The list of details he’d subconsciously catalogued regarding Eve Mossant was becoming amazingly long.
She drank tea with one spoonful of sugar but no milk. She brushed her hair behind her ear whenever she was nervous. She mumbled in her sleep.
And after being intimate with a man, with him, she turned up shy.
Niles had especially enjoyed the blush that crept up her neck when he stared at her with a certain knowing. As though she too, was reliving the intimacy from earlier that morning.
He’d reserved a gig for the two of them to rent the next morning. It wouldn’t be as luxurious as the coach they’d lost, but he deemed travel would be safe.
Leaving the two of them with today…
He’d told her it was important to seize the moments of pleasure life offered and then decided to take his own advice. Leaning back in his chair, he studied her.
She all but glowed.
Ah, yes, he’d embrace whatever pleasure life presented in the now.
They had shared a comfortable late morning meal. She’d initially picked at her food, quietly, until he’d asked after her daughters’ schooling. Afterwards, they ventured outside for a short walk, but returned quickly, unwilling to wade through the mud again.
Eve was polite to everyone they met, and during a short conversation with the innkeeper’s wife, discovered the existence of a very small library set off from the tap room. This provided a few hours of amusement for them. Both favored several authors in common and despite the pain Niles experienced with each breath, what ought to have been a banal afternoon, proved to be rather enjoyable.
This woman.
Her company had made yesterday quite tolerable as well.
“Can the bishop jump other pieces?” Eve’s question drew his attention back to the board they’d discovered set up near the window. She’d confessed to not having played in years. She could not remember all the rules, she’d admitted. A game was exactly what they needed. He wasn’t certain either of them was ready to return to the chamber he’d rented.
“Only the knight can jump.” He patiently explained, watching her fingers turn the piece so she could study it. Although it was not an expensive looking set, someone had put a great deal of care into carving the wooden pieces.
Once play began, she caught on rather quickly. Already, she was establishing her pawns in the center of the board.
“It’s difficult to plan one’s moves far in advance.” She scrunched her nose up, deep in concentration. “And contemplate every possible scenario.” She frowned and then slowly slid her bishop across the board making it so that she could utilize her queen.
Which was exactly what he’d failed to do the entire course of this journey. Examine every possible scenario. Plan his moves in the unlikely event that he might find himself sharing a bed with her.
“Emotions cloud your strategy,” she added.
Indeed, they did. He could escort her back to their chamber. And then what? Turn his back while she donned that ridiculously large night dress? Feign sleep when she climbed into the bed with him?
Or would he make love to her, in truth, tonight?
Could his ribs survive it?
And what if she took offense at his advances? He’d lose this tenuous but pleasing connection they’d established with one another. And yes, he could lose a valuable client, but even worse, she’d be without protection.
She slid a pawn sideways and took his rook.
Damn, but he’d lost his concentration.
Four moves later, he’d placed her in checkmate. He’d not insult her by allowing her to win.
She was disappointed but immediately went to lining the pieces up for another game. “You’re a devious man, Niles Waverly.” She laughed and moved one of her pawns forward two spaces. “I’d always thought the game represented war, but it’s more than that, I think.”
“It’s often used to practice military strategies.” But it was so much more, he agreed to himself. Niles matched her next move. “Anything that involves strategy,” he added.
“For example?”
“Business dealings.” He briefly explained one scenario he’d orchestrated for Mr. Findlay. An opening bid. A counter. Negotiations and eventually capitulation.
She listened carefully as they took turns opening up the board.
She frowned and nodded. “I recognize similarities in how I evaded my husband throughout the years. He’d make a move and I would counter. In the beginning, I acted defensively. Toward the end, I made my own moves. I set up my own strategy to protect the girls from his influence, from him.” She bit her lip. Almost as though she’d revealed more than she’d intended.
He’d change the subject for her. He knew well enough of Jean Luc Mossant’s treachery. “Miranda plays chess with Ferdinand, in the Tempest. It’s the only time the Bard ever referred to the actual game of chess, as far as I know. Although he used the terms of chess numerous times.” Niles eyed the board thoughtfully. “Checkmate. Stalemate. All the strategies of chess could be found in his work.”
He grinned as she took one of his pawns and then fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Sweet lord, you play me false.” Eve, of course, knew the scene he referred to.
Niles searched his memory for Ferdinand’s response… “Not for all the world.” He could not recite the line word for word. Miranda had accused Ferdinand of cheating so that she could win. The entire plot had been something of a chess match.
“In the middle ages, it was one of the only activities where a couple could spend time together, alone. Even now…” Eve frowned at the pieces before her.
Niles moved his piece into position.
He’d been allowed to play chess with Lady Katherine. What harm was there? He had been the gardener’s son. She’d gotten angry with him when he’d put her in check mate. She’d told him it wasn’t gentlemanly to play to win.
Niles had countered by reminding her that he was not, and never would be, a gentleman. Lord, but that fact had come back to haunt him.
He’d never played the game with any other woman. The subsequent women he’d spent leisure time with would not have been interested in such entertainment.
Until today.
“Chess can also resemble a courtship.” A mysterious smile played on Eve’s lips. Her flirtation was having a dangerous effect on his libido. And his heart. Because he knew their dalliance was not a true courtship. He’d do well by himself to call it a fling. An affair. A temporary liaison.
“An opening bid.” He moved a pawn. What had his bid been with her? Holding her in the carriage? Kissing her beneath the trees? Or bringing her to satisfaction in bed this morning?
Her gaze teased him as she moved her queen across the board. “A counter.” She’d kissed him back, eagerly. And she’d admitted to not knowing how to conduct herself following such intimacy.
Did she want something more?
He moved his knight in position to take the lady. “Negotiation.” Was their time today a negotiation of sorts?
Could they have anything other than a brief affair?
She stole the knight with her bishop. Best not to want more from her. Had he learned nothing from Lady Katherine’s betrayal?
Niles then moved his other knight. “Checkmate.”
Eve had not seen his attack coming. She’d thought she’d examined the board from all angles.
Niles cocked one eyebrow, appearing quite roguish. This day, rather than bringing any clarity to their situation, scrambled them all the more.
She liked him.
The attraction she felt had only managed to increase as the day slipped away. His eyes shone brighter, his smile held more charm… Each time they drew near to one another, the urge to lean into him, to feel his strength along the length of her body, was quite compelling.
Would she resist him for long?
“I remember why I gave the game up now,” she said, laughing.
“You played quite well.”
“A rematch in the future, then.” She didn’t catch herself before allowing the words to escape.
“I’d like that very much,” Niles responded noncommittally. Would he really, or was he simply being kind? She was his employer, after all, she reminded herself for the hundredth time that day.
“You don’t have to.”
But he’d reached across the board to take her hand in his. “Eve. This.” He waved his other hand between the two of them. “Is not business.”
No. It was not.
The day had passed almost without her notice. She’d been so intent upon this man. On the sensations he evoked each time he touched her, whether he’d taken her arm, or placed his hand upon the small of her back.
“I’ll leave you to celebrate your win while I dress for dinner.” The innkeeper’s wife had managed to locate something clean for Eve to change into. The dress, of course, wasn’t nearly as fine as any of Eve’s other gowns, but it was freshly washed and the right size.
She’d like to appear her best for him.
Niles squeezed her hand. The look on his face held promises for the evening, perhaps for the night, ahead.
“I’ll be counting the minutes.”