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Honoria welcomed him. “Perfect timing, Dr. Marbry. We were about to adjourn to the solar, and we were one short for a full set of four at the six tables.”
He darted a glance around the room, catching Priscilla studying him. He hoped she would be seated at a table on the far side of the room from him. Otherwise, how could he ever concentrate on his cards?
Everyone followed Honoria to the solar, where she began dividing up the teams and tables. “In the spirit of fairness, we shall switch groupings after we’ve played two hands.”
As the number of guests whittled down, Timothy grew more anxious. For the most part, married women and gentlemen were assigned tables together, but not with their spouses, which Timothy admitted was an excellent tactic. Much to Timothy’s relief, Honoria assigned Lord Nash to a table with Lady Miranda, Lord Middlebury, and Lady Charlotte.
Once five tables had been filled, only Priscilla, Lord Felix, Honoria, and he remained.
“Partner with me, Marbry,” Lord Felix said, “I like to win.”
Honoria saved Timothy from being rude. “Now, sir, it’s my party, and to be fair, I suggest we partner a gentleman with a lady.”
“Are you implying that partnering two men gives them the advantage?” Priscilla asked.
Timothy admired the hint of confrontation in her voice. He’d missed her fire.
“Not at all, Miss Pratt. In fact, quite the opposite. I believe pairing two ladies would place the gentlemen at a distinct disadvantage. Don’t you agree?”
The loveliest of smiles broke across Priscilla’s face, and suddenly the dreary day seemed brighter. “I do, Lady Honoria. I most certainly do.”
Honoria tapped a finger to her chin. “Hmm. I think I shall pair you with Lord Felix, and Dr. Marbry will partner with me.”
Honoria handed Timothy the deck of cards. “Would you be so kind as to deal, Dr. Marbry?”
He shuffled and dealt the cards, his eyes constantly following Priscilla’s graceful fingers, so long and supple, as she retrieved each card and placed it in position. Oh, what she could do with those fingers.
Finishing the deal, he turned up a five of spades for the trump suit.
Desperately, he tried to concentrate on the cards and the plays, yet found himself constantly sneaking glimpses of Priscilla.
In contrast, the concentration on her face during each play was intense as she considered the cards before her and in her hand.
Timothy had won the last trick, so he selected a ten of hearts and placed it in the middle of the table. Priscilla’s rosebud lips curved upward, and she placed a queen of hearts atop his card. Honoria gave a frustrated little huff and played a nine of hearts, which made Priscilla’s beam of happiness even greater. She and Lord Felix had already won the majority of tricks so far.
Then Lord Felix played a three of spades, trumping everyone.
“Why in the world would you do that?” The tone of Priscilla’s voice practically called Felix an idiot, which, in Timothy’s estimation, he was. “We had already won the trick. We’re supposed to be a team.”
Felix scooped up the cards. “We still won the trick.” He turned toward Timothy. “Women. Am I right?”
“No, sir, you are not right. Miss Pratt has a valid point. Why waste a trump card on a trick your team has already won?”
Lord Felix waved him off, casting a disdainful expression toward Timothy.
Honoria stared, appearing quite flabbergasted. At least they could cross one pairing off their list of prospective suitors.
A fact that Timothy found most comforting.
CHAPTER 15—WHIST WHISPERS
Nodcock,” Priscilla muttered under her breath. The fool Lord Felix had more interest in capturing the trick himself than playing as a team. She wanted to kick him under the table, good and hard right in his skinny shins.
Next to her, Timothy chuckled. The sound, so low and sensual, made her skin pebble in direct contradiction to the heat rushing up her neck to her face. As Timothy dealt the next hand, his fingers brushed against hers, fanning the flame burning within her even more. She had a sudden need for either some cool air or a refreshing drink.
Settling on the next best thing, she retrieved the fan lying in her lap, snapped it open and began waving it in front of her face.
An angry roar soared from another table, drawing everyone’s attention to where Nash was scooping up the trick from the middle of his table. Lord Middlebury—his face blotched with red—shouted his accusation. “You cheated! I demand to see that you have no diamonds in your hand, sir!”
