Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

It was noticed soon after by the guests of Fernsby Hall that Evangeline and Basil had taken on the game of challenging one another at every turn. Archery went in Evangeline's favor. The horseback race went to Basil. The wager on which duck could eat the most pieces of bread in one minute went to Basil as well.

The other guests took great amusement in making open bets between themselves whenever a new competition was afoot, but Evangeline, and thankfully Basil too, never let on that their winnings did not come from each other's purses, but were paid in secret meetings in and about the house and grounds of Fernsby Hall.

Basil was next kissed on his pinky finger. After the horse race, he countered by kissing her elbow, which made her laugh, though Evangeline protested over the ducks. "It was the duck that won, after all."

"Yes, but I chose it."

"Still. "

"Would you rather me fetch the duck? I am sure its webbed feet would benefit from a kiss."

"That is a very good point. Come closer, then."

A chess game was agreed upon next. With an audience gathered about them in the drawing room one evening, Evangeline and Basil bent their heads over the board, each trying their best to rout the other.

"Three guineas on Lady Ramsbury," Mr. Stratham said.

Basil frowned at him. "A little fraternal solidarity would be appreciated."

Mr. Stratham only laughed at him. Evangeline sent him a sympathetic look. "How can you blame him, when he can sense who the superior player is?"

Lady Lyndhurst reached out and patted Basil's shoulder. "We are on your side, Mr. Morley." Mrs. Browning and Lord Lyndhurst beside her nodded their encouragement.

"What are your stakes, Morley?" Sir Michael asked.

"Oh, her ladyship and I are playing deep tonight. Deeper than we have ever played, for if I win, I have the honor of?—"

A wave of panic swept over Evangeline. Was he mad? How much port had he taken before coming into the drawing room?

"—of taking her out on the lake in one of the rowboats."

Laughter rippled through the guests at this ‘deep play.' Evangeline cast her eyes to the ceiling and shook her head. "You would be laughed out of all good society if you said that in one of your gaming hells, which, being a well-bred lady, I, of course, know nothing about but I should think that would happen. You should try it."

Basil only grinned and continued the game which, despite her best efforts, went to him in the end.

A while later, as people began retiring for the night, she drew up beside Basil for a moment and murmured, "I have been out on the lake several times already, you know."

"But not with me."

"If you think you can kiss —" she mouthed the word "—me out there in front of everyone, you are mistaken."

Basil shook his head. "No such thing. I will take that prize tonight."

Evangeline glanced around the room. "Where?"

"I was thinking just under your ear this time."

She pursed her lips in exasperation even as heat flooded her cheeks. There were still people in the room.

"Mind your tongue," she hissed. "I did not mean that kind of where. I meant which room."

"Ah, I understand now. Forgive me."

"You knew perfectly well what I was talking about."

The look he bent on her made her still. "I do not think you realize how hard it is to not think of only you when you are near, Titania."

She stared back at him. She did not know what to do with a compliment given with such warmth in his eyes. To him, their game was just that. A game.

Wasn't it?

"Shall we say, the ladies' saloon? Twelve-thirty?"

She nodded curtly, ready to leave him. "Twelve-thirty."

At the appointed hour however, Evangeline found herself in deep conversation with Georgie and Lady Lyndhurst. Rather, she and Georgie were the designated sympathetic ear to Lady Lyndhurst's laments over her son's wild behavior. Her ladyship was not specific but gave enough information for Evangeline to know what road Mr. Stratham was galloping down at a spanking pace. She excused herself on the pretense of being fatigued and made her way to the ladies' saloon in the west wing. As she walked down the great gallery on the second floor, the light of another candle met her eyes.

Drat. What excuse would she give for being out alone this late at night? If it was a servant, she need not say anything, but that left them to draw their own conclusions as to her activities. If it was one of the other guests, she decided on the excuse of an airing to try to rid herself of a headache before resorting to the laudanum. That might be believable.

The owner of the other candle came closer, and Basil's face came into focus. He had recognized her. He was also going the wrong way.

Evangeline cocked her head in question. Basil shook his own in response and lifted a finger to his lips. As he drew up to her, he took hold of her arm and turned her around to walk the other way.

"What is it?" she asked. "The saloon is that way."

"Occupied," he returned.

"Oh? By whom?"

"I don't know, but I heard enough to warn me not to open the door."

Evangeline nodded her head in sage understanding. She had a strict policy to turn a blind eye to the late night activities of others. "What do we do, then? Where do we go?"

"Fernsby's study should do."

"There is the option of simply going to bed?—"

She had hoped to get "—and finding another place tomorrow" out of her mouth before Basil could react, but he stopped in his tracks. He put a hand to his heart, shocked. "My Lady Ramsbury, I never thought it of you."

Evangeline's face flushed furiously. Leave it to Basil to twist her meaning into something else. She swatted his arm. "You are a wicked thing. I did not mean—you know very well—oh, you are impossible. "

His shoulders shook with laughter. "It amazes me that you have kept me as a friend this long. Should have cast me off long ago."

She lifted her hand and pressed it to his mouth. His voice always rose when he was amused. "Be quiet, do. Let us get this over with and go our separate ways for the night."

Without another word, Basil urged her forward, and in a few moments had (after ensuring themselves of the room's vacancy) closed the door of Lord Fernsby's study.

"There," he said. He took her candle and set it down on the desk beside his. "That we should have to take all these precautions just for one little kiss. If you would only marry me, we would not have this issue."

"Is it not worth the price?" Evangeline asked, ignoring the last part. She also tried to ignore the twinge in her stomach as she waited for his answer.

"Now, I didn't say that. You are fond of putting meanings to my words that are not true. Have been for years."

She shrugged and leaned against the desk. "Perhaps you should cast me off instead of the other way round?"

She expected some glib quip in response. Instead, Basil grasped both her arms with his hands and brought himself flush up against her. She gasped. "Basil?—"

"Hold still. This won't take a moment."

From her arms, he slid his hands past her shoulders, cupping the nape of her neck within them as his thumbs gently stroked her cheeks. She took in a shuddering breath but remained otherwise frozen, too surprised to move. He tilted her head to the side, just slightly, then bent down and pressed a kiss on the skin just under her ear. Once. Twice.

His nose nudged her ear lobe, making her gasp again before he kissed her neck once more. "Cast you off? Never. Remember my little prophecy?"

Evangeline's heart hammered painfully in her chest. Being so close to him, pressed up against him as she was with the desk behind her, she felt a little lightheaded, but his playful words brought a look of equally playful scorn to her eyes. She needed to regain control of herself. She raised her hands and pushed his down from their hold on her face. "What? That you would marry me and my money someday?"

The humor in Basil's eyes faded. "Your money. Do you still think about that?"

"Don't you? Would you still wish marriage to me if I had none?" That he liked her after so many years as friends was obvious, but one of his main motivations had always been her money. He knew that. She knew that.

But Basil's jaw tightened. Was he angry? She eyed him, confused. They spoke like this to each other all the time. What had she said to set up his back so suddenly?

A beat passed between them. Two beats. Three. No words were spoken. Basil's eyes fixed on hers as if he was trying to penetrate through her shield of humor and gain access to her true, unadulterated self. The part she kept tucked away for only those who truly had her love and trust.

He finally spoke. "It is like I said before. I do not think you realize just how difficult it is to think of anything but you, Evangeline."

Before she knew what was happening, he leaned in and kissed her full on the mouth.

Shock coursed through her entire frame, and with it, an urgent desire for more of him. She grabbed at the lapels of his jacket, pulling him closer. When that was not enough, she laced her arms around his neck and curled her fingers through his hair.

A groan sounded deep in Basil's throat, and he wrapped his arms around her. His kisses came faster, his hands running up and down her back and along her sides. Evangeline found she could meet his urgency with her own. She had never kissed like this—or been kissed like this—before. Never knew she could feel such a passion whirling around inside her from a man's embrace.

Basil's lips had moved down to her neck once more where his work made her breaths come quick and shallow. "Evangeline," he murmured, returning to her mouth, his hands roving along her sides.

This was too much, going too fast. If she kept on, where would this end? She would not marry. The other option was equally impossible. She would be no one's mistress.

With a gasp, she jerked out of his hold and broke away from him.

"E?" Basil said, confusion furrowing his brow. His chest heaved up and down like he had just sprinted a mile.

She turned and hurried to the door. He called out to her again, but she did not hear any movement on his part. How could she explain her feelings? Her fear? How could she have led him to think she wanted more from him?

Because she did.

Her mind reeled. She could still feel his touch on her lips and neck. She could not think while he was here. She had to get away. "Forgive me, Basil."

Those were the only words she could muster before opening the door and hurrying to her room.