“Chests and breasts.”
“Lips, please. With yours, preferably.”
Catcalls and other lewd suggestions rang out.
Evan laughed and played along, even as he rolled his eyes mentally. There was only one pair of breasts he wanted to touch, only one pair of rose-colored lips in a pale face he wanted to kiss.
The door opened, admitting more people coming over from the dancing to investigate the games, and that pair of lips was lost as Althea slipped out of the room.
Beth bounced in, and Evan looked around quickly, spotting Robert in a corner. In desperation to catch Althea, he threw the blindfold at Robert, despite knowing he hated being the center of attention.
“What? No.” His friend scowled.
“Come, please, for me. They’re warmed up. They will play along nicely. And look at the curves on that one.” Beth was Robert’s exact type, nicely rounded and petite.
As he hoped, his friend snatched the cravat, saying, “You owe me, Bags.”
But Evan barely heard him as he rushed out the door, taking the stairs two at a time to catch Althea before she gained her room.
****
He knows all his guests by name…and by arse?
Fascination and intimidation swirled through Althea while her conscience attempted to throw disgust into the mix. As always, her very strict upbringing battled with her desire to be less judgmental and more accepting of others.
How might someone recognize another’s arse? She wasn’t sure she could have found her husband in the mix when he was alive. Although, she’d likely know Beth’s. She giggled then gasped as Evan suddenly appeared next to her on the stairs, out of breath.
“Lady Althea, please, I beg of you, allow me to apologize.”
She stopped and turned to him. “For what, exactly?”
Evan stared at her, mouth slack, still gulping air.
“Mmm, right. You really do not have anything to apologize for, my lord. If nothing else, ’tis your house. Surely, ’tis your choice what games to offer and your guests’ choice to participate.” She paused. “Including me.”
Evan smiled. “Madame, that is a lovely thing to say when you were obviously not entirely comfortable with the game. Thank you for your graciousness.”
She nodded and turned to continue up the steps.
“Will you walk with me? Please?” he asked. “Given the weather, maybe the gallery?”
“Don’t you have…body parts to identify?” she questioned tartly, hoping to encourage him to return to his party.
He guffawed. “I handed off the blindfold to be sporting. Please, my lady. I will tell you my secret for winning, something I haven’t even shared with my dearest friend Robert.”
That, she could not resist. “One turn, then, Lord Cheltenham.”
“Remember? ’Tis Evan, or Cheltie if you prefer.”
“Evan.”
His smile at her response made her mouth twitch to mirror it. She suppressed the urge.
Oh my, he is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
Everything about him resembled an elegant but dangerous lion, with a bronze waistcoat and jacket a shade darker than his hair, and his dark amber eyes burning with intensity. Even the topaz and ebony cravat pin, subtly brighter than the dinner jacket, leaped out of the gold-toned cravat and white shirt.
Her heart pounded in her chest, in attraction and nerves. Outwardly, she refused to react to his flirting skills, which seemed to rival Beth’s.
