Even if we limited ourselves to one move per player, per night, it would take at most three weeks to complete. How will you explain your early reappearance?”

Her keen intelligence had his heart aflutter. He loved how their thoughts mirrored each other the majority of the time. Having considered the scenario mere moments ago, he answered, “Rough seas, boat repair—there are a number of reasons for the voyage to be canceled. Or we could extend the game so only one player may move each night…” If the intel that Minerva intended to leave for America in three weeks was correct, she would balk at his proposal.

“I see no need to prolong your suffering. If you are not worried about wagging tongues on your sudden return, then I suggest we complete the game as quickly as possible. Then we each can move on.”

She’d thrown down the gauntlet. His pride bucked at the idea of his forfeiting their match, but he wouldn’t deny her a life with children. He might not be able to seize victory, but he could play a game that would challenge her…a game she wouldn’t forget.

“It will take me a day to disappear. We can begin our game two nights hence?” he asked.

---