"Today, we're having a treasure hunt around the estate," She announced, her words met with gasps of excitement and admiration from the girls. Their collective oohs and ahhs filled the air in a comedic manner.
Colin, standing aside, couldn't help but chuckle at the girls' reactions. Noticing his amusement, Jane inquired, "And what puts such a smile on your face, Your Grace? Do you find the game that silly?"
He chuckled and responded, "Oh, not at all, dear duchess. I'm just excited to see how this treasure hunt unfolds."
And, in truth, he meant every word. This surprised him too. The game commenced, and Colin found himself more and more pleasantly surprised by the unfolding events.
This newfound relaxation in his interactions with the girls was a novel experience for him. Engaging in the treasure hunt alongside them, he discovered a different side to his nieces as well.
Each playing individually but united in the quest, they followed Jane's clues with enthusiasm and determination. As the game progressed, laughter mostly filled the air.
However, in the midst of the fun, a slight dispute came up, and in turn, shed light on a hidden aspect of Louisa's personality.
Colin realized then that beneath her usual accommodating demeanor, his niece harbored a fierce competitive spirit, perhaps even more so than Margaret. This revelation intrigued him, challenging all his preconceptions about his nieces.
The realization that Louisa possessed a strong sense of independence and drive, contrary to his initial assumptions, brought a sense of pride and admiration. He was excited for what else there was to discover.
Observing Jane's support and encouragement of this aspect of Louisa's character further deepened his appreciation for her role in nurturing the girls' as well. She was everything he had wanted and more indeed.
Time went by and Colin did his best to try to keep his eyes off his wife. However, she seemed to not be making it easy. Time passed, and she only seemed to look more radiant by the second.
Her gorgeous laugh was like magic, pulling his eyes to her scenery every time she began. After a few rounds, he realized he was hopeless and close to falling in last place.
His lack of concentration added to this, but Colin also sensed something else was going on. He began to notice a pattern. However, he needed to be certain, so he waited.
When the next round began, as expected, Jane handed out special cards to the girls for the near fourth time, leaving him out. He chuckled and raised a curious eyebrow, then decided to confront her.
"Might I ask, what's the deal with those cards? Why do I not find one for myself?" He inquired, a hint of amusement in his voice.
With mischievous eyes, Jane met his gaze and retorted, "Oh, Your Grace, you’re playing with children.” She laughed, the beautiful sound filling his welcoming ears.
“You are ancient compared to these sweet girls, and with every advantage, thus I'm just leveling the playing field," She expounded, a playful grin dancing on her lips.
Despite already having this guess, he gasped playfully as though it just dawned on him. He’d connected the dots throughout the game, understanding her subtle attempts to challenge him by withholding better clues.
“It’s only right.” She grinned and stuck her tongue out cheekily as she finished.
Taken aback by this small action, Colin couldn’t help laughing. He found her childish and adorable demeanor endearing. Janeturned in the direction of the girls, and at that moment, nothing else mattered but getting her to look at him again.
“Oh, Louisa dear? Not that way, do you need me to-”
Right as she attempted to follow after Louisa to help her as the next round had started, Colin instinctively reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her immediately.
Caught off guard by his sudden move, Jane gasped. Her gasp doubled when he swiftly twirled her and pulled her. She felt her heart race as he pulled her into him, his hand firmly around her waist.
As she stood frozen in place, shock coursing through her veins, his warm breath tickled her ear as he whispered, "You're not playing fair, my dear, and we both know it."
He watched as her cheeks flushed, her eyes widened with a spark, and her breath hitched ever so slightly, her reaction unmistakable.
Colin could feel the tautness in Jane's body as she stood before him, her entire system racing with excitement and nervousness. The proximity of his strong presence seemed to heighten her senses.
When his chest brushed against her back, he noticed her breath hitch as she tried to steady herself against him. The intensityof the moment enveloped them, making everything else around them vanish.
With each touch, he saw the effect he had on her—waves of heat spreading across her skin, her cheeks flushing, her eyes widening with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Time seemed to stand still as they teetered on the edge of something unspoken yet undeniably potent.
Jane's struggle to maintain composure was evident. Finally, she managed to clear her throat, stumbling over her words as she tried to convey, "You're a grown man, you shouldn't need clues like the girls." Her voice trembled slightly, her eyes reflecting the turmoil within her.
With a playful glint in his eyes, her husband countered immediately, "But I'm your husband, it is only right you help me." His low and husky tone sent another wave of shivers all over her body.
