Regina wished she could stay. But it was already quite late. Aunt Jane would be worried.
“Shall I escort you home?” Harrison teased. “It is only a couple of buildings but trouble could still befall you.”
Regina laughed. The sound was startled out of her. “Certainly. Why not?”
Chapter 16
Harrison offered her his arm. She took it, and he led her down the back servants’ steps and through to the back door once again.
It felt like a lifetime since she had entered. Since this afternoon she had started to see an entirely different world. She had met people she never would have thought to meet.
If someone had come up to her yesterday and told her that in the course of the next twenty-four hours she would be dining with such people as this group, she couldn’t have believed them.
Yet she had enjoyed the evening. Much more so than she had enjoyed previous gatherings.
The night air was chilly, and she had neglected to bring a shawl or coat. Harrison felt her shivering and drew her closer to him. She sank into his side, appreciating the warmth.
“I must apologize,” Harrison said. His voice was somber. “I did not realize they would make such assumptions about us.”
“It seems you aren’t the best liar either,” Regina said. “They didn’t buy the cousin bit for a second.”
“I wish that they had. It was unfair to you to put you in such a position.”
“I think it was unfair to both of us. You can’t blame yourself. You did what you had to. I’m just glad they didn’t discover the real reason.”
“Yes, I agree.” Harrison grimaced. “I dislike lying to such close friends. I had no siblings growing up. They are truly like family to me. But if they knew, then they might accidentally let something slip. Whether it was in their behavior or in their words. It would be an accident of course. But it could happen.”
“And we cannot risk that,” Regina said, completing his thought for him.
Harrison stopped. They were outside Regina’s door. “No we cannot.”
He looked down at her. Regina smiled. “You look like him now,” she told him. Her voice had gone oddly soft. “Oberon.”
“You ought to see yourself,” Harrison replied. “The moonlight. It makes you a proper Puck.”
Regina laughed without quite knowing why. She felt oddly nervous.
“The others should be gone tomorrow,” Harrison said. “Although Cora might stay longer.”
“I was hoping for it. I want to talk to her about my sister. I have many questions.”
“Then you are welcome to them. But we must play as well.” Harrison sighed and looked off into the distance. “I’ll have to have the others over as often as possible. You must practice every day. The game has to be ingrained into you, or you will never beat Lord Pettifer.”
“I held my own well tonight.” Regina felt frustration and pride prick at her.
“Yes, in a friendly game where three of the players have never been in a proper gambling hall,” Harrison replied. “Quentin was holding back. As, I suspect, was Cora, although she’s never been in a gambling hall.
“When you are in a proper game for real stakes it all changes. It is more intense. People play more passionately. And more ruthlessly. And you didn’t come close to beating me.”
“You and I were neck and neck.”
“I was playing lazily,” Harrison admitted. “Please, don’t feel discouraged. You did very well for your first time. I was surprised at how well you read everybody. But do not mistake this victory for more than it is. We have won the first battle. Not the war.”
Regina rubbed her temples. “Why must this be so difficult?” She asked. She knew she sounded like a child in asking that. “I feel as though needlepoint is the only thing that has ever come easily to me. Everything else I bumble my way through.”
“You didn’t bumble your way through anything,” Harrison replied. His tone was sharp but not out of anger. He actually sounded surprised.
He took her hands in his. It seemed to be a habit with him. “Miss Regina, please believe me. You value yourself at far less than your true worth. You are a beginner at cards. That is true. But you are a brilliant beginner. Everyone must start somewhere.
“And you delighted everyone at dinner. I think they were a little surprised by you. In the best kind of way, I mean. I understand that you are not inclined towards balls and the like. But that doesn’t mean you are bad at social situations or that you have nothing of value to say.”
It sounded as though he really meant it. Regina found her eyes growing hot. It was a telltale sign of impending tears.
Only Bridget had ever talked to her in such a way. And even Bridget, darling Bridget, had left Regina to her own devices. She’d never pushed her.
Harrison was pushing her. He was demanding more and better from her. But he was doing it because he believed in her. He truly thought that she was worth something.
It made her think that maybe he was right. Maybe she could be something if she kept at it.
“Thank you,” she said, and she meant it.
Harrison seemed surprised. “For what?”
“For helping me,” Regina said. All right, so he was getting something out of it as well. But he didn’t have to encourage her. He didn’t have to welcome her into his circle of friends.
He was being kind to her when he didn’t have to. That meant a lot.
A fond look stole over Harrison’s face and he sighed. He gently squeezed Regina’s hands before letting them go. She thought that would be the end, but then he brought his hand up to cup her cheek. It was the same gesture he had done right before he had almost kissed her earlier.
As if in anticipation of that, her breath picked up. Which was ridiculous. He wasn’t going to kiss her. Harrison was in love with Bridget. Why would he bother kissing Regina?
She really had to stop with these childish fantasies.
“You have been quite a surprise from start to finish, Miss Regina.” Harrison’s voice was soft. Intimate. “It makes me wonder all that will occur before we are through with this little venture of ours.”
“I hope that the surprises will all be pleasant ones,” Regina replied. She wasn’t sure what she’d do if they ended up being unpleasant ones. Like if she lost everything.
“I’m certain that they will be.”
Regina went stiff in shock as he leaned in to her, but he didn’t kiss her. At least, not on the mouth. Instead he brushed his lips against her forehead. It was almost chaste.
Almost. If the rapid beating of her heart didn’t try to make it into something else.
“Good night, Miss Regina,” he murmured.
Then he turned and walked into the night, back to his house. Regina stared after him longer than she should have. Her heart was still beating wildly in her chest. That heat was back on her skin.
Oh, dear, she thought. She was in terrible trouble.
Chapter 17
What was he thinking, Thomas thought furiously to himself.
He walked back through the darkness to his house. He couldn’t even begin to explain the strange emotions warring inside of him.