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Boxby’s gaze shifted as Somersworth cleared his throat. “That’s right.”
“And if you win, I’ll tell you how Emily is really doing?”
Anna squeaked but she cut her sister a glance to silence the youngest Smith.
“Agreed.”
She shook her head. “Not agreed. I’d like to add a few terms.” And she pointed at Somersworth. “If you win”—she gave Boxby a sly smile—“then I insist on giving you your updates over tea. Where we will make conversation as any lord or lady would do.”
Boxby gave her an easy smile. “Fine.”
But he wouldn’t win. She was about to make certain of that. “And Lord Somersworth must attend as well.” A situation which would be all the better for Anna if Somersworth did throw the match, ensuring that the Smiths would win something regardless of who took his boon.
Somersworth coughed, his eyes growing wide as she stared back at Boxby. “Now see here. I didn’t agree to this—”
But Boxby cut him off, his hand slicing through the air as his jaw hardened. “You’re ensuring he plays his best.”
“I’m not letting you stack the odds. No.” Her chin notched. He had a thing or two to learn about betting. “Look on the bright side, my lord. By the time we’re done, I guarantee you’ll understand far better how to run a gaming hell.”
Somersworth coughed again, but this time, he covered a laugh. His eyes danced with it even as his hand covered his smile.
Boxby leaned closer. “But if you lost, we’d both be attending tea with you. Either way, you win.”
She was aware. Still, it was the principle of the matter. “My lord.” She leaned even closer, her voice dropping low. “You must understand. Where I come from, no one ever plays to lose. Too much is at stake.”
“But you’re here. Not there.”
True. “Still. It would hardly be worth playing if I didn’t do so to win.” Then she stepped away. “I believe it’s my shot. Lord Somersworth, it’s time we got serious.”
* * *
Boxby watchedMirabelle line up her shot and realized how different this woman was from his sister.
Mirabelle had many of Emily’s same sweet qualities. She was quiet, kind, easy to speak with.
But unlike his sister, Mirabelle had an iron core buried deep inside. Even now, her brow furrowed as she made another strategic strike, knocking his ball from near the hoop.
Somersworth chuckled from next to him. “You’re going to lose.”
“You were supposed to help me win.” He scowled back at his friend.
But Somersworth only laughed the harder. “What can I say? She’s got skills. And honestly, we should have realized. She has five brothers, and four of them are barely tamed. Of course she’s exceptionally good at manipulating dastardly men. It’s likely a full-time occupation for her.”
And then there was her upbringing.Where I come from…
Ken knew they lived in Cheapside, not precisely where most lords and ladies lived. It was a neighborhood for merchants, mostly. Was that where they’d grown up?
Many men of power kept their mistresses and illegitimate children in lavish lifestyles, but he knew the Earl of Easton had been impoverished.
What had life been like for Mirabelle and her brothers and sister?
He scrubbed the back of his neck and aimed another shot, his ball going wide.
Somersworth chuckled again. “She’s going to beat you.”
“I know,” he answered between gritted teeth.
“I like her,” Somersworth added with a lengthy stare in Mirabelle’s direction as she lined up another strike.
