13. Chapter 13
Javenia hadn’t missed the moment Miss Weston rose from the card table, nor had she been unaware of her intended target. The woman had clung to Algenon’s side for a full half hour before taking up a place next to Lord Hamdon, so she’d fully expected her to return.
It was the shift, however, that caught her off guard.
Miss Weston had shown only bored resignation when she’d first begun her approach… until she’d locked eyes with Javenia.
Her shoulders straightened, her chin inched up, and her eyes flashed, putting Javenia in mind of the last time she’d seen Nate and Algenon fence.
Nate had just bested another gentleman in less than five strokes, but when Algenon had squared off with him, his whole countenance had lifted, like he’d found a worthy opponent.
If Javenia had had any doubts as to why Miss Weston agreed to pursue Algenon, that one look put them to rest. This was a competition, and Javenia was her competitor. Did that make Algenon the final prize?
Then her gaze caught on another figure following close behind her newly discovered rival.
Lord Hamdon’s usual languid expression had been exchanged for one of delight.
The young viscount had shown her some interest last season during a time when she and Algenon had been on the outs.
Guilt wormed its way through her middle.
The poor man probably thought her attention real, but in truth, she’d used him like a pawn to make Algenon jealous.
Javenia swallowed hard. She knew better than to play with hearts, especially after Algenon had played with hers all these years. It really wasn’t fair to Lord Hamdon, and now she would suffer the consequences.
“Roberts,” Miss Weston said. “You know Lord Hamdon.”
Javenia wanted to wring the woman’s neck for speaking so casually to Algenon. Where did she get off calling him Roberts?
“I do.” Algenon snapped his mouth shut, his jaw muscles bulging.
That only happened when he clenched his teeth. Javenia glanced between the two newcomers to decide which of them had caused the miniscule sign of frustration. Or had they both caused it?
Then an idea formed and Javenia could not stop herself from saying, “We are both acquainted with him. How are you enjoying the season, Lord Hamdon?”
“Very well, I thank you. It has been some time since last we met.”
“Five months at least. We have not met since our ride in Hyde Park last summer.”
Miss Weston glanced between them, her brow drawn and her gaze narrowed.
Javenia did not know what she’d thought to accomplish by bringing Lord Hamdon over, but a glance out of the corner of her eye proved the move had been a poor calculation on Miss Weston’s part.
Algenon’s gaze crackled with frustration.
Javenia bit back a grin. So he had been jealous. Good. It was another mark in her favor.
“That was a lovely day, was it not?” Lord Hamdon asked.
“It was.”
Miss Weston cleared her throat, obviously uncomfortable. “Yes, well, Lord Hamdon was just saying he needed another person to sit at cards with him.”
“Really.” Javenia tried to contain her joy at having such a perfect situation orchestrated for her. “Well then, why don’t the four of us take up a table?”
Miss Weston stammered a denial.
“That is a splendid idea,” Lord Hamdon said.
Algenon’s glare slowly shifted to one of curiosity. He flicked her a glance that spoke volumes. No doubt he wondered why she would willingly spend half an hour with a woman she despised.
Instead of returning his look, she smiled and motioned for them all to move toward an open card table.
“Come along, Miss Weston. You will enjoy this.” She looped her arm through the now astounded woman’s and lowered her voice.
“In fact, you may partner Al—Mr. Roberts, since I know how much you have been pining to have some of his attention.”
Miss Weston narrowed her gaze, suspicion dancing in her blue eyes. “You are too kind.”
Javenia gave her arm a pat. “I know, but some of us must be.”
When they reached the table, Miss Weston disentangled herself and Javenia took up her seat, which of course was right next to Algenon since team members had to sit across from one another.
Algenon’s lips twisted to the side, then pursed slightly as he took his seat. She almost laughed out loud at his efforts not to smile.
He picked up the cards and began shuffling. “Still opposed to playing on teams with me, I see.”
“Not opposed,” Javenia said. “Just seating myself at an advantage to make certain you do not cheat as you usually do.”
“Cheat? You wound me. When do I ever cheat?”
Lord Hamdon helped Miss Weston into her chair and then took up his own. “Should I be concerned about that accusation? Does he really cheat, Miss Harris?”
“Like a dirty thief.” She raised an eyebrow at Algenon.
He leaned back in his chair, an entertained scowl on his face. “You are just jealous that I always win.”
“Hardly. Melior and I trounced you and Nate the last time we played.”
“You are a curious one, aren’t you, Miss Harris?” Miss Weston laced her fingers together on the table.
Javenia’s smile slipped away. For one moment, she’d forgotten they were playing with the viper. “How so?”
“One rarely speaks of a baronet, and a married one at that, in such a disrespectful manner. I believe his name is Sir Nathaniel.”
A bubble of excitement rose in Javenia’s chest as she spied Algenon’s previously pleasant face darken. Yet, several beats of silence passed without him correcting Miss Weston, his hands busy as he dealt the cards. The bubble deflated.
Very well, she was used to defending herself. “Yes, well, Sir Nathaniel and I have been friends for decades, so I believe I am granted some liberties.”
“But in company?” Miss Weston tsked.
Algenon slapped the last card down in the middle of the table, the sound loud enough to make Miss Weston jump.
“Do be careful.” Miss Weston cast Algenon a look of reprimand. “Such force is unnecessary and might damage the cards.”
He rewarded her with a pinched smile. “I do apologize.”
Javenia swallowed down her glee as they all glanced at the card that declared which suit would be trump cards this round. Across the table, Lord Hamdon nodded at her and she smiled.
“No colluding,” Algenon said.
“Excuse me?” She wrinkled her nose.
“I saw that nod.”
“But we haven’t even picked up our cards yet. How can we send each other signals before we’ve even seen what is in our hands?”
Algenon picked up his hand. “I am just reminding you. We wouldn’t want anyone to cheat.”
She tipped her head to the side and rolled her eyes.
“Says the notorious trickster. You see, Miss Weston, this is why it was important I be seated by Mr. Roberts.” She put an emphasis on Algenon’s honorific in hopes of reminding the woman what she’d forgotten.
“I know his wily ways. This will help me keep the game above board.”
Miss Weston shuffled the cards about in her hands. “Which is good for you, but not necessarily good for me.”
Was she talking about the card game or the obvious competition for Algenon’s attention?
“You approve of cheating?” Lord Hamdon folded his cards together and placed both hands over them on the table in order to look directly at Miss Weston.
Evidently, His Lordship did not approve because he narrowed his gaze.
She had accused Algenon of the same fault.
Why had he said nothing? Was it any different in his eyes if a woman cheated instead of a man?
She certainly hoped not. It would drop Lord Hamdon in her estimations.
Neither gender should be so distrustful.
Miss Weston sniffed, her gaze dropping to her cards. “Come now, Lord Hamdon. It is all in good fun. Spades are trump this round, correct?”
Javenia didn’t miss the way Miss Weston had dodged the question entirely. Lord Hamdon studied her for several moments before picking up his cards again, his lips pressed together in a straight line as he shifted one card to the other side of his hand.
Being seated to Algenon’s left, Javenia made the first play, an eight of clubs.
They each tossed in their cards, Algenon taking the trick with a jack of clubs.
And so the game progressed until all tricks were played.
Algenon and Miss Weston finished the first set with two extra tricks, giving them the lead.
“Brilliantly played.” Miss Weston reached across the table and placed a hand on Algenon’s as he gathered the cards.
He glanced up momentarily before swiftly sweeping the rest of the deck together. “Thank you, Miss Weston. It was really nothing.”
“Oh, but it wasn’t,” she cooed. “I can see you know your way around cards.”
Bile rose in Javenia’s throat. Miss Weston’s compliments were almost as disgusting as Algenon’s. Javenia glanced at him to see his reaction.
Nothing. He didn’t act pleased or annoyed.
He simply slipped her the deck so she could deal for the next round.
Splitting the cards into two, Javenia shuffled, focusing solely on her task.
Tension filled her muscles as she realized that not only had Algenon not defended her, even though she knew Miss Weston’s remark had upset him, but he’d also not discouraged the woman from her pursuit.
Doubt crept in as she dealt the cards to each player. She had seen every sign that he despised Miss Weston, but what if he was now trying to resign himself to his father’s demands? Something tugged at her skirts and she moved her leg, afraid they’d gotten caught under someone’s foot.
With clubs now the trump, Miss Weston started the trick high with a king of spades.
Algenon cleared his throat and shifted positions.
Javenia raised an eyebrow at him. “No sending signals.”
“Can a man not clear his throat without being accused of collusion?” he complained.
“No,” Lord Hamdon said. “If I cannot nod, you cannot shift and clear your throat.”
Javenia smiled at Algenon in triumph.
A smirk pulled at his lips. “They somehow think we had time to set up a silent code, Miss Weston.” Then he turned to Lord Hamdon. “When would I have had time for that? You were playing at the game with her before I came along, so if anyone were going to cheat, it would be you.”
Lord Hamdon leaned forward over his cards. “Yes, but I am not on the same team.” He threw down a ten of spades.
Neither she nor Algenon had anything to beat Miss Weston’s card, so the trick ended in her favor.
“You were standing together before Miss Weston approached my table.” Lord Hamdon started the next trick playing a diamond. “Maybe you set up a secret code then?”
Algenon scoffed. “A secret code, in cards. Impossible.” He tossed down the king of diamonds, staring intently at Lord Hamdon.
The man glanced at the card, then gave a slight dip of his chin in Algenon’s direction.
Javenia didn’t know the significance of the interaction, but Lord Hamdon grew increasingly quiet after that, his shoulders stiff as his jaw worked back and forth in between plays.
On the last round, Miss Weston played an ace of hearts. Javenia frowned at the card in her hand. She couldn’t beat an ace.
Lord Hamdon sighed, and her shoulders slumped. Then he smiled and threw a ten of clubs on the pile. She turned to twit Algenon about their good luck, but he was already staring intently at her. The look was pointed, but she couldn’t decipher what he was trying to convey.
Miss Weston cleared her throat especially loud, drawing both their attention. “I suppose it does not matter what you have now that the trump has been played. Unless, of course, you have a higher trump?”
She batted hopeful eyes at Algenon, and Javenia fought the urge to roll her own. Even if Lord Hamdon won this trick, they would lose this round to Miss Weston and Algenon. But that did not mean she would accept defeat in the long game.
Algenon shook his head. “I am sorry, Miss Weston.” Then he threw down the king of hearts.
Javenia stared at it, the irony not lost to her. In her hand, she held the queen of hearts. Neither one beat Miss Weston or Lord Hamdon’s cards and so did not change the course of the game. But to be played together?
Her skirt shifted again, and she started to move away from the sensation when a warm hand settled on her knee. She swallowed. Her gaze slowly rose from the cards to Algenon’s face.
“It’s your play, Miss Harris,” he said softly.
Her heart thrummed in her ears, warmth permeating every inch of her. Had he really just placed his hand on her knee? What if someone saw them?
Honestly, she didn’t care. Part of her wished someone would catch them and call them out. Then they’d have to marry to save face.
No. She took a deep breath and gave herself a good mental shake. She’d never force Algenon’s hand. She was not like the many other women in his past, and especially not like his father. To force his hand would lose her his respect.
Slowly, she tossed her remaining card, holding her breath as she waited for it to land on the table. It was all in the hands of fate now.