Page 9 of Once Tempted

Humphrey Chase was watching the pair with a sour and somewhat perplexed expression on his face. Dear God, if Chase kept this up, he’d be last in line to share the widow’s bed instead of first and only.

Frederick headed for Chase. “Good morning.”

The man grunted.

“That good, eh?”

“Do you see that?”

“See what?”

“That! Moore is cozying up to our widow.”

Frederick shrugged. “He can’t possibly win our wager.”

“But he could win her favor. I could not bear to lose her to anyone but you.”

Frederick scoffed and slapped his friend on the shoulder. Humphrey shouldn’t be able to bear to lose her even to Frederick, though. Not if he was seriously smitten with the woman. “There is no way the widow would choose Moore when she could have either one of us in her bed.”

“Then you’d better stake your claim, and fast.”

“So should you,” he urged, but Humphrey’s feet appeared stuck to the floor again. What would it take for the man to make his move? He sighed. “Well, I’m here now. I’ll come between them, never fear. Has there ever been a lady who’s rejected my advances? I want to win this wager as much as you do.”

“I’ll do my best,” Humphrey said grudgingly, but then spoiled it with his next words. “But you always win the lady you set your heart on.”

“My heart is never involved when I pursue a lady I want in my bed,” he reminded Chase.

He heard the crash of heavy objects falling and spun around, startled by the commotion.

Minerva Chase stood directly behind them, with croquet mallets and whatnots lying everywhere at her feet.

She gazed at him with a look of utter disgust. She must have heard every word he’d said about the wager and winning the widow’s favor. But he’d said it all to goad Humphrey into action.

He rushed to Minerva to help pick up everything. There was really too much for one person to carry. “Miss Chase, where are the servants to help you? You shouldn’t have been left carrying all this on your own.”

“M’sister doesn’t mind, do you, Minnie?” Humphrey claimed, not bending to help with the chaos. “Did you find my favorite mallet somewhere in there?”

Minerva dusted off her hands and then her skirts. “No, I’m afraid I did not. You’ll have to play your games without it.”

Frederick gathered as much as he could hold and then caught her gaze. “What do you want me to do with these now?”

She smiled coldly at him. “I’m sure you never need me to tell you what to do. Not in this particular game.”

“You don’t understand,” he said in an urgent whisper. He could tell she was deeply offended that he was wagering for the widow’s favor, but with her brother so close, he had no hope of explaining his plan fully.

Humphrey put a hand on her shoulder. “Sister, run up to my bed chambers. I think my mallet might be stuck behind one of the large bureaus. I want it before our games commence.”

“Of course, brother,” she said, casting Frederick a look that should have withered his privates. “I’ll go straight away and send a servant running back with it as soon as it’s found. Don’t wait for me to start.”

“No, of course not,” Humphrey murmured, turning away.

Frederick winced at Humphrey’s dismissal. “You are coming back, aren’t you?”

“No, best not to risk it.” She glanced around and smiled sweetly. “Who knows what damage I might do with a carelessly played shot or a wild swing of a mallet this morning?”

Frederick lowered the items he was holding in front of his groin. Not that she noticed. Her gaze had already drifted across the room and settled on the fair widow.

“She really is lovely. I can see why she’s worth fighting over.”

“It’s not like that,” he promised in a voice pitched as low as possible so Humphrey wouldn’t hear. “I can explain everything. Later.”

“There’s no need.” She shook herself, and another smile settled over her face. “You have arranged your adventures exactly to your liking many times in the past. Best of luck—and I hope you get what you deserve.”

Frederick groaned under his breath. He’d hurt her pride a second time…or was it a third? He was usually much better than this when it came to charming the fairer sex.

But there was a guaranteed way to make things right. He would bring her into his confidence, and when she understood his intentions, she would see the real game he played with her brother could only benefit her.