Page 26 of The Mister I Married

She wanted him to want to kiss her again. Unfortunately, he seemed in no great hurry to do so.

She stifled a sigh, irritated with the turn of her thoughts.

Perhaps it was good she hadn’t seen much of him these last few days. That kiss had muddled her brain, and a bit of distance was probably precisely what she needed.

Shoving Alex and his kiss from her mind, Emmy focused on the game at hand, but her efforts came too late to do any good and the game ended with a victory for the Letrout sisters.

There was very little Emmy hated more than losing, but she did her best to be a good sport, concealing her competitive nature behind a congratulatory smile.

“Shall we play another game?” Lady Keswick asked as she collected the cards.

“Perhaps in a little while,” Emmy said as she pushed her chair back. “I think I’ll take a break and get myself something cool to drink.”

She excused herself and headed for the refreshments table, smiling as she approached and found Tess already there, evidently of the same mind.

“Are you enjoying yourself this evening?” Emmy asked, watching as Tess poured herself a glass of punch.

No answer came, though, not even a sound, and Tess’s head stayed bowed, as if she were deeply focused on the simple task.

“Tess?” Emmy touched her elbow, and the girl jumped, nearly dropping her glass into the punch bowl.

“Oh! Emmy. I am sorry, I was woolgathering, I’m afraid.” Her cheeks filled with color, and her eyes seemed almost…guilty? How odd.

“Are you unwell, Tess?” Emmy asked, passing a diligent eye over her friend’s countenance.

“No. I’m fine.” But her smile was a little too bright to be entirely believable.

“Are you certain?” Emmy pressed.

“I am,” Tess said with a nod before handing Emmy her untouched glass of punch and turning to the table to pour another. “By the way, I had no idea your mother’s card parties were in such high demand. One of the ladies at my table told me it’s been three years since her last invitation.”

“My mother is the consummate hostess,” Emmy said with a nod. “And she is quite famous for sparing no expense.”

“I’m almost ashamed to admit I don’t much care for cards,” Tess said, sliding Emmy a sidelong glance. “Please don’t tell Lady Keswick I said that.”

Emmy laughed. “Your shameful secret is safe with me.”

The two ladies carried their drinks across the room to the sofa, which had been pushed up against a wall to make room for the card tables, and sat down, sipping their punch in silence.

Emmy had wondered how Tess would react when she and Alex shared the news of their sudden engagement, and she had not been disappointed. Tess was thrilled with the match, and with gaining a new sister, and she’d made her delight known with a beaming smile and at least three dozen hugs. She’d seemed almost as excited as Lady Keswick, and Emmy hadn’t even thought that was possible.

“I understand Mr. Steffington took you out for a ride in his curricle this afternoon,” she said, glancing at Tess as she took a sip of punch.

Her nod was economical. “Yes, he did.”

Emmy waited a handful of seconds for her to elaborate, but when she didn’t, she prodded, “And how was it?”

“Fine.”

“Only fine?”

Tess hesitated, drumming her fingers on her knee. “He is…a sweet man.”

It was possibly the least enthusiastic compliment Emmy had ever heard.

“What about Mr. Crandall?” she asked, changing tacks. “How are things progressing with him?”

Tess lifted one shoulder. “Mr. Crandall is a sweet man, too, and I enjoy spending time with him, as well.”