Page 73 of Rogue Lyon

A hundred memories bombarded him. Their hotel room in Paris, the singing café, the gallery, the way her naked breasts looked with the moonlight caressing them.

“Welcome, Mr. Habsburg,” the judicator said as Jules stepped on stage. “I wish you luck.”

“Thank you kindly.”

The duke stood and they shook hands over the chessboard. “I was hoping we’d meet.”

“Really?” Jules shrugged. “We have had the same teacher. Surely, that means we know each other’s moves.”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“If she treated us to the same experience.” The duke laughed.

Jules snapped in a breath and had to force himself not to turn to Meredith. What on earth had the duke meant by that?

“Take your seats,” the judicator said. “Are you comfortable with the rules and the timings?” He pointed at the clock.

Jules nodded and tried his best to push all thoughts from his mind. Forty pounds was at stake, a pretty penny that would pay for some of his recent art purchases. “Absolutely.”

The duke nodded.

“Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the most exciting chess game you have ever witnessed,” the judicator called to the crowd. “I ask for hush, and I ask that you enjoy the show.”

He tossed a coin, caught it, and looked at Jules.

“Heads,” he said.

The judicator removed his hand and revealed the coin to be heads.

“Mr. Jules Habsburg plays first.”

Jules rubbed his hands together and remembered all of the first moves Meredith had taught him. What was the one she’d spent the least time on, which would throw his opponent off the most or give him the largest number of outcomes?

He made his decision and made his opening move.

The duke nodded and scratched his ear.

Had Jules thrown him? Surely not.

The duke responded quickly, a pawn sliding his way.

A few minutes later, Jules could see one of his rooks could be in danger so moved to protect it.

Soon, play was moving swiftly. They were both thinking and acting fast, as though going slow might make things fall out of their minds and cost them the game.

Jules was utterly absorbed. He moved his queen and then lost a pawn. But it was okay; that had been his plan. Sacrifices had to be made.

Meredith’s words came back to him. “Plan as far forward as you can and for every eventuality.”

He took a sip of water and then used his kerchief to wipe his brow. The lamps on the stage were warm. He made the mistake of looking out at the sea of faces watching the game and felt his heartbeat quicken.

Concentrate.

He returned his full attention to the game and watched as the duke made a clever countermove.

Damn, the man was good. He hadn’t seen that coming.