Chapter Four #2
She locked eyes with him, frowning, disappointed that the women had lost the point. Not the most angelic reaction, he thought, amusing himself. Evidently, she too had a competitive streak. He enjoyed that in a woman. Not that it mattered, of course.
Elias took his turn next, drawing a breath before he pulled his own slip of paper. He locked eyes with Jude, willing him to read his mind. They must maintain their lead. Elias began to dramatically move his hands.
“Handbells,” Jude called just a second before Miss Cary repeated the word.
“Yes,” Elias said excitedly, pointing at Jude. They narrowly earned the point. The ladies groaned at the gentlemen maintaining their lead, and Elias fought to play the part of a good sport and not taunt his sister. They hadn’t won yet. There was still one round left.
For the last round, the women earned their point, and it came down to the last piece of paper. If the ladies stole the point, it would be a tie game, and they’d have to come up with a tiebreaker. Hudson begrudgingly stood and moved to the table.
Elias groaned internally, as his friend wasn’t one to put as much thought into such games. He could only hope that the women would have a hard time discerning Hudson’s movements.
Hudson set the piece of paper down on the table and looked at the gentlemen as he drew an annoyed breath.
Elias focused on him, waiting for him to make his first movement.
Hudson made a rounded circle with his hands and then wrapped his arms around himself and puckered his lips.
Elias might have poked fun and laughed at him if it weren’t crucial that they win the point.
He thought for less than a second and then jumped to his feet. “Kissing ball!” he shouted.
Hudson pointed at him. “Correct.”
Elias patted his friend on the back from the delight at their victory. He could ensure he wouldn’t be paired with Lady Billings.
“It would appear that the gentlemen have bested us, ladies,” Diana said, then narrowed her gaze at Elias.
“This time.” She addressed the rest of the room again.
“The men shall make their partner selections after breakfast tomorrow. Since it grows late and I am sure you are all tired from your travels, I shall bid you all a good evening.”
A smile of satisfaction spread across Elias’s face as he noted Lady Billings was among the guests who departed the room for the evening.
He spoke with Jude and Hudson for another quarter hour, while Matt had joined Diana and Hannah’s conversation. He longed for a day when the four men might be friends the way they were when they were boys, or that one of them would at least tell him and Jude what was worth all the hostility.
But he didn’t see that happening anytime soon, so he might as well focus on the victory he had earned.
He’d have to decide who he wished to partner with in tomorrow’s activity.
Diana could be a safe choice that wouldn’t give any of the ladies the wrong idea, but Miss Cary was a far more tempting option.
Elias fought a yawn and decided he was ready to retire to his chamber. Better to get his rest since it was clear Diana would have them tied up in activities all day, and the men still planned to sneak to the village later that next evening.
He departed from the group and made his way down the corridor when someone grabbed his arm and pulled him into a small study. Catching his balance, he turned to see the vexing woman illuminated by the light of the low fire.
“There you are,” she said, her tone equivalent to the purr of a cat. “I’ve waited all night to get you alone. I very much hope you will warm my bed tonight. No one is as good as you are.”
Before he could move, even to close the door so no one would catch them alone together, she practically pounced on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his head down so her lips crashed into his.
“Lady Billings,” he growled and pulled his head back, refusing to give her the satisfaction of speaking to her on familiar terms. He removed her hands from around his neck and held her in place, away from him. “We’ve been through this. There shall be no further dalliances between us.”
“That’s not what you said the last time you had me bent over a settee. Very much like the one there by the fire.” She wriggled her hands free and bunched the sides of her dress, as if she would raise her skirts there before him.
“But it is what I said the last time we spoke,” he replied. “Three years ago, I might add. And I don’t care for you in that way, nor will I ever marry you.”
“I’m over that, my devilish man. I have accepted that you won’t marry. But a woman still has needs, and mine haven’t been well tended since you stopped calling on me.”
His jaw clenched so hard his temples ached.
He was beyond done dealing with the woman, nor did he have any desire to bed her again.
His flaccid cock was a good indicator, and if he were feeling particularly vulgar and cruel, he’d make that point to her.
He might enjoy bedding countless women, but he didn’t appreciate being strong-armed in his family home, nor did he wish to relive the nightmare of dispensing her from his life the first time around.
“Find another willing gentleman to visit your bed,” Elias ground out. “It won’t be me.”
He hurried away from her and left her alone in the room to have whatever reaction she wished.
He cared not, so long as she got the hint and left him alone.
Hurrying up the stairs, he moved through the family wing of the house and locked his door behind him after he closed it, as he couldn’t put it past the woman to determine where his room was and maul him in his sleep.