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She leaned forward, her fingertips dangling overtop the carven chess pieces, as if deciding which to touch. “I meant only that it is foolish to trust my father.”
His gaze slid up. “That's twice you've called me foolish.”
“And thrice you’ve called me arrogant.”
“’Tis the truth.”
She tossed her head, a spark of battle flaring in her eyes.
He ought not want that, yet he kept maneuvering to unleash it.
“Only a rogue would think such a thing,” she snapped.
“Only a rogue would say it. Any man would think it.”
Her eyes narrowed the littlest bit. “So you mean you are an honest man.”
He made a small gesture with his hand.
“Pah, you are not so honest.” She moved her king. “You lied when you told me you had never played chess.”
“I did not say I had never played it.”
“Had heard of it, then,” she said sharply.
“I have heard of it.” He moved his knight and looked up with a smile. “Check.”
Chapter 10
Blood coursed down Cassia’s chest and across her face, hot streaks of heat as she stared at the board.
She never lost at chess.
She recklessly moved her knight—forward two, left one, to guard her king—and narrowed her eyes at the beast. “Neither did you seem so honest when you were speaking with me on the lists. You pretended to be...enamored.”
“Did I?” he said slowly, the faint smile now not a flash, but a lingering, honey-slow smile, which was worse than the other sort, for it made her body grow hot.
“I knew it, of course,” she added swiftly. “The moment you sat down, I knew you were a rogue.”
“Aye? Then why did you keep speaking to me?”
Her gaze flew to his. “I— I was... You had...”
“Strawberries?” he suggested.
“Yes, that is it.”
He slowly shook his head. “That is not it
.”
Her skin felt slightly singed. “What do you mean? I adore berries.”
He made a noncommittal sound that drew her attention to his throat and the strong column of his neck. She yanked her eyes away.
“Mayhap,” he went on in an idle tone. “But there was more to it.”
She told herself not to pursue this line of conversation. Unfortunately, her mind did not communicate with her mouth.
