Page 20 of The Gift of a Christmas Scandal

“It is a pity, Your Grace, that they are both promised elsewhere, is it not? For I think they might be well matched in most ways. I wonder if we could be so fortunate as to have them realise that…”

Alex leaned in close to her as they rounded the corner in the hall, moving further away from the two they discussed.

“Ah, but think of it from Lady Phyllida’s viewpoint – a Countess is lower in rank than a Duchess…”

Lady Selina laughed, that delightful sound, as melodious as her speaking voice.

“Then for her to accept such an idea, there would need to be good reason for her to reject a Duke…”

“Precisely. A concept which I suspect we need to discuss further. I have always found libraries most conducive to clear thinking and problem solving.”

“Why so have I, Your Grace.”

They turned their attention back to the game at hand, but Alex spent every moment of the rest of the afternoon intensely aware of the woman by his side. Brushes of the hand sent heated shocks through him, and he ached to kiss her, but refrained – staff watched them at every turn, as well as other players, and he would not indulge in scandal… well, unplanned scandal. Perhaps, if it were planned and intentional scandal… The hope grew stronger in him with every hour, and every half-coded word they spoke.

In the end, it seemed that Lady Phyllida and Lord Hockingmoor’s seriousness delivered results – they were proclaimed the winners of the game.

They preened as if it was some great achievement, and both Alex and Lady Selina were hard pressed not to laugh at the pompous performance.

Soon after, they went into dinner, and Alex wondered if his mother was actually being a little malicious – for he found himself seated with Lady Selina on one side, and Lady Phyllida on the other. Being the perfect gentleman was an almost impossible task in the circumstances. He tried to speak to the two ladies equally, and to appear calm, almost bored, but it was steadily more challenging.

Lady Phyllida clung to his arm, almost so much as to make eating difficult, and barely stopped speaking long enough to place food in her mouth. Lady Selina sat quietly, yet her chair was so close that her leg brushed against his, sending shivers through him, and, when he felt her fingers gently trace a path over his thigh for a moment, the heat flowed straight to his groin. He struggled to concentrate on Lady Phyllida’s conversation, and cast a desperate glance in Lady Selina’s direction. Her eyes were filled with mischief, and her hand came again to stroke along his thigh. He felt his manhood hardening and almost groaned.

Lady Phyllida, so caught up in her own conversation, did not notice any of it. Perhaps he should be grateful for that. But if Lady Selina continued to tease him, he would be very uncomfortable indeed when the gentlemen went for port and the ladies retired to the parlour.

~~~~~

Across the table, Mariel watched her with amused eyes.

Selina knew that Mariel would want to talk, as soon as possible, she knew that look. Perhaps it was time to tell Mariel more. An idea had begun to form in her mind during the afternoon – an idea that would require Mariel’s cooperation.

Once the ladies were in the parlour, Selina and Mariel settled in the windowseat again. Sure enough, Mariel spoke immediately.

“Selina, I’ve been watching you, and the Duke, all afternoon. You are rather badly smitten, aren’t you? And, if I mistake it not, so is he.”

“Maybe. Mariel, were you watching anyone else this afternoon? Or was I too fascinating a subject of study?”

“Hah! Of course I was watching other people too – people are so intriguing. Lady Phyllida and Lord Hockingmoor for example – to me, they looked so perfectly suited, so in accord in their approach to everything. It’s a pity that they both seem to think they are promised to someone else. Did you notice?”

“I did. We did.”

“And then, at dinner – you were teasing the Duke, weren’t you?” Selina attempted a look of shocked innocence, and failed. They both laughed. “Well, Selina, if you want him that much, and he reacts so strongly to you – why don’t you do something about it? Or are you always going to be the good girl, even if it costs you your chance at happiness?”

Selina looked at her, shocked, and even more certain that Mariel had to be conscripted to help with the plan that was forming.