She cut her gaze to his sharply. She hadn’t realized he’d seen them playing.
The small orchestra started, and a cry of joy rose from the occupants of the dancing room.
“Come, let us watch for a few moments. The game will not start until the quartet sets up in that room. Then the doors shall be closed so the music does not clash.”
He led her to the doorway of the right ballroom.
Althea gasped. Men and women were paired, men and men were paired, and women and women were paired. But in lieu of the formal arm frame of a waltz or other ballroom dance, a man’s hand was not on his partner’s side. Instead, it rested low on his companion’s spine, with the couple’s legs intertwined, hips a scant inch apart.
She had the odd thought that a decade before this would not have been possible, but women’s dresses were much slimmer with less petticoats the last few years. She shook her head and tried not to focus on the heat curling through her center from watching the bodies in close contact.
Beth was paired with the footman she had been chatting with a moment before. Distracted from her guilty enjoyment of the dancers, Althea frowned, worried Beth’s actions would get the poor man in trouble with his employer.
Evan must have caught her expression. Following her gaze, he chuckled. “My servants know they’re allowed to participate if invited, and they’ve been specially trained to meetallmy guests’ needs—at their own discretion, of course.”
Althea shot him a look. Was he really saying that the guests were invited to sleep with the servants and vice versa? Oh lud, Beth would have a field day. Or…mayhap she knew and ’twas one of the reasons she was so set on this being the path for Althea to meet Evan. She frowned at her cousin again.
“Shall it be dancing then?”
She jolted, imagining the press of his body against hers. Why, her breasts would be touching his waistcoat in that close clinch. Another bolt of heat shot through her, and her nipples peaked embarrassingly.Oh, my.
The earl’s gaze was heavy-lidded as he awaited her answer.
She licked her lips, considering. Someone pushed by behind her in the doorway, and she roused from her fog. No. She would not be lured or provoked into playing dirty games. She still did not understand her cousin’s interest in sex, no matter how much Beth described it or encouraged her to experiment. Her marriage had been a good one but did not include high passion in any form. The idea of sex with a stranger left her cold. She had simply had a momentary lapse due to her strange excitement at watching the intimate dance.
Except… No. “No, thank you, my lord. I shall sit this out.”
“Right, then. Onward. We shall play the game.” He grasped her elbow and turned them, stepping them into the other room as the doors shut.
“What? No. Thank you, I think I shall retire.”
“Madame, ’tis barely sundown. Come now, have some fun. Surely you played this as a child?”
“Yes, but…”
“This is simply a grown-up version of the game. The rules are slightly different, but ’tisn’t difficult, I assure you. And ’tis loads of fun.” When she started to argue, he added, “You’re here, at a house party, having come all this way. You’ve done what you came to do. Now relax and enjoy. If you don’t, I shan’t be able to, and ’tis my party.” He mock-pouted.
“Does that actually work with some women?” She pressed her lips together in exasperation. He’d already challenged her. She was not going to feel guilty from his teasing. She was made of sterner stuff than the Ton ladies he seduced.
“Yes.” He gave a half-smile as though he knew his own charm. “I shall have to accompany you and coax you to walk with me. Or if you decline, I shall worry all evening about the guests above-stairs in”—his voice dropped—“a nightrail and in bed all alone.”
She shivered, unable to stop herself. Despite her exasperation, she needed to stop his flirting. “Fine. I shall stay.”
“No spectators allowed, mind you. You must participate.”
The female servant he had appointed to organize this game clapped her hands, the quartet played a long note, and the room’s attention shifted to the woman. Althea turned toward the speaker so Evan stood behind her. She noted the furniture lined along the walls, creating a large open area in the center of the room.
“Here are the rules. Blind man—or lady—picks the body part. Everyone must be standing. Clothing layers may be removed at each player’s choosing. There are a few boxes over in the corner. Gloves will be worn—for propriety’s sake of course.”
The whole room laughed.
Althea blinked twice, lost.
Her host’s voice rasped over her shoulder. “You’ll see.”
“Who wants to be blindman first?”
The guests murmured, looking around. One spied Evan. “Cheltie!”
