To Defy A Duke

Chapter 60

"Of course." Benjamin coughs. "But open this now." He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a tiny box.

Eliza places the two black boxes in her trunk and takes the silver box from him, she lifts the lid. A rusty key stares back.

"It's a key to this house ." He explains, "This house will always be your home if you need it."

She closes the box and hugs her uncle tightly. "Thank you, thank you for everything, I know I wasn't the easiest niece to have."

"I am honoured to have you as my niece," Benjamin replies. Eliza lets go and he hastily wipes tears away from his eyes.

"Shall we go downstairs?" He suggests, "I think the others have finished."

"Yes." Eliza places the key in with the other boxes and locks the trunk. She follows her uncle down the stairs to where all her cases are piled by the door. Benjamin places his two by the rest and stretches his back.

"I think some dinner is in order."

After dinner, they retire to the drawing room from whence Jasper pulls out two stacks of cards. The grandfather clock chimes 8'oclock when the begin playing. They sit around a high table in the living room, cards in their hands. After much insistence Penny has been allowed to watch, she huddles close to Eliza. Jasper chucks a coin into the growing pile.

"I raise you." He says, Helen tuts and places her cards on the table, Benjamin groans and does the same.

Elizabeth and Eliza both copy Jasper's bet, Penny whispers something to Eliza's ear but she shakes her head.

The next card is revealed on the table, Jasper places a higher coin in the centre. Elizabeth folds but  Eliza matches his bet.

"Are you sure?" Jasper asks with raised eyebrows, "You haven't had much luck in the last games."

Eliza doesn't respond but smiles. Jasper puts another coin on the table, Eliza mirrors.

"How about we make this more interesting ?" He asks after a pause.

"What do you have in mind?"

"You have to play one song on piano for me."

There's an audible gasp around the table but Eliza's face remains stone cold.

"And if I win?" Eliza asks.

"Name your price."

Eliza bites her lip and considers.

"If you win you I will play one song on the piano if I win you have to dance three dances with me at the party." She decides.

"One song for three dances, how is that fair? One song, one dance."

"One song, two dances with a break."

"Deal."

Eliza and Jasper shake hands.

"Reveal your hands then," Benjamin says.

Jasper lays down his cards.

"A flush." He announces with a triumph. Benjamin pats Eliza on the back sympathetically.

"Never mind." He says, "Next time."

"I look forward to my song," Jasper says leaning back with a smirk.

Eliza rolls her eyes, "Not quite."

"Royal Flush." She lays her cards on the table and leans forward. "You lost, darling."

Jasper gapes in disbelief as does everyone around the table. Her cards lie on the table, they taunt everyone with their bright colours. Eliza crosses her arms smugly. 

"Can you teach me?" Penny murmers in the silence, Eliza laughs.

"It is not a ladies sport, to gamble." Elizabeth snaps out of her astonishment. "Piano is much better suited."

"It's bed, I think." Helen says still in shock, she places her hands on her daughter's shoulders, "Come on Penny."

Penny hugs Eliza goodnight and they disappear upstairs. Jasper downs his gin, his face hasn't changed in five minutes.

"I am tired too, after all that packing," Eliza admits as she sweeps her winnings into her pockets. "What time shall we leave tomorrow?"
Jasper doesn't respond, his eyes are fixed on her winning cards.

"I think you have shaken his ego," Elizabeth says smugly rapping Jasper's chair with her stick.

"What?" Jasper jumps out of his trance.

"What time shall we see Chester Valley tomorrow?" Eliza repeats.

"Oh." He clears his throat, "We should see my mother and sister off after breakfast but we can leave immediately after that."

"Excellent." Eliza slides off her chair, she glances at him, "Are you coming to bed?"

Jasper stands and joins at her side, they bid goodnight to Elizabeth and Benjamin and then climb the stairs to bed. They walk in silence until Jasper cannot contain his curiosity.

"How did you become so good at poker?" He asks, Eliza sighs.

"My mother always insisted that you have to clever to win a good match so I watched my father play with his friends, and I found the way you bluff fascinating as well as trying to uncover people's tells. For example, my uncle's left eye twitches when he lies."

"I didn't notice," Jasper says honestly. Eliza stops in front of her old room, she faces him and he almost walks into her.

"I know this is slightly unusual but would you mind if I stayed in here tonight?" She asks, "I...."

Jasper cups her face and plants a kiss on her nose. "Of course." he says, "I'll see you in the morning."

He kisses her goodbye and walks down the corridor to the west guest bedroom, he looks to her before going in, she waves, he smiles and lets himself inside. Eliza walks into her bedroom, it looks bare without all her books and clothes, a ghost room. She curls up in her bed and studies the room she has lived in for seven years. It seemed impossible to her that a few months ago she was in the very room and that the very idea of leaving this room, this house was preposterous.