Regina thought about that. She had snuck some interesting passages and pictures in her time. She knew generally how sex worked. But she hadn’t really thought much about it until now.
She’d had no reason to, after all. She’d had idle little crushes, thinking this person looked handsome and so on. But she’d never truly lusted after anyone. And so why think of sex when she couldn’t think of someone to do it with?
“I think we’ve made her uncomfortable,” Cora noted. She was looking at Regina, her eyes piercing. Regina suspected that Cora saw far more than Regina or anyone else wanted her to see.
“Do you play cards?” Miss Eliza asked. “You were just watching us earlier. But I’d like to play again. I want to try and finally beat Harrison.”
“I’ve never played before,” Regina said honestly.
“You and I can play as a team,” Cora said. “No, Harrison, she can’t play with you. That’s completely unfair. And you can’t monopolize her all night.”
“You’ve caught me out,” Harrison said lightly. He tucked some of Regina’s hair behind her ear again. “What can I say? I like to keep her close.”
It was so that he could mentor her, of course. To Cora and the others, however, it was a gesture of romantic affection. It was hard for Regina not to see it that way as well.
This was a problem. Regina wasn’t the sort that could just pretend the way that Harrison obviously could. She would have to learn so that she could pretend at the masquerade. Pretend to be someone else. Someone with confidence.
But right now, she was still just Regina. And right now, Harrison’s behavior was doing things to her. Making her skin feel just a little too tight and hot.
“Cards it is, then,” Lord Quentin said.
The servants started to clear dinner while everyone retired back to the parlor. Regina was seated between Cora and Harrison once more.
“All right,” Cora said. “The most valuable lesson I can teach you is how to gamble.”
“Isn’t that the same as learning how to play cards?” Regina asked.
“Oh, no. Playing cards is one thing. How you handle your money is another. You can use your money to intimidate others, or lull them into a false sense of security. You can win everything at once. Or you can build up slowly.”
Lord Quentin shuffled this time.
Harrison winked at Regina. “Careful, Cora, I’ll think you’re trying to steal her away.”
“You did say you prefer redheads,” Lord Mannis quipped.
“She’s far too young for me, as I believe I’ve already said once,” Cora replied calmly. “And if my simple presence is enough to worry you, Harrison, perhaps you have to woo her better.”
Harrison laughed. “I assure you I can woo whomever I please.”
“Really? You failed spectacularly with me,” Miss Eliza pointed out.
“Who said I was really trying with you?” Harrison shot back.
“Children, children,” Cora said. She sounded bored. “Quentin, do deal us out, will you please?”
Once the cards were dealt, Cora showed Regina her cards.
Harrison suddenly leaned over, his mouth right at Regina’s ear. She knew it was only so that Cora didn’t hear him but she couldn’t help herself. His lips were brushing her skin and his voice was low and warm. She shivered.
“Don’t look at yourself,” Harrison whispered. “Look at the others. Play based on them. That’s how you win.”
Cora began going over the rules with Regina. Regina tried to listen, but she also kept an eye on the other players.
Look at the others.
As they began to play, Regina paid attention to the others. Lord Mannis was reckless. Miss Eliza worked to throw others off. Lord Quentin was stuck to his methodology.
She could play off of this. They reminded her of her sisters, in fact. Lord Mannis was like Natalie, reckless and in it for fun. Miss Eliza was like Elizabeth—ironic given they shared a name. Both worked to fluster others and knock them off their game.
Lord Quentin was like Louisa, patient and methodical. Sometimes playing it too safe. Stuck in his ways.
That left Cora. Regina was surprised to find that comparing Cora to Bridget made a perfect match. Both were enigmatic. You couldn’t tell what they were thinking. They balanced out those around them. And they knew this game inside and out.
Regina let Cora handle the rules. She knew she’d pick them up just by playing enough times. Repetition was all that she needed.
Right she would look at the people. Play against them.
As the game started, Regina would whisper to Cora what she thought they should do. Sometimes Cora would do something else. This would be because her knowledge of the game beat Regina’s reading of an opponent. But for the most part, she listened.
It was a kind of rush to have someone listen to her. She still didn’t talk much but she didn’t feel left out of the conversation. It felt like she was included even if she didn’t say a word.
It was very much unlike her previous dealings with groups. If balls were like this she would have liked them a lot more. She no longer felt like a mouse, or the least of her sisters, or judged. She felt valued just as she was.
As she watched the others and made suggestions based on their behavior, their pile of money grew. The pile of money in the middle grew as well.
Before long, the only person who was still holding their own against them was Harrison. He wasn’t beating them outright. It was more neck and neck. But when it came to money he was matching them piece for piece.
Regina felt a little thrill. She actively wanted to win. She wanted to beat the others. Was this the gambler’s rush that people talked about? Was this why people became addicted?
It felt a little like she was on a hunt. Only in this hunt, she didn’t have to spill blood. Money and honor were at stake. And finally, her habit of observing people was paying off.
All those years of just sitting without saying anything. All those times she’d watched and listened. Now it meant she could know exactly what each person was thinking and what they would do. It was almost like she could predict the future in that way.
It was terribly exhilarating.
“I thought you said you hadn’t played before,” Lord Mannis said suspiciously.
“I suspect that her beau has been tutoring her on the side,” Miss Eliza said. She gave Harrison a shrewd look.
“Believe me, I haven’t taught her a thing. She’s just a natural.”
As he said it, Harrison sent her another one of his small smiles. Although the others could probably see it if they chose to look, Regina had a feeling it was meant only for her. It made heat rise to her cheeks again.
Damn it, she thought, mentally indulging herself in a swear. What was wrong with her?
“This game will go on forever if we don’t put an end to it,” Lord Quentin said. He threw down his cards.
“That’s the trouble with loo,” Lord Mannis replied. “It only ends when everyone is too poor to play.”
“I am happy to declare either Harrison or our two-woman team the winners,” Miss Eliza said. “They’ve quite nearly cleaned me out.”