“Surely this cannot be a state secret, Miss Gans. The Home Office lets you disclose this type of information, does it not?”
“I’m afraid you misunderstand, Lord Arthur. I cannot tell you as I have never had an ice before.”
That brought him up short. “Never? You’ve never been to Gunter’s in London?”
“You forget, my lord, that I must work for a living. I have neither the time nor the funds to go to Gunter’s.” She might as well be honest about the gulf that existed between them. She could eat for a week on what one trip to the famous ice maker would cost her.
“In that case, we must make this visit count. Order whatever you like and as many as you fancy.”
“But are we not constrained by a lack of funds?’
Arthur smiled at her. “I do wish I could spend as I normally do, as I would love to spoil you. But even in my reduced circumstances, we can afford a few dishes and you, sweeting, can have all of them.”
“But you must have some, too,” she said, genuinely touched by his thoughtfulness. Then she remembered herself. “And don’t call me sweeting.”
He ignored both of her commands. “As much as I enjoy an ice, I can wait until we return to London. It will be enjoyment enough to watch as you experience your first taste.”
The dazzling smile she gave him made him wish he could lighten all her burdens in life, ones he’d never had to face because he’d been born a Kellington. But now was certainly not the time to broach that topic.
The café owner came to take their order. It took Vanessa a few minutes to make her selections, her demeanor as solemn as if she’d been negotiating the terms of peace with France. But she eventually settled on chocolate and peach, and only then after extracting his promise that he would share them with her.
As soon as she placed her order, she was back to being the frighteningly efficient agent of the Crown. “Provided we get Sir John to release the broadsword into our keeping, how do you suggest we transport it?”
“Perhaps we should send it to your superiors in London or even to Professor Dumbarton in Cambridge.”
She considered that for a moment, then shook her head. “I’m afraid to let it out of my sight.”
“You don’t trust Dumbarton?” Arthur hoped she was beginning to suspect the man. He probably wasn’t the mole in her organization, but he certainly had dishonorable intentions toward her. Not as dishonorable as you do, an inner voice stated. He did his best to ignore it.
“I trust him,” said Vanessa, “but I would hate to place him in danger, which could occur if Mortimer and Cassidy learned he has it. And considering how many students go in and out of his home each day, I fear it would only be a matter of time until word got out. As for sending the sword to London, something tells me it’s the wrong move to make. And I have learned to trust my instincts.”
The owner arrived with the ices, which he placed in front of them. The man was quite proud of his creations and wanted to watch Vanessa take her first bite. But there was something almost intimate about the situation that Arthur did not wish to share with others. He waved the man off and made a mental note to leave an extra coin for his rudeness, though he was beginning to worry about how much longer his funds would hold out.
Vanessa studied the ices, almost as if she were afraid of disturbing them.
“I realize this is your first experience with them, sweeting,” said Arthur, “but you do know they’ll melt, don’t you?”
She sighed and looked at him. “I want the experience to last.”
She was focused on the two treats, and she’d never looked so beautiful or vulnerable. “I promise to take you to Gunter’s once we’re back in town,” said Arthur, “so do not fear that this is your last chance for ices.”
“But the first time is always one to be cherished, is it not?”
She’d already lowered her eyes to her spoon, so she didn’t see the wave of lust hit Arthur. He knew he would cherish the first time they made love. And the second. The third and so on. It was quite possible he wouldn’t tire of Vanessa for weeks, if not months. Maybe even years.
After holding the spoon over both dishes, she finally dipped it into the peach. She scooped a bit onto the spoon then slowly slid it past her lips.
Arthur had never enjoyed an ice more.
Next, she dipped into the chocolate. Her face was one of complete bliss after her taste. Arthur made it his number one goal in life to produce that same look on her face but in quite a different setting.
She talked very little as she ate the ices, wanting to savor every moment. He hadn’t planned to taste either one but finally gave in at her insistence. There was something incredibly erotic about having her feed him in the café. If they’d been in private, he wouldn’t have been able to resist taking her on the table.
When Vanessa was finally done with her treats, and wistfully said no to a third dish, they left the ice café. They stopped in a leather wares shop to buy a case big enough to conceal the sword. Thankfully the clerk was impressed enough by Arthur’s signet ring to give them the case on credit, with the bill to be sent to Lynwood’s man of business in London.
When it was time for dinner, they decided to avoid the noise of the tap by eating in their room. As Vanessa listened to Arthur talk about his life, she realized there was something both comforting and alarming about the intimacy of sharing a meal in their chamber. She tried to think of a topic which would be innocent enough to discuss.
“Did your eldest brother ever get into mischief?” she asked, then had to hide a smile as his eyes lit up like a child’s, anxious to share a secret.
“Liam was always getting into mischief, but rarely was found out. Even from an early age, he had a way about him that made others think he was too well-reasoned for such nonsense. I can’t tell you how many times Ned or I were blamed for stunts we knew Liam pulled. Never serious trouble, of course. Our parents didn’t believe in striking us, other than a gentle swat on the behind when warranted. Cook used to come after us from time to time. And our old head groom once made Liam muck out the stalls because he’d sworn in front of Lizzie. Liam hadn’t known she could hear him, and Lizzie, of course, had delighted in learning a naughty word.”
“I can’t imagine the duke mucking out a stall.”
“Neither could we. We all lined up to watch. Even Mother and Father stopped by to check out the sight. Liam cleaned out every bit of the stables, and he did it with the dignity of a duke and the humility of the lowest servant. That’s the thing about Liam. He’s every inch the duke, but has a humble side that makes him bearable.”
“You love your brothers and sister.” Vanessa stated it as a fact, not a question.
Arthur nodded. “I would give my life for them all, including Jane, Violet and now Riverton.”
“Why hasn’t his grace married? I thought that was one of the responsibilities of being a duke.”
“It is and he will. It would never do for Liam to forsake a responsibility. I just hope when he does that he finds a lady who will see him as a man and not just a title.”
“Any why haven’t you married?” asked Vanessa, who’d been curious about that ever since meeting him at the house party.
“Because that is one of the advantages to being the middle child in a family of five. Liam is supposed to marry and sire an heir. Should that fail to happen, Ned must have a son. Jane is with child, so there’s the very real – and quite desirable – possibility that his heir is already on the way. I’m not the heir’s spare. God willing, I may not even be the spare’s heir. I have the freedom to conduct my life as I like for as long as it pleases me.”
“So you have no plans to marry?”
“I have no plans to marry in the near future. I suppose at some point I shall. But, as of yet, I haven’t met the woman I would even consider taking that journey with.”
“I should think there would be a great deal of pressure for a man in your position to marry. I’ve observed the mamas of the ton as
they try to marry off their daughters. I’m surprised any of the Kellingtons are single.”
“Careful, love, or I’ll think you meant that as a compliment,” he said, then enjoyed watching her face color with embarrassment. He held up his hand. “No need to disabuse me. I shan’t let your words go to my already bloated head. As long as Liam remains single, he will be the one the mamas are aiming for. As a third son, I am acceptable, but by no means the catch of the family.”
Vanessa thought about what he’d said. “Are you satisfied with your life as it is right now?”
“I do enjoy myself.”
“The life of a gamester doesn’t seem too….regular.”
“Trust me, sweetheart, compared to most of the gamesters I know, I’m the most regular man you can imagine.”
“But do you find it fulfilling? And you really must stop calling me sweetheart and love,” she said, no matter how much she enjoyed it.
Arthur smiled at her attempt to keep him at a distance. “Gaming supports me. And, as you have so often pointed out, I am used to the comforts of life. It also allows me to study people, which I find fascinating. You can learn a great deal about a man by how he loses, and even more tellingly, how he wins. I’ve seen the ugliness that occurs when a person is unable to stop wagering. I believe it can be as debilitating as the worst disease.”
“Yet you continue to play against them.” Her tone was carefully neutral.
Arthur took a sip of his drink. “I have never started play with a man already in his cups. But if he starts out sober and drinks too much during the course of the game that is his problem. And I have never played when the stakes are so high as to ruin a man’s family.”
“But ruining the man himself?” Vanessa watched him closely as she asked the question.
After a rather long silence when she wasn’t sure he’d answer at all, he finally did. “A man shouldn’t wager more than he can afford. But I am not my brother’s keeper.”
He turned away before she could study him further. He came back to the table with a deck of cards. “Talking about gaming is infinitely less interesting than playing. What’s your game, Miss Gans?”
“I don’t play games,” she said.
“On the contrary,” he said as he took a seat opposite her at the table, “your very profession requires you to play games, to look for a person’s weaknesses, to get what you need. You have to read people, just as I have to. So I’m proposing a simple game of cards. It is too early to retire to the bed and that blasted blanket – pardon my language.” He shuffled the deck then dealt one card face down in front of each of them.
“I already told you I don’t play games,” she said.
“Don’t think of it as a game. It’s simply an exercise to show how well I can read people and your aptitude for disguising your emotions.”
“I never claimed any such skill,” she said, as she moved back in her chair without conscious thought, increasing the distance between them.
Arthur noted the movement and smiled. “Ah, your very first tell. The fascinating Miss Gans doesn’t want to reveal herself.”
“Nor do you, Lord Arthur,” she said as she straightened in her chair.
“Nor do I,” he said, as he leaned forward to see if she would move back. She didn’t. He continued talking. “You rarely reveal any personal information about yourself and when you do, it’s only the most innocent details, such as your never having had an ice. In a moment, I’m going to pick up my card and tell you what it is. Then you’ll pick up your card and I shall guess if it is higher, lower or the same value as mine, just by looking at your expression. Are you ready?” He could tell she didn’t want to do this, which made him all the more determined to follow through with it.
“I fail to see the purpose of this.”
“It’s entertainment, Miss Gans. I suspect you get too little of it in your life.” Arthur looked at his card. “It’s the jack of hearts.”
Vanessa didn’t pick up her card. “By choosing such a high card, the odds are that mine will be lower. Do not then try to tell me you’re reading my expression when in fact you’re just playing the odds.”
“Pick up your card, Vanessa.”
Vanessa picked up the card and looked at it, carefully blanking her face of emotion.
Arthur immediately responded. “Your card is higher.” The answering frown on her face would’ve made him laugh, if he didn’t want her to keep playing so much. And it was disconcerting how very much he wanted her to keep playing.
“How did you know?” she asked.
“Because I can read people, regardless of how well they try to hide their expressions.” He dealt each of them another card, then looked at his. “The six of clubs. And before you say I have a 50-50 chance of guessing correctly, I’ll even tell you what your card is within two points. That should make it a good deal harder to guess.”
“We’re not playing with a marked deck, are we?” she asked, as she studied the discarded cards.
“I am quite offended sweetheart,” he said, easily. “A gentleman cannot afford to even be in possession of such a thing if he wants to avoid a duel. Look at your card.”
Vanessa looked at the card then stared at him. “Well, Lord Arthur, what am I holding?”
It took him only a moment. “I don’t need to guess within two points. You’re holding a six, although I don’t know which suit, other than it cannot be clubs.” This time her astonishment was so clear he had to laugh.
“How did you know?” she asked.
“I told you. You’re giving yourself away, although I must admit you school your features better than most card players – further evidence you’re quite good at your job. But in this instance, you showed just the slightest satisfaction. Your right eye crinkled a bit. You should have a care with that or you’ll wrinkle well before your time.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
He shook his head. “Wrinkles, pet.”
“If I spend much more time with you, my lord, I can expect wrinkles and a head filled with gray hair. But how did you know my satisfaction meant I had the six?”
“Because it was the least likely outcome. You figured you had me beaten and were quite happy about it. Not very sporting of you, I must say.”
“Perhaps we should reverse the roles and see how well you guard your emotions, my lord. I shall look at my card first and guess if your card is higher or lower.”
“Very well, but I think we should make the stakes more interesting.”
“I never wager.”
“Never?” he asked, surprised by how resolute she was. “Is it because you know you’ll lose?”
“Nothing of the sort. Only someone who has never gone without funds would be so careless as to give them away so easily.”
“So you were once without funds?” asked Arthur softly. From the way she picked up the cards and shuffled, it was obvious she hadn’t meant to give that much away. “It must have been quite difficult for you,” he continued not unkindly. “While there have been times when my quarterly allowance ran out and pride kept me from going to Liam for an advance, I never had to face the consequences of not having blunt. But I’ve seen what life can be like for those without means. London in particular is brutal to the poor.”
Without comment, she dealt each of them a card then picked hers up. “The three of diamonds,” she said briskly.
It was obvious she would give no more of her past away, so Arthur decided to take her mind off what was obviously an uncomfortable subject for her. “While we will not wager money, I have a most interesting idea.”
“Does it concern kisses?” she blurted out.
Arthur smiled, as she blushed. “It appears you can read me, Miss Gans, because yes, it does. At the end of each round the winner gets to kiss the loser.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“What if I don’t want to kiss you?” she asked, trying to sound as casual as possible, even though her body was burning with the very thought of kissing t
he rascal.
“As the winner, it would be your option to not kiss me,” he replied, stretching out his legs under the table so that he brushed against her ankle. “Assuming you’d ever be the winner.”
“Are you implying I am unable to read you?”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
Arthur watched Vanessa’s emotions play across her beautiful face. It was obvious she wanted to prove him wrong, while equally apparent she was both nervous, and, unless his rakish instincts failed him, excited by the challenge. Then she drew breath and spoke.
“As I said before, I have the three of diamonds.”
Arthur looked at his card, then placed it face down again. She studied him for a moment, before saying “Your card is higher.”
“It is,” he replied. “Although in this case, the odds were very much in your favor to guess correctly. Nevertheless, I will submit to your kiss.”
She narrowed her eyes again and Arthur was relieved to see the sparks of her temper were driving away her nerves.
“It is interesting how when I guess correctly it is a matter of the odds being in my favor, but when you do it, it’s a sign of great skill. And I choose not to kiss you.”
“How disappointing – for both of us.”
“You are impossibly arrogant.”
“At times.” He dealt them both a card, then picked his up and looked at it. “The eight of hearts.”
Vanessa then looked at her card and met his eyes.
After a moment, Arthur said “Your card is higher.”
She nodded curtly. “Yes, yes. Get it over with.” She leaned toward him with lips pressed firmly together.
“As tempting as your lips are, my love, I choose not to kiss them.”
“Excellent,” she said as she reached for the deck.
“Not so fast,” said Arthur, as he placed his hand over hers. “I said I chose not to kiss your lips, not that I didn’t want to kiss you.”
Vanessa looked at his hand then withdrew hers. “I cannot imagine where you intend to kiss me, if not my lips.”
Never Wager Against Love (Kellington Book Three) Page 9