Page 13 of One Scandal Too Many (Havenwood Academy #1)

D eclan stared at the area where he’d had the servants set up the lawn billiards. The iron rings had been placed strategically around the back lawn to resemble the pockets he had on the table in his game room. The lawn would serve as the game board here. The rules would be similar to those of billiards, but with a few key changes. There would be no cue ball, which made scoring points different as they played.

Now to assemble the players. He glanced at his two friends. “We need a fourth gentleman for this to have even numbers.” He nodded toward the ladies he intended to approach. “There are four of Havenwood’s students gathered there. We cannot invite three and let the other one be a spectator.”

“That is true,” Foxmoore agreed and furrowed his brows. “Who shall we ask, then?”

Amberwood sighed. “I’d rather not play at all.” He blew out a breath. “But since I am, I would rather have another gentleman I did not loathe to be a part of the game.”

“A valid request,” Declan added. “And one I agree with. Do you have anyone in mind?”

“I do,” Amberwood said. “And as it happens, he just arrived.” He gestured toward a tall gentleman with dark auburn hair. He was a Scotsman whom Declan knew well. His estate was a half days’ ride from his own, and other than Havenwood, he was his closest genteel neighbor.

“Viscount Kendal?” Declan asked.

“Yes,” Amberwood told him. “He will make it all the more entertaining. He has a competitive streak that I envy.” He grinned. “And he’ll play, that I can almost guarantee.”

Declan nodded. “All right. You go invite him, and I’ll convince the ladies they’ve always wanted to participate in a game of lawn billiards.”

Amberwood and Foxmoore headed in the direction of Viscount Kendal and Declan went toward Charlotte. There were other ladies with her, of course, including the two chaperones entrusted with the students’ care He paused as he reached them and bowed slightly. “Ladies,” he greeted them. “I trust you’re all enjoying yourselves.”

“It’s rather humdrum,” one of the ladies said. He hadn’t been introduced to this girl. She had raven black hair and gray eyes that almost appeared silver in the light. “But I suppose that is the reason we’re allowed to attend. Not a scandal in sight.” She sighed as the lack of excitement seemed excruciating for her.

“Melisande,” one of the chaperones chastised her. “We’re to avoid such things as scandals. There is nothing wrong with a respectable soiree.”

Melisande laughed. “You’ve never experienced a scandal then, have you, Miss Abernathy?”

Miss Abernathy’s hair was nearly as dark as her charge’s, although her eyes were not the same alluring silver. Instead, they were a bright green that almost flared with anger at the young woman’s words. “You will be on your best behavior. What I have or have not been privy to doesn’t apply to what is expected of you, you silly girl.”

Declan cleared his throat. He had to stop this before it got out of hand. “If the soiree isn’t to your liking, I do have a suggestion.” His gaze landed on Charlotte. She had been quiet the entire time, and he had to wonder why.

“You hope to create a scandal?” Lady Jaclyn asked. There was a gleam in her eyes that could be dangerous.

“No,” he said slowly. “I would never suggest anything like that.” He smiled. “My servants set up lawn billiards. Four of us have decided to play, but we have room for four more, as I have eight mallets available, if you would like to join us.” He kept his gaze off of Charlotte as he spoke. “We could even play in pairs. One gentleman to one lady, if that is all right with your chaperones.” He met Miss Abernathy’s gaze. He didn’t even glance at Charlotte’s chaperone. The less anyone knew of his actual interest, the better.

“That’s a lovely idea,” Miss Abernathy said and glanced at Melisande. “Some of our students do better with an actual activity to participate in. Thank you for suggesting it.” She motioned at Melisande and her other charge. “Do you wish to play?”

Before either of the ladies could respond, Amberwood, Foxmoore, and Kendal strolled over. Melisande’s eyes widened as she stared at Kendal. Well, that was interesting. He would have to ensure she was partnered with the viscount. “I’m willing,” she said. “Are you, Georgina?”

Ah, the shy girl. Declan did recall her. “I trust your ankle is healing, Miss Georgina?” he asked the girl. She glanced away, and a slight blush tinged her cheeks.

“It is, my lord,” she said softly, “and I do wish to play.”

“Wonderful,” he said. Now he just needed Charlotte and her friend Jaclyn to agree. “What about you, Lady Jaclyn? You seem interested.”

“I am,” she said. “And so is Charlotte. I trust you will explain the rules to us?”

“Of course,” he said. “If you will follow me, I can show you where the game is set up, and you can choose your mallet.”

They all walked over to the field where the rings had been strategically inserted into the ground. Eight mallets were in a holder on one side of the playing area. “Here are the mallets,” he began to explain. “We have, black, red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, and white.” He held up the blue mallet. “I am going to take this one, and the matching ball.” He plucked a blue ball from the basket. “Everyone come forward and choose your mallet and retrieve your ball. After we all have made our selections, I will explain the rules.”

“I’ll take the black,” Kendal said. “It matches my heart. So it seems fitting.”

Declan rolled his eyes. “If you believe it suits you, then it’s yours.”

Charlotte still had not looked at him. She waited her turn to choose her mallet. Everyone else stepped forward and chose. Still she held back until there was only one mallet left: the yellow one. Not quite gold like her eyes, but still it suited her.

“Now that everyone has made their selection,” he began. “We will go over the rules of play, then pair off.” He grinned. “First rule, follow your ball. Where it lands, you go.”

They all nodded. “That makes sense,” Lady Jaclyn replied. “But what if it goes off course?”

“Then you go off course,” he said.

“But we’re to play in pairs.”

“Well,” he began. “As long as you are able to. The pairs are just to start us off. You may end up near someone else depending on where your ball lands.”

He fully intended to ensure his ball followed Charlotte’s. Declan wanted to remain near her as much as possible. “Second rule,” he began. “Your objective is to get your ball through all the rings on the course, going from left to right until you get to the final ring at the far end of the course.”

They all glanced toward the rings. They were spread apart almost forming a rectangle with the final ring at the end.

“Third rule,” he said. “If you want to be...” He paused. “How shall I put this?” Declan tapped his chin and grinned. “Competitive. Yes, that’s a good word. You may hit an opponent’s ball with yours if you near it and knock it off course. If that should happen, that person will have to go back to the beginning and restart the game.”

Melisande laughed. “Now this will be more than humdrum. I like it.”

He would have to keep an eye on that one. She would also definitely make a good companion for Kendal and his black heart. Declan shook his head. “Now for points. Because it isn’t just about reaching the end first.” He grinned. “You get bonus points for knocking a player back to the beginning. A particularly difficult shot will gain you an extra two points. But each successful shot through a ring will give you one point. The person with the most points at the end wins.” Declan turned toward the two chaperones. “Do you two mind keeping score? That way we can ensure no player cheats.”

Miss Abernathy grinned. “It would be my pleasure, my lord.” The other chaperone, Miss Spencer, nodded in agreement.

“Now,” he began. “For the beginning, we will pair off by colors.” He pulled out a piece of parchment from the inner pocket of his waistcoat. He had written paired colors together, fully intending to swap with someone if needed to make sure Charlotte was with him. Luckily, he didn’t need to go that far. “Black and white go first, and are together.”

Melisande and Kendal glanced at each other. Somehow this worked out brilliantly. He had no way of knowing who would pick what color, so it was interesting that the pairs he thought would be good together ended up by each other’s side. “Green and red go second, purple and orange third, and finally, blue and yellow.”

Georgina grinned as she walked over toward Foxmoore. Those two were pleased to be together. Jaclyn and Amberwood glared at each other. There was definitely a story there, and one day he would ask the duke. Charlotte nibbled on her bottom lip and met his eyes. Suspicion clouded her gaze. She fully believed he had orchestrated this outcome, and he would have if necessary, but he would show her the paper. Then she would have to rethink whatever entered her mind.

He motioned to Melisande and Kendal. “You decide between you who will go first. As I said, the goal is to get your ball through each ring.”

Charlotte wandered over to his side. He didn’t say anything to her as they watched Melisande and Kendal. He offered for her to go first, but she narrowed her gaze and shook her head. She wanted him to go first. Declan didn’t know why, exactly. Perhaps she was not certain how to strike the ball with her mallet?

“He’s going to regret this,” Charlotte said in a soft tone. “I don’t know her well,” she began, “but what I do know is that she has a deviousness to her. It is one of the reasons she is at Havenwood.”

“Don’t worry about Kendal,” he told her. “That Scotsman is shrewd. He’ll be quite capable of meeting her every move.”

Kendal played his ball. He struck it with skill and accuracy, and it flew toward the first ring, but stopped short of rolling through it. If Melisande had hoped to knock him out, that would be difficult to do. Her best bet would be to hit it hard enough to send both of their balls through the ring. She didn’t try that, though. She studied the ball and then hit it so it stopped short of actually hitting his ball. What did she hope to gain there? He wouldn’t even try to understand her motivation.

Georgina and Foxmoore were next. Unlike Melisande, Georgina didn’t mind going first. She hit her ball, but it didn’t go far. Melisande laughed. “Wonderful strike,” she told Georgina, who flushed pink. Declan thought Melisande rude, but then she went over and hugged Georgina. “Truly,” she told the girl. “Be brave and next time hit it harder. I’m happy for you.” She grinned. “You were not afraid to hit it.”

All right, perhaps Melisande wasn’t as awful as he believed...

Foxmoore hit his ball, and it sent Georgina’s flying forward closer to the ring. He was trying to help the girl out. Jaclyn and Amberwood were next. Jaclyn hit her ball, and it struck Foxmoore’s and halted. At this rate, they would all be crowding around the first ring. Kendal’s was still the closest. Amberwood hit his ball, and it smashed into the center of all the balls, sending them skittering around the field. Kendal’s inched closer to the ring but still had not gone through.

“It’s your turn, darling,” Declan told Charlotte.

She shook her head. “I’m not good at this sort of game.”

“No one is, really,” he told her. “Just try.”

She sighed and lined up the mallet so she could hit her ball. It went flying through the air and landed right in front of Kendal’s. Charlotte flushed pink. “That is not actually what I was trying to do.”

“But does it matter?” Declan chuckled. “The outcome is in your favor.”

He lined up his mallet and struck his ball. It smashed into her ball and sent hers, along with Kendal’s, through the ring. Unfortunately, that meant Charlotte and Kendal would be working toward the next ring and she might leave him behind.

Kendal took aim at his ball and sent it toward the next ring. Melisande didn’t aim for the ring. She instead hit her ball so that it sent Charlotte’s off course and far off field.

Charlotte wriggled her nose in displeasure. “Was that necessary? It makes us both start over.”

Melisande grinned. “I thought so.”

“You would,” Charlotte told her. She grumbled and went after her ball, Melisande not far behind her.

They continued their play until Charlotte finally caught up with him. He had played terribly to give her a chance at being by his side.

“You’re not actually horrid at this game are you?” Charlotte asked.

He shrugged. “It’s been years since I’ve played.” Declan met her gaze. The game had gone as well as he’d intended. He had time with Charlotte that was not encumbered by idle chitchat with the other guests, and he’d had her mostly to himself. There was only one issue with the lawn billiards and those endearing moments he’d had with her—they had not been truly alone. Declan had developed a craving for Charlotte he could not deny. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her until their breaths mingled. If she allowed it, he’d do more than merely kiss her senseless. Though these were things he could not do with the prying eyes of his guests. He would need her alone and willing to share those delectable kisses with him. He’d held off this pursuit for the sake of her reputation, but he could not resist asking her for those stolen moments now. “Meet me in the garden again tonight.”

She shook her head. “I cannot.”

“Please,” he begged. He had to convince her that she needed to have that time alone with him. Declan would do anything to have her in his garden again. It had become the one place he could truly be alone with her.

“It’s not...” Charlotte nibbled on her bottom lip, then whispered. “It’s scandalous. I never should have met you there last night.”

Declan was not above begging. This game was nice, but he couldn’t pull her into his arms and kiss her. He desperately wanted to taste her lips again. Her kiss was sweet and decadent like a fine wine. Both heady and intoxicating. He couldn’t get enough of her. “It’s not a mistake. You won’t regret coming to me.” It was a promise he intended to keep. This lure between them was too much to ignore. Surely she felt it too.

Charlotte blew out a breath and didn’t answer him. It was her turn to strike her ball. She took aim and sent it sliding through the ring. They were both falling behind. Kendal and Melisande, the most competitive of them all, had already finished. Melisande had single-handedly sent several players back to the start. Declan took his turn and caught back up to Charlotte.

She leaned on her mallet and didn’t meet his gaze. Slowly, she turned. “I’m not making any promises.”

“But you will consider it.” They didn’t need to say what she was potentially agreeing to. He understood without her saying the words. He held back a grin. He would not do something that might discourage her. He wanted her to meet him in the garden. “Should we consider a time?” He lifted a brow. “So we don’t miss each other.”

Charlotte shook her head. “That would be making a promise. I already said I wouldn’t.”

“Still...” He met her gaze. Heat flooded him as she brazenly stared up at him. “Let’s say midnight. If you are there, and I am there...”

“No promises,” she repeated. “But if I can...”

“Midnight,” he said, and she nodded.

She’d be there. He would wager everything he owned on it. Charlotte craved being with him as much as he did her. There was something between them. It was undeniable, and dare he say it, fated. The rest of the game went by in a blur. His reason for it was met, and the rest was incidental. Now he just had to wait for the midnight hour and his Charlotte’s arrival. Declan was giddy with excitement and the prospect of having her in his arms once again. He may very well have a permanent smile on his face as he recalled those tantalizing kisses the night before.

Declan could not claim to be a patient man. He would make the attempt for her. She had become almost an obsession for him, and he was desperate for her. What he didn’t know yet was how far he’d go to make her his. After all, he was not above seduction, and he would thoroughly enjoy luring her to his bed.