Her Imperfect Groom by Gordon Rose

Author:Gordon, Rose [Gordon, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published: 2012-01-30T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

“You're cheating!” eleven-year-old Helena accused, putting her hands on her hips.

The room erupted with laughter at the look on her little face, and the excitement in her voice.

Wallace threw his hands up into the air. “I am not!”

“Yes, you are. I'd just lined up fifteen infantry men—” she waved her hand in front of her row of tin soldiers— “and now there are only twelve.”

“Well, at least she finally learned her sums,” a familiar voice said.

Wallace froze. It was easy to forget the rules and demands of society when he was visiting Drake and his family at Crumbles, the appropriately named, in constant need of repair, cottage Drake and Juliet moved into for who-knows-what reason shortly after they married. Drake had explained to him once that though he was a viscount, he enjoyed living in this ancient cottage with his family far more than he'd ever enjoyed living at Briar Creek, the seat of his viscountcy. But now that someone else was here, the relaxed atmosphere had evaporated and suffocating tension crackled in the air.

“Emma! Edwina!” Juliet gushed.

Wallace tensed. Edwina's presence in the room had never made him as nervous as he was now. He shouldn't be though. She hadn't turned a hair when she walked into the drawing room a few weeks ago to find her own brother dressed as he was now: coat, waistcoat, and cravat completely discarded, top button of his shirt undone and shirt sleeves up around his elbows. The furthest thing from being appropriately attired for Almacks.

“Where's Caroline?” Juliet asked.

“I reminded her that as hostess she had to stay,” Emma said. She walked across the room and hugged each of Drake's girls. “Hullo, Sir Wallace.”

He nodded to her. Lines had never been perfectly clear where the two of them were concerned. While they're relationship had ended with a broken engagement, it hadn't been on unfavorable terms. It might be a bit awkward seeing her and Lord Sinclair at times, but in an odd way, they'd remained friends. Always amiable to the other when they attended the same functions.

“What are you playing?” Emma asked, looking down at the rows of tin soldiers.

“War,” Edwina answered from directly behind him.

“Very good, Miss Banks,” Drake said. “Am I to assume that my daughters are not the only members of your sex who enjoy playing such a barbaric game?”

Edwina took a seat in the empty chair eight-year-old Kate had vacated in favor of sitting on Wallace's lap. “I wouldn't say that I enjoy it, but between Henry, Elijah and their hundreds of tin soldiers, I certainly know a game of war when I see one.” She rearranged a few of Helena's men. “You should line them up where—”

“Don't help her. That's cheating,” Wallace said, frowning.

Edwina's eyes met his and he was determined to hold her gaze. “Cheating, you say? Why, when I first walked in here, I do believe it was you who was being accused of cheating.” She cocked her head to the side. “But you'd never cheat,

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