“What it comes down to is fun. Entertainment. A lot of it seems complicated, but it is not. It is just more of a memory game.” Charlotte smiled.
“If you say so,” Cecily muttered.
“What about if I do this?” Dominic asked as he lay down a trick of cards. “Do I win?”
Charlotte nodded. “Excellent work!”
“You are going to regret teaching me this game, my Precious Plum.”
“Is that a challenge, good sir?” Charlotte grinned back at him.
“It is indeed, gentle lady.” Dominic grinned. “Prepare to lose.”
And as they dealt out another hand, Charlotte found that she was quite looking forward to the rest of the afternoon. Competition really was more fun when you were all on the same page.
And she was going to take great pleasure in beating the Duke.After all, now, it is a matter of skill, and I have that in spades.
Chapter Fifteen
GETTING INTO THE SWING OF IT
“Ah 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.
