She wouldn’t do it.
At least, she wouldn’t do it on purpose. It was a matter of a lady’s honor. She’d not throw the game just so she wouldn’t have to endure Lucas’ company for an evening…
She worried her lip.
“Ladies! The gentlemen will be awaiting your arrival outside in the gardens! Once you find your partner, the footmen will distribute your clues! At the sound of the gunshot, you may start!”
The room echoed with the muted sound of gloved hands daintily clapping. “Let the evening commence!” The duchess grinned wildly as the ladies all filed out the door in earnest search of their partners.
“You haven’t won yet.” Sara’s voice startled Meredith as she followed the mass exodus to the Gardens.
“I know that,” she answered.
“Of course…” Sara’s tone was anything but convinced. “I have just as good of odds at winning as you.”
“Perhaps.”
“Maybe better,” Sara goaded.
“Maybe worse.” Meredith turned to taunt her sister, a grin teasing her lips.
“May the best sister win.” Sara extended a hand, and Meredith took it, the thrill of competition causing her smile to widen.
“Why do I feel as if I should know what you two are planning?” Lucas’ voice interrupted her reverie.
Withdrawing her hand from her sister’s, Meredith turned to regard him coolly. “It is none of your concern.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Oh? Do you honestly think that any of my musings, personal or private, concern you? Or involve you in anyway? I assure you, they do not.” She offered a delicate shrug and walked on.
“You know, last I checked, you were my partner, and… partners must communicate even in small amounts if there is to be any chance at winning the game.”
“Who said I wanted to win?” She raised an eyebrow, though Sara’s unladylike snort from behind her gave away her true colors.
Lucas shook his head and leaned in, his smoky and spicy scent assaulting her with longing. “I find I’m in agreement with your sister. I’ve known you for far too long to think you’ll be disinterested in any sort of competitive game. After all, have we not kept up our little… game?” he teased.
“I have no idea to what you are referring.”
“You are a poor liar.”
Meredith took a deep breath. “Very well, I want to win. Is that so terrible?”
“No, not at all. I’m pleased to see that you have some humility lurking deep within that cavern you call a heart.”
“What?” she seethed.
“Nothing.” He shrugged. “Now, if you’ll follow me, they are distributing the clues and I want to get the first one.”
Stunned by his rude remark, she followed him wordlessly as he withdrew a clue from the selection a footman held on a silver tray. “This will do. Now follow me.” He walked to a torch and glanced behind him. “When the gun is shot, we can read it and start off toward the first clue.
“I have a heart. I just don’t waste it on you,” Meredith asserted, trying not to grab the clue from his hands and hold it to the light… just in case it was readable through the envelope.
“Good to know about its existence. It had been a burning question in my mind for so long,” Lucas drawled in a bored tone. “You must not take my barbs so seriously, one would think you had no sense of humor.”
“I have a perfectly acceptable sense of humor.”
“And here you go again.”
“Stop insulting me!” Meredith poked him in the chest.
“Stop rising to the bait!” He leaned down towards her, challenging her.
“I wouldn’t rise to the bait if you didn’t lay it out!” She bit off the words, leaning forward as well.
“Children?” The Duchess of Ashbury’s voice interrupted their argument, and Meredith noticed just how close they stood. Flecks of amber laced the iris of his eyes, and the shadow of a beard accented his jawline, yet she forced these enticements out of her mind and leaned back, away from temptation.
“Yes, Mother?” Lucas asked sweetly, no repentance in his tone.
“Can I trust that there will be no bloodshed?” she asked, raising a brow.
And it was an honest question… because there had been bloodshed in the past.
Never much.
But nevertheless…
“Of course, Duchess,” Meredith answered, smoothing her skirt and forcing her posture into a stiff control.
“Lucas?” She turned to her son, her head thoughtfully tilted. The expression on her face wasn’t one Meredith would ever like to fall under.
“None what so ever.” He held up his hand as if swearing an oath.
“Lovely. Now, if you two are finished bickering, I believe I’ll give the signal to begin?”
At Lucas’ nod, she raised a hand and a footman sounded the gunshot.
Lucas ripped through the wax seal and opened the first clue. Forgotten was the recent argument as Meredith laid a hand on his shoulder and lifted herself upon her tiptoes to get a better view of the clue.