Page 9 of To Honor

“If I were to say aye, ’twould not be very chivalrous of me.”

“Which would not be characteristic of you. I’ve heard it said you are the most chivalrous of men.”

“Have you indeed?” Gareth asked as they continued to play.

“I know of Lord Stirling and Eamon’s—that is, Sir Thorne’s—trick. Bribing your opponent to claim you’d cheated simply to gauge your reaction? I will admit, even for the pair, ’twas quite a deed.”

“They told you of it?”

She did not respond.

“Or your father did so?”

Again, Lady Evelina remained silent. But she did peer up at him from beneath thick black lashes as she moved her knight.

“If I knew you better, my lady, I would say there is something amiss. But I confess to not knowing what it might be.”

That prompted a smile from her. “If by ‘amiss’ you mean that I acquired the information about your recruitment by means I could not possibly consider sharing with a stranger, then aye, you are correct, sir.”

Gareth perused the chess board, taking a sip of ale, and considered his next move. The lovely Lady Evelina was indeed a fine chess player.

“If I were not a stranger, would you tell me then?”

He made his move and sat back, watching her. Attempting not to allow his eyes to linger too long on the swell of breast at her gown’s neckline, Gareth focused instead on those full lips, which were now pressed together in concentration.

Seemingly giving up on her move, she looked up. “Likely not.”

Gareth suddenly had the inclination to be that person to her. The one Lady Evelina might share her secrets with.

“Who would you tell?”

“My maid,” she said automatically. “In fact, Amalia knows already.”

“Does she?” he asked as Lady Evelina made her move. A clever one at that.

Leaning forward, looking left and then right even though they were clearly outside of earshot from any of the servants that remained in the hall, she whispered, “Amalia was there.”

He resisted a smile, intent on taking the matter seriously even as Lady Evelina did just the opposite. She was near to bursting into laughter, making Gareth even more intent on remaining stoic.

“There,” he mused, “implies both you and your maid were in a location to learn of the unfortunate incident, though if not directly from your father or either of the instructors . . .” He pretended to think on it. “You could not possibly have been eavesdropping, my lady?”

Lady Evelina’s hand flew to her chest. “A lady would never do such a thing.” He was about to ask a follow-up question when she added, “Unless such a lady’s father was not inclined to share relevant information with her. In which case, she may be forced to such extreme measures.”

“If such a lady wishes to know more, I would be inclined to share any details she is interested in.”

Her hand froze before she could reach for her pawn. Instead, Lady Evelina wrapped her fingers around her wine goblet and lifted it to her lips, watching him. She seemed . . . suspicious.

“You would tell me,” she said, after taking a sip, “anything I wished to know?”

“I would.”

“Why?”

“Why would I not?”

Her eyes narrowed. They no longer played chess, but Gareth cared little for the game. He’d much prefer to speak to the enchanting woman across from him instead.

“I am a woman.”