“Now the games can begin,” Cedric declared, clapping his hands together.
“We are the last to arrive?” Maggie asked, keeping her eyes on him.
“My mother tells me there is one more to arrive, but everyone I’ve been waiting for is now here. Tell me, what Christmas games do you like?” Cedric asked this question solely to Maggie.
As a servant offered them glasses of wine, Theodore took two. He passed one to Maggie then returned to holding his hand on her waist. She jerked her head toward him this time, but said nothing, instead, she turned back to Cedric and answered his question.
“What games are you offering, my lord?”
“Charades, perhaps? Ha! Though I do not think I have ever seen Theodore here play a game. Not since he was a child.” Cedric looked Theodore firmly in the eye for the first time. “Do you remember how we played as children?”
“It was a long time ago,” Theodore said in a deep and somber voice.
He could have sworn then that Maggie moved a little more toward him, leaning into him, but perhaps it was just in his imagination. After all, her gaze was still on Cedric.
Every woman we have ever met falls at Cedric’s feet. Now… my wife is just the same.
“Well, perhaps this evening we could change things. Would you play a game with us?” Cedric offered.
“I shall watch.”
“Theo?” Maggie’s use of his nickname at this time made his stomach jerk. She hadn’t used that name in many days now, not since they had argued and he had called himself heartless. “Please play, it is Christmas.”
“We’ll see,” he said sharply, taking a good gulp of his wine. “What other games did you have in mind?”
“Oh, I have plenty of parlor games for us to get involved with. I remember when we were kids, you were great at snapdragon. Have you ever played that game, Your Grace?” Cedric asked Maggie.
“Is that the one where you have to try and grasp raisins you’ve soaked in brandy and set on fire?”
“That’s the one!”
“Sounds dangerous.”
“Ah, it’s hilarious,” Cedric guffawed with laughter. “It’s only dangerous if you’re made of flesh and blood though. Theodore here, or Theo, as you sweetly call him, must be made of something else. He never got burnt, not once, yet he won the game every time.”
Theodore had stiffened, his hand still on Margaret’s waist. To his relief, she hadn’t stepped out of his hold yet.
“Are you fond of nicknames? What nickname will you give to me, Your Grace?” Cedric said with flirtation.
Theodore darkened his glare on Cedric. Plainly, his cousin noticed and found great amusement in the idea. He raised his eyebrows at Theodore, as if silently challenging him to say something to rebuke him in front of such a busy room full of people.
Theodore had many words he wished to say, yet each way he could think of saying it would cause a great scene.
“I only give nicknames to my husband,” Maggie murmured calmly.
“Ha! Loyal to a fault. You have found a good one here, Theodore.” Cedric elbowed him good-naturedly. “Are you afraid she’ll run away? You haven’t yet released her.”
Slowly, Theodore dropped his hand from her waist. His fingers burned with the need to touch her again. He was very aware too of the way she started fidgeting now that he had released her.
“How about we play snapdragon then?” Cedric said excitedly. “You can show off your skills?”
“I have not played games in years,” Theodore reminded Cedric.
“It’s Christmas! Surely this is the time of year when you can indulge in your more… playful side. Do you have one?”
“Cedric,” Theodore muttered darkly.
“Am I needling you, my friend?” Cedric’s mischievous smile was too much.
