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“Of course not,” she hurriedly said.
Her midnight stranger and the duke were the same, a circumstance which she regarded with mixed feelings. How could this man who had been so kind to her, despite the wickedness which had glowed in his eyes, be the one to seduce and discard Miranda callously?
“Who are you and why are you in my home?” he demanded softly.
Pippa was scared and doing her best not to act rattled. He was not behaving as how one should upon discovering an intruder in their home. There was no evident anger, nor was he attacking her. No cavalry had been called to make an arrest. And that scared her even more.
There was a tightness across her chest that made it difficult to breathe.
“I believe I shall take my leave,” she said inching toward the way she came.
“I believe not,” he returned smoothly, advancing on her. “I have all rights to keep you here, wouldn’t you agree?”
How fiercely her heart trembled, and she felt ill. she weighed her words carefully before asking, “Will you have me arrested?”
If he did, there would be no recovery from the scandal. Pippa closed her eyes briefly. In her bid to seek revenge for her friend, she had placed her and her mother’s future in jeopardy. Her hands shook, and she took deep breaths to prevent herself from throwing up. Oh, what am I to do?
He considered her for several moments then waved his hand toward the chess set. “Play with me,” he invited. “I’ve not had a challenger since my father died, and you seem as if you understand the game.”
His words set her heart to pounding, for it had been the same with her. Only her father had been an equal player and a lover of the strategic game. She wanted to have nothing in common with the wretched duke, but she was also very wary of refusing him. “Your Grace—”
“Play with me, and you’ll escape the jail. Perhaps you’ll even be inspired to say what you wanted from my home, hmm?”
She stared at him from below the cap helplessly. For a wild moment, she wondered if she revealed her identity if he would be more lenient. Do not be foolish! She berated herself sharply. Under no circumstance could he know his intruder was her. And she would need to tread with the utmost care in extricating herself from this situation. Pippa owned that she could be headstrong, and too impetuous, and now she had been caught! This was beyond the pale. For now, she would have to be the piper to any tune he demanded. “If I play with you…you’ll not have me arrested?”
He dipped his head, and a small smile touched his mouth.
“And I’ll be able to leave freely?”
He canted his head with arrogance. “If you win.”
“And if I should lose?”
“You’ll owe me a boon.”
Swallowing nervously, Pippa padded around the chest set and lowered herself to the floor, folding her legs beneath her. The duke lowered himself as well before the pieces, and it was then she saw his state of undress. A blush heated her face to note the muscles of his arms for his sleeves had been rolled to the elbows. His feet were bare, and he only wore a white shirt tucked into his trousers. There was no cravat, and she could see the strong muscles of his throat.
Dear God, if she kept blushing, no matter how she kept her head down and her voice low, he would know she was a lady!
“A drink?”
It was then she noted the glasses and a decanter of amber liquid in his hand. When had he gotten them? She considered refusing but found herself saying gruffly to deepen her voice more. “That would be pleasant.”
A half smile touched his lips, and she narrowed her eyes beneath the cap. Did he suspect that she was not a boy? It was far too taxing on her nerves to try to understand what was happening.
Amber liquid splashed into the glass, and he held it out to her. She took it and tentatively sipped. It was the same liquor as the last time, so she was better prepared to handle the hot slide of the whisky down her throat.
“Let’s play,” the duke said with evident pleasure.
She assessed the board keenly and the moves which had been made. Her style was one of patience, but she saw an opportunity which she could explore. She moved a pawn to capture his pawn, strengthening her control of the board’s center. The duke smiled, his hand darting with speed to claim her pawn with another pawn, balancing the power in the board’s center. His strategy was decisive ruthlessness, while hers was of deep contemplation, of plotting her moves and his ahead by several steps.
At times he sent her quick smiles of admiration which warmed her insides.
“You are an excellent player,” he praised. “I declare I am glad you broke into my library.”
A shock went through her, hot and delicious. Pippa gripped her glass of whisky, needing an anchor against the invitation to banter in his eyes. She lifted the glass to her lips, and with one long swallow finished the fiery drink, her gaze never leaving his.
He paused, reaching behind him for something. He lit a cheroot, bending his dark head and cupping his hands over the flame. He dragged long into his lungs and exhaled from his nose, curling smoke around them. She liked the smell of it, and she subtly inhaled secretly titillated. She'd never seen a gentleman smoke before. They'd always hidden away with their ports and cigars. It was a bit of a disappointment to know that it was not more of a ceremony.
