Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

GETTING INTO THE SWING OF IT

" A h ha! And that is my win I believe." Dominic grinned as he lay down his cards triumphantly.

Now that he knew the rules of the game, he was having a far more enjoyable time. And he was also enjoying getting to see a very different side of Charlotte.

"Not so fast, dear Dominic." She held up a hand. "I believe it is my win."

She grinned at him as she threw down the two of Spades and laughed in delight.

"Where on Earth were you hiding that? I swear the two of Spades was played ages ago." Dominic frowned as he stared at the card. I only played my hand like that because I thought it was the highest card left.

A faint wicked grin played across her face as Charlotte scooped up the assortment of pebbles they were using for currency. Her pile had grown significantly since the Dowager had told them they would be playing for stakes.

They were the only four contestants still competing. Everyone else had either given up in frustration or been dismissed by the Duchess. Some had been told to leave the estate entirely.

"It was. But there is nothing stopping me taking it from the discard pile." Charlotte shrugged as she began to shuffle and deal out the cards once more.

"Surely, that is cheating." Dominic frowned at her.

"Why would it be?" she asked.

"Because the last time I tried to pick anything up from the discard pile, you slapped my hand and told me I was not allowed to do it." Dominic gestured to his right hand.

"I did not slap your hand; I merely brushed it aside. Besides, that is your problem." Charlotte frowned at the cards in her hands, rearranging them as she chewed on her lip in thought.

"What is?" Dominic asked as he looked at his own cards. Truly, an abominable hand.

"You let us see you do it," Charlotte explained as she placed a card on the table.

"And you did it wrong anyway," Lady Andrea added, placing her own card on the pile.

"How exactly can you pick up a card incorrectly?" Dominic frowned at them.

"By doing it like you did," Charlotte said.

"It does not even make any sense. And more to the point, you were the one who was supposed to teach me how to play this game."

"Which I did. These are… advanced rules." Charlotte swept a lock of hair from her face.

"Advanced rules?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Yes. And actually, I did tell you about this rule," she explained as she played a run of cards.

"Did you?" He frowned.

She nodded. "I said it was all about entertainment."

"Entertainment? Oh!" Dominic glanced around and saw his grandmother watching them with keen interest. There are rules, but she does not mind if they are bent, so long as it is interesting. Bent, not broken.

On a whim, Dominic decided to pull a random card from Charlotte's hand and play it on the table. Her eyes widened as his fingers brushed hers. He felt a spark of warmth flow through them, spreading across his body.

The card happened to be the two of spades. Dominic grinned.

"It would appear that I have won the round."

"An excellent play, dear boy. Two hundred points!" The Dowager Duchess clapped her hands together with glee. "I am so glad it has started to get interesting."

Charlotte shook her head but appeared to have recovered from the shock of Dominic's move and grinned to herself as she shuffled and dealt out the cards.

"Let us make this round interesting," Charlotte said, looking around the table.

"And how do you propose we do that?" Dominic asked.

"All or nothing. Winner takes everything." Charlotte glanced over at her shoulder at the Dowager Duchess, who was nodding her approval.

"Very well. I bet it all." Lady Andrea pushed her considerable pile of stones towards the centre of the table.

"Too rich for my blood." Cecily shook her head. "I will watch."

"I will take that wager." Dominic threw his own stones to the growing pile. "Prepare to lose."

"I doubt it," Charlotte retorted, grinning at Dominic. "There is too much at stake, Sweetkins."

Dominic scowled at her but felt an odd tug in his chest as she smiled. She has a very pretty smile. He shook himself. He needed to focus. I am here to win. I need to remember that.

Charlotte dealt out the cards, gently humming to herself as she did so. As they began to play, it dawned on Dominic just how relaxed his ‘fiancée' was. Her shoulders were completely at ease, her smile seemed easy and there was a confidence about her that was invigorating.

When was the last time she simply got to focus on having a good time? The thought gave him an idea but unfortunately distracted him enough that he played exactly the wrong card.

Lady Andrea played her own cards without mercy, taking advantage of his misstep.

"A foolish move, Your Grace," she said, playing so many cards that for a moment, Dominic was convinced she had won.

To his relief, she did not, and he breathed a little easier. "We cannot all be perfect all the time."

"Or any of the time," Charlotte teased.

"I do not strive for perfection, simply entertainment," he retorted. Focus.

"And you are very good at that," Charlotte quipped.

"Thank you." He grinned.

"After all, you have amused me all afternoon with your frustration." She laughed softly.

Lady Andrea's brow furrowed, and she let out a sound of annoyance as she looked at her hand and the cards Charlotte had just played. Dominic felt an odd sense of pride in Charlotte's cunning. Her mind is a marvel.

"I am glad to know you enjoy my pain." He shrugged at her, trying to take in the cards in his hand and plan his next move.

"A little discomfort is good for the soul. It reminds one that they are alive." Charlotte tapped on the table with impatience. Apparently she wanted him to hurry up which tempted him to linger over his hand.

Though he could tell she was savouring the moment, she looked like a child who had just found the best pudding.

"And yet you were kind enough to free me of such pain," Dominic pointed out as he finally made his move. One more card, and I will win.

"Well, you did look rather piteous." Charlotte shrugged.

"Perhaps it was all part of my evil plan."

"Which was to be so bad at the game I thought that there was no hope of you understanding it on your own?" she asked sweetly.

"Exactly. And now, I am going to beat you as a result of your own hubris." Dominic gave her a wolfish grin, feeling confident in his victory.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow at him, her eyes full of mischief and challenge. "You are not."

He swallowed. "And what makes you so sure of that?"

"Because I have just won." She gestured to the card she had just played. Or more accurately the five impossible cards she had just played.

On the table were five identical cards, each one the two of spades. "How on Earth did you do that?"

"When I did that lap around the tables, I grabbed the two of spades from several decks on my way back. I have been waiting to pull them out for ages."

"That has to be cheating." Lady Andrea looked at the Dowager Duchess and gestured at Charlotte. "There is no way that is a legal move."

The Dowager Duchess surveyed the group, her lips pursed. Silence settled over them, and Dominic caught sight of Charlotte's neutral face. He could not help but be impressed at her fortitude. Few people remain stoic in the face of my Grandmother.

"You have forgotten the most important rule," Charlotte said, not looking away from the Dowager Duchess. "This is for entertainment."

"Three thousand points for Lady Charlotte for a truly excellent game and the sheer cheek of that last move," the Dowager Duchess exclaimed laughing. "If any of you had been paying attention to her, you would not have been so easily tricked."

"But —"

"No ‘buts'. What she did was deeply entertaining, and the look on your faces when she put down those twos — it was priceless." The Dowager Duchess wiped a tear of laughter from her eyes. "I have not seen such a delightful display in an age. Absolutely wonderful."

"So, you gave her points for sportsmanship and then points for cheating," Lady Andrea said, frowning, but Dominic could tell she was doing her best to keep her voice from sounding like a direct challenge.

"I did. It is my party, and I can do what I like." The Dowager Duchess waved a dismissive hand. "Now, I suggest you all get a drink and do something interesting with your evening."

They got up from the table and walked out into the corridor. Charlotte was talking animatedly to Cecily, who had apparently been delighted by the trick. They heard the sound of a violin and a pianoforte being played.

"It sounds like the cousins are having quite the party."

"We should join them."

They followed the sound of music to one of the larger drawing rooms and found a selection of people scattered about. Emmeline was at the pianoforte, and one of Dominic's second cousins was accompanying her on the violin.

As they walked into the room, a servant offered each of them a glass of wine which Dominic gratefully accepted. He took a sip, savouring the flavour. Grandmother may be utterly mad, but she does have fantastic taste in wine.

Frederick appeared after a moment, his face red as he bowed low. "Lady Charlotte, Cousin Cecily, Dorson, and Lady Andrea. How wonderful to see you all."

"And you, Frederick."

"Would anyone care for this next dance?" Frederick asked. "Lady Charlotte?"

Charlotte hesitated a moment. "I am rather out of practice I fear, Duke Caverton."

"You can hardly be a worse dancer than Batty." Frederick smiled at Charlotte as he led her towards the floor.

Dominic watched them go, a sudden pang in his chest as the two of them began to dance. He frowned as he watched Charlotte smiling up at Frederick. Belatedly he realised that Lady Andrea was talking to him.

"Pardon, what did you say?" he asked.

"I was wondering what Lady Charlotte meant when she said she was rather out of practice. Surely you must have danced many times while you were courting." Lady Andrea gave him an odd look, but Dominic was barely aware of it as he watched Charlotte and his cousin dance.

"I… I was away for much of the time we were courting. We did not get many opportunities to see each other." Dominic could not tear his eyes from the two people dancing, and he had taken half a step towards them before he realised what he was doing. "If you would excuse me, Lady Andrea."

He did not wait for a reply. He was barely aware of crossing the distance to Frederick, and before he knew it, he was tapping his cousin on the shoulder and saying, "Might I cut in?"

"Of course." Frederick said. "If the lady does not mind."

"I do not." Charlotte replied.

Frederick bowed to her and disappeared to find himself another partner. Dominic barely noticed him leave as he took Charlotte's hand in his own and placed another at the small of her back.

He felt the warmth of her through her dress, the softness of her hand against his. They began to sway in time with the music, her movements a little stiff at first, before they effortlessly seemed to match his.

"You are a very good dancer for someone who claims they are out of practice," he remarked.

She smiled, and he felt something in his chest twist. "Perhaps you are a good leader."

He smiled back. "Is that a compliment, dear Charlotte."

"It might be." She held his gaze. "I find that I am in rather a good mood this evening."

"I am glad. It is nice that you have enjoyed yourself so thoroughly today." Dominic found that he meant it.

"I had not expected that it would be so enjoyable. I enjoyed catching you and your cousin by surprise." Charlotte grinned.

"You definitely did that," Dominic admitted. "And it seems that it has put you squarely in Grandmother's good books."

An odd look crossed Charlotte's face. "Yes, I suppose it has."

"I assume that was why you did it?" Dominic felt an odd swooping sensation in his stomach as he asked the question, something close to disappointment.

"I was just enjoying the game," Charlotte replied. "The fact that it appealed to your Grandmother was a bonus. It will be interesting to see what other things she has planned for us."

"Knowing Grandmother, it will be nothing any of us are likely to predict." Dominic gently guided Charlotte as they turned around the room.

"And I expect that will be half the fun." She smiled at him, slightly breathless as they danced.

"And what will the other half be?" He meant it to sound teasing, but his voice came out softer, more earnest than he had planned.

"I suppose we shall have to find out," she answered.

"For a moment, I thought you might say it would be my company," he joked.

"How terribly optimistic of you," Charlotte replied, but there was no bite in her words. "Though I will admit, I did rather enjoy your company today."

"My company or the fact that you thrashed me at cards?" he teased.

"Can it not be both?" she asked.

"I suppose it can," Dominic replied, trying not to think of just how happy her answer made him. You are playing a dangerous game, Dominic.

He knew he should stop dancing with her, but he told himself that this was a perfect way to keep up appearances. That was all this was. Keeping up the ruse. None of it was real.