Chapter Fourteen
Six weeks had passed since Hugo had kissed Lady Tia.
And he could still taste her . . .
They had only spoken a handful of times when they ran across one another, a stiff, formal greeting.
He had stopped dancing entirely at balls.
For the most part, he retreated to the card room.
He knew that Lord Forsythe would be offering for Dilly at some point, and that the other gentlemen she danced with were merely filling time between her encounters with the earl.
He took midnight buffets with Lord Dyer, and they frequently sat with Dyer’s cousin. Millbrooke usually had a large table of relatives, which included his brothers-in-law, the Marquess of Aldridge and Viscount Cressley. Hugo had become comfortable in the company of these men.
He and Dilly were on their way to Lady Swarthmore’s tonight. It was to be a card party, and Mama had said those bored her, so she was staying in for the evening. Hugo hoped Lady Tia would not be in attendance because it would be harder to avoid her at such an intimate gathering.
Sitting across from Dilly in the carriage, he studied his sister, thinking she had grown even prettier as the Season had moved along.
Part of it was the confidence she had in herself, thanks to her budding romance with Lord Forsythe.
The more Hugo had gotten to know the young earl, the more he liked the man.
When the time came, he could easily give his blessing to the couple.
He only wondered when the offer might occur.
Perhaps Forsythe was allowing Dilly to enjoy a full Season, and then he would request her hand in marriage.
They reached Lady Swarthmore’s townhouse and were directed upstairs to her large drawing room. Mama had pulled him aside before they left and warned him that their hostess could be a vicious gossip and to make certain he looked after his sister this evening.
Right away, they were joined by Lord Forsythe. Dilly blushed prettily as her suitor greeted them, and he led her off to show her something.
Hugo saw one of his former bullies from his schooldays enter the drawing room.
None of them had yet to associate him with the boy they had tormented all those years ago.
For that, he was grateful. Forcing himself to be more social, he moved about the drawing room, speaking to others who were arriving.
Then he came upon Lord Dyer and Lady Tia.
“Good evening,” he said, and they greeted him likewise. “Millbrooke is not in attendance this evening?” Usually, the duke and his duchess escorted Lady Tia to social affairs.
Lord Dyer chuckled. “He begged off from tonight’s event. Cards used to be something he enjoyed immensely, but my cousin was eager to spend a quiet evening with his duchess and their babe.”
“The same could be said for my sister and brother-in-law,” Lady Tia added. “My twin was eager to have a quiet night with her husband.”
He had learned Lady Cressley was increasing, and she and her husband only attended a few events each week in support of Lady Tia.
Continuing, she said, “Thank goodness my cousin was happy to escort me to tonight’s card party, especially since Mama does not fancy playing much.”
“My mother said the same. I am here tonight with my sister.” Curiosity eating him up, he asked, “Will the two of you partner together this evening at cards?”
The viscount laughed easily. “No, I have my eye on someone I wish to get to know a bit better. If you will excuse me, I will begin that endeavor now.”
Lady Tia watched her cousin stroll away and then confided, “It is a widow he seeks out now.”
Hugo found himself tongue-tied with it being just the two of them. All he wished to do was yank her into his arms and kiss her again.
“Might I join you?” a voice asked.
Lord Balch stood before them. He had been one of the chief boys who had led others against Hugo. The viscount was a good four inches shorter than Hugo was now, and he looked down upon the man with as much arrogance as he could muster.
It didn’t matter—because Balch’s full attention was centered upon Lady Tia.
“Rumor has it that you excel at cards, my lady. Might I ask if you have a partner for this evening’s play?”
“I do not, my lord,” she responded.
“Then we simply must play together,” Balch insisted. “I am good enough at cards myself to guarantee that you and I will meet with victory this evening.”
The viscount finally glanced at Hugo, not really seeing him. “If you will excuse us, my lord, Lady Tia and I are off to talk strategy.”
His heart sank as Lady Tia placed her fingers upon Balch’s sleeve, and they moved away to a far corner of the room.
Putting a smile upon his face and clasping his hands behind his back, Hugo continued making his way about the room, coming upon a small group which included Miss Stanhope.
She weas the first wallflower he had danced with, and he had since learned that she was a bluestocking, which is why most gentlemen avoided her company.
“Good evening, Miss Stanhope. It is lovely seeing you present this evening.”
“I feel the same way, my lord,” she replied.
“Might you have a partner for this evening’s play?”
“I do not at this point. Are you in need of one?”
He smiled. “I most certainly am, and I hear you have the intelligence which I seek in a partner.”
“Then come let us talk gameplay, my lord,” she suggested, looking a bit relieved to have found a partner.
She outlined her methods for taking tricks at whist, and Hugo couldn’t help but be impressed with her strategies. He knew he had chosen wisely, and while he hoped they would not be up against Lady Tia and Lord Balch, if they did encounter them, he believed they would beat the viscount soundly.
After another quarter-hour, Lady Swarthmore had her guests gather around, explaining how match play would unfold this evening. She named the prizes to be awarded the winners, which he was uninterested in. All he wanted to do was play up to his partner’s level in the competition.
Hugo was glad they had spoken before the first hand was dealt, because the couple they were paired to play against seemed to have no clue how to take a trick.
They easily won, and they beat two more opponents after that.
Then Lady Swarthmore interrupted play to let her guests know food and drink were now available in the library.
Their next opponents agreed to take a short respite before they began playing, so he escorted Miss Stanhope to the library for some refreshments.
They spoke to a few other couples as they sipped their ratafia and nibbled on a most remarkable cheese, most congratulating them on their series of wins. Then they returned to the drawing room, ready for the next round of play.
Hugo and Miss Stanhope were victorious in two more matches, then came the moment he had dreaded.
They had been propelled into the finals with Lady Tia and Lord Balch.
Both couples took their places at the table, Lady Swarthmore’s butler handing a new deck of cards to Hugo.
He allowed Balch to inspect the deck and then shuffled several times.
Once the cards had been dealt, all playful banter ceased.
When they had competed against other couples, a running conversation had taken place during the game.
This time, however, things grew serious.
It was obvious that their opponents were both skilled card players from their gameplay, but he and Miss Stanhope were no pushovers and took their fair share of tricks.
Victory came down to the final hand of the night, as Miss Stanhope dealt the cards around the table. His gaze met hers, and she nodded at him, determination in her eyes.
Lady Tia had been silent throughout the match.
Each time she and Lord Balch had won, though, her partner had commented on how wonderful their play was and how poorly their opponents played.
At one point, Hugo had to stop himself from smashing his fist into the smug viscount’s nose, wishing to silence him.
While a majority of the guests had adjourned to the library to talk and eat, tired of card play, several couples had remained behind, watching this final game.
He felt tension gather in his shoulders as he retrieved each card dealt to him and organized his hand.
Thank goodness he did not have to speak when playing now because all his focus was on the cards themselves and not his speech.
Play was steady, and he was trying to recall which cards had been played in this round, especially spades.
If Miss Stanhope did not have the Jack of spades, he thought they would be certain to lose.
After taking a trick, Lady Tia led with the nine of spades, and his gaze met that of Miss Stanhope.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly, and he realized victory would escape them this evening.
His partner played the ten of spades, apparently the last of the suit she held in her hand.
A few seconds later, Lord Balch took the trick with the Jack, also claiming the game and match.
Immediately, Balch began lording over Hugo and Miss Stanhope, extolling his play and that of his partner. While it was one thing to be excited to win, Lord Balch’s words shamed them for their loss.
Lady Tia had been drumming her fingers upon the table and sharply said, “Stop.”
Lord Balch looked at her quizzically. “My lady?”
“It is the mark of a true gentleman to be a gracious winner,” she said, gazing at him steadily.
“You are crowing about like some rooster, trying to impress a row of hens. We did not beat these two soundly, as you make it seem. It came down to this final trick, and it easily could have gone the other way. I will never partner with you again, Lord Balch. You are an ungracious winner, and I cannot imagine what a sore loser you would be.”
With that, she rose from her seat and went to her cousin, who stood nearby. Immediately, Lord Dyer took her arm, and they moved to Lady Swarthmore, making a speedy goodbye.
As for Lord Balch, he stood gaping at Lady Tia. Then he seemed to recover a bit of his swagger and glanced to those standing about.
“I carried the chit the entire night. I will claim both prizes,” he proclaimed.
Hugo was not about to let the viscount get away with what he had said. He placed his hand upon the man’s forearm, squeezing tightly.
“What the bloody hell?” Balch asked, startled.
He looked the viscount in the eyes. “You will not disparage Lady Tia again. She proved to be an excellent partner to you. She fed you the cards you needed throughout our match, allowing you to take the glory in each game the two of you won. She is my sister’s closest friend, and I will not have you sully her name or reputation. ”
He stared at Balch, daring the viscount to verbally spar with him.
Balch swallowed. “Lady Tia was an excellent partner to me,” he said grudgingly. “I will see that she gets her prize.”
“I believe she will have nothing more to do with you, Balch,” Hugo told the man. “I will see that she gets her prize.”
He could not deliver it directly to Lady Tia, but he could certainly give it to Dilly to pass along. He already knew Lady Tia was coming for tea tomorrow afternoon at their house, and she could receive her prize then.
Lady Swarthmore stepped in, looking a bit flustered. “I am so delighted play went as well as it did this evening,” she told the guests still in the drawing room. “Please, go and have some more of my cook’s delicious cakes and tarts.”
Those gathered moved toward the door, including Lord Balch. Hugo was glad to see the man go. He had not changed one whit from the boy he had been.
Glancing to Miss Stanhope, he said, “I could not have asked for a better partner this evening, my lady.”
With a sparkle in her eyes, she said, “Well, I enjoyed almost all of our evening together, my lord. Except the end, of course. I would like to have beaten that clod.”
He chuckled. “I feel the same, Miss Stanhope.”
Lady Swarthmore came toward them, thanking them for attending and giving Hugo a small box which contained the earrings which were tonight’s prize for the winning lady.
Then he escorted his card partner to the library once more.
He saw her safely to her father and then went to sit with Dilly and Lord Forsythe.
“I hope you fared well at cards, Merriman,” the earl said. “Lady Dilly and I only won one match this evening.”
He had not seen Dilly or Forsythe present during the final match, so they had not heard how he had leaped to Lady Tia’s defense.
“It is time we left,” he told his sister.
Dilly gazed up at him. “I have asked Lord Forsythe to take tea with us tomorrow afternoon after my dress fitting. I would like you to be there, as well, Hugo.”
Although he had planned to make himself scarce since he knew Lady Tia would be in attendance, he decided he would pass along her prize to her then.
“I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Lord Forsythe,” he told Dilly’s suitor.
Hugo escorted Dilly to their waiting carriage, trying to tamp down the eagerness he felt, knowing he would see Lady Tia tomorrow.