JAMES GLARED AT the chess board, unsettled by the news Gilford had delivered. The man James had spoken to at the Home Office, was dead. According to the official report, he had been mugged and beaten, left on the streets until someone had found him. They had summoned the physicians, but it had been too late. James did not believe for a second that the man's death had been innocent. It was clear that someone was on their trail, trying to prevent any information from leaking out. Gilford agreed with his assessment, but the Bow Street Runner apparently had a lead on the disappearance of Lady Selina and thus could not return.

James moved the pawn forward, this thumb twirling the captured knight. He knew they were being followed, now it was up to him to outsmart them a catch them at the opportune time. James was deep into his thoughts and when the door to the study opened, he did not hear it.

What he did hear, was the little "Oh," by Vivienne.

Looking up, he saw Vivienne dressed in a white nightgown, her golden hair falling into waves over her shoulders. He blinked once, surprised to see it down. Throughout the day, it was mostly coiled in some elaborate design upon her head.

"I didn't know you were in here," she said softly. "I was just going to grab a book to read before retiring for the evening."

He did not say anything as she went to the many shelves in the library and began browsing for books. James turned his gaze back to the chess board, but he could no longer concentrate. Occasionally, his gaze would turn back to Vivienne who was still searching for a book. Her golden haired disappeared ever so often behind the tall shelves, only to reappear seconds later.

Eventually, James heard the footsteps soften and come to a standstill. He felt her gaze upon his back.

"What are you doing?" she asked, still not coming closer.

James closed his eyes and sighed, "I was trying to play chess."

"Oh, I'm sorry to disturb you then. I'll take my leave."

James watched her retreating figure and before he could figure out why, he opened his mouth and uttered a single syllable, "stay."

She froze, the book clutched to her chest tightly and spun around. James shrugged his shoulders and pointed toward the chair in the corner, "There is enough space for the both of us."

Vivienne seemed hesitant before her shoulders relaxed and she nodded, walking towards the chair and settling in. James watched as she opened the book and began to read. He turned his gaze back to the chess board, planning his next move. His fingers brushed the bishop piece before he heard her voice so soft, he could barely make out the words.

"Why were you ignoring me?"

James rubbed his temples, it was true—he had been ignoring her ever since the evening at Almack's, but he did not want her to know the reason. So, he lied, "I've been busy, parliament takes up most of my time."

"But you go to White's."

James looked up at Vivienne sharply and her skin pinked a couple of shades underneath his glance. "Not that I am keeping track of your location or anything. But Lord Berkeley said that you were at White's last night and would probably be there this evening as well."

Cedric needed to keep his mouth shut about James' whereabouts. "I've had business there a couple of nights ago," he explained. He didn't even know why he felt the need to elaborate, and it wasn't as though James was lying. The first time in the season he had been at White's was to speak to Westmorland, and the second was to spread the news of Vivienne's dowry.

His eyes met her green ones, "How was your evening?" he inquired politely. He could do this; they could make small talk.

"It was good," she said with a smile that lit her eyes and face. "There were many gentlemen that asked me to dance so I was on the ballroom floor for most of the evening."

James nodded, rubbing his chest as it tightened upon hearing her response. He did not know what was wrong with him. He had been the one to make sure she would have dance partners for every ball so why exactly was he regretting it now? His plan had worked, he should be thrilled!

"It wasn't the same as dancing with you though," she blurted out, before covering her own mouth as if she could not believe she uttered the words aloud.

James froze, closing his eyes. He was no fool, even right now, he felt the undercurrent of tension between them. She was attracted to him, and James, as much as he loved lying to himself, knew he felt a tendril of affection for her as well. It was a small seed that had grown over the past few months and was in fear of blooming. He needed to shut it down. "You can't say things like that Vivienne," he said roughly.

"Why?" she asked quietly, her words curling around his chest. "It's the truth, I keep trying to deny it but even I cannot be that naïve to imagine that nothing exists between us."

James dropped his gaze back to the chessboard even as his fingers were clutching the knight he had captured earlier. There were soft padded footsteps, and he knew she was near when he could smell her jasmine and honey scent beside him. He breathed the essence of her, it calmed his senses and just for a moment, it did not seem so wrong.

"Can you teach me how to play James?" she asked, settling in across from him. Her nightgown was not exactly sheer, but the thin fabric did little to hide the shape of her body. She shook her head ruefully, "Apologies, I should be calling you Your Grace."

James could not ignore the last bit, "why?"

She gave him a sad smile, "Because Lady Torrington said that we mustn't appear too familiar with one another."

James cleared his throat, "Well, we aren't in public so it's safe for you to use my Christian name—in fact, I prefer it."

She gave a dainty little nod, and her gaze turned to the board, fingers lightly hovering over the black pieces. James followed the movement.

Her green eyes glittered darkly in the dim light, "Can you teach me how to play?" she repeated her earlier question.

He faltered for a moment, forgetting that she had quite the unconventional childhood and would not have learned to play chess. It was hard to believe that when she arrived at his manor, she had been mistaken for a maid. The way she carried herself, it was clear that her blood ran blue. How he had missed it, was still astounding.

Even if it was wrong, he found himself wanting to indulge her, and teach her something she might enjoy. James picked up the pieces that lay on the side and set them on the board once more. He picked up every piece, explaining what it was called, as well as the different ways it could move.

"Wait, I'm still confused on how the knight moves?"

James picked up the white knights before demonstrating on the board. "The knight can move to the square that is not on the same rank, file, or diagonal."

Her lips puckered up, but he could see that she was still not understanding what he meant. "Think of it this way, the knight can move two squares horizontally and then one vertically, or one horizontally and then two vertically. The movements create an L shape."

Her eyes lit with understanding and James flew through the instructions of the rest of the game. "The goal is capturing the opponents king. If there is no way for the king to escape, that is called checkmate and the other competitor loses. Prior to putting the opponent in the position, it is customary to call check, allowing them the next move to find an escape if they are able to do so."

Vivienne leaned back, her sharp eyes analyzing the board. He could see that she was still unclear about certain parts of the game, but there was no better way to learn then by playing.

"Let's play a game," he suggested.

"Wait, right now?" she asked. He could hear the hesitancy in her voice, and it echoed in the empty room.

James raised an eyebrow, "Yes right now. There is no time like the present. I hope you weren't thinking about retiring after I spent all this time explaining the game to you."

She avoided his gaze and James shook his head, eyes narrowing, "You were!" he accused. "I cannot believe it. The least you owe me is a game, after I've been playing alone for so long."

Vivienne met his gaze and he saw the determination lighting her eyes. The hesitancy from before was no longer found. "One game," she said.

James smiled, as he moved the pawn forward. She did not know what she had gotten herself into. As expected, James won the first game, and the second, and the third. The night grew on, but it seemed like neither of them wanted to leave. Whenever Vivienne lost, she would simply say again, forcing them to start anew. He was regretting that he might have caused the beginnings of a chess addiction, but it was nice to play with someone, even if she wasn't the best chess player. Vivienne learned fast, and he could see her absorbing and understanding the game, and the way he played.

As Vivienne lost once more, he could see the frustration beginning to creep into her. James fixed the pieces on the board once more, "this is the last game," he warned.

"No, it cannot be," she complained, shaking her head.

"Vivienne, I need to be at parliament tomorrow looking somewhat alive."

She puckered her lips in frustration but moved the first piece. After she had done so, Vivienne raised an eyebrow in challenge. James sighed; he really could not say no to a challenge. Placing his focus back on the board, he moved his first piece.

This game was much longer than the rest. Vivienne was no longer making hasty moves. He saw her eyes scanning the board, trying to predict his next move. The candles flickered between them; it did not seem as they would be stopping anytime soon. James moved his knight one square as Vivienne countered the move by placing her pawn in harms way.

James' brows burrowed as he glanced at the board. He snorted, causing Vivienne to look at him from underneath her eyes, "what?"

He smiled then, it was small, but she caught it. "The game is going to end in a draw, Vivienne."

Vivienne's gaze immediately went back to the board, "No, are you really sure?"

James nodded but she had not looked up from the board yet. He demonstrated the moves, "It wouldn't have mattered what you or I did, the game was going to end in a draw," he repeated.

He saw her eye's brightening up, looking almost black in the low light. "Now what happens?" she asked, the excitement clear in her tone.

"We shake hands, in good faith."

He reached out his hand across the board and looked at her expectantly. She was hesitant at first, but her soft hand rested gently upon his palm. He closed his thumb over her hand, and he could feel his heartbeat increasing. The skin was soft, but he also felt the strength in her hands. Vivienne let out a small gasp and his eyes met hers. There was awe, and wonderment but also curiosity lining them. She did not pull away her hand like he expected, and James found his eyes wandering to her lips. A beautiful pink colour like the lightest of roses in Chalcott manor, they were begging to be kissed. And so, James did exactly that.

***

Vivienne did not expect the softness. One moment, the two of them had been staring at each other across the chess board in some otherworldly trance, and then the next, the duke's lips were upon hers. Her eyes fluttered shut involuntarily, and her mouth remained closed. She did not know what to do next. In a matter of seconds, it was all over as the duke's lips left hers.

It had been pleasant, but not overly passionate like she had read in the many gothic novels Fiona lent her. In those books, the heroes kissed the ladies as if they were sharing their last moments on earth together. She thought the duke would move away, instead his hand came to her chin as he tilted her face upwards, his brown eyes met hers. "Relax," he whispered. "You're thinking too much."

Vivienne blushed at his words, but she could not stop her mind from overthinking.

"Close your eyes," James commanded softly.

Vivienne did as he asked her. She felt his large hand cradling her face gently as he brought her closer, and then his lips were on hers. "Oh," she gasped as their lips touched.

This kiss was vastly different from the first one. Once she relaxed, she could feel James' lips coaxing and sucking her gently. It made her heartbeat rapidly, and warmth spread through her body. Feeling braver, she raised one of her hands and reached up to tangle her fingers in the duke's hair. His hair was softer than she had expected, and it curled near the nape of his neck. She continued massaging her fingers through his hair and he let out a small groan.

Vivienne loved hearing the sound. She was vaguely aware of the table pressing into her stomach, but she did not want to stop. James separated his lips from hers, and she let out an unladylike whine that would have embarrassed her if she had not completely lost her mind already.

"Open your mouth."

She did as she was told, and his tongue made its way inside her mouth. It was a foreign feeling, but she could taste the brandy upon his lips, and it felt nice. She felt herself let out a small moan when he nipped her lips teasingly.

Vivienne was vaguely aware of a chess piece falling on the carpet, but she paid it no heed. All she could focus on was James, the soft taste of his lips, the feeling of his hair beneath her fingers, and the small noises from his mouth. She breathed in his scent of brandy and musk, wanting to remember every moment. She wanted, no, needed more. Her body was buzzing and for the first time in months, she felt alive. They kissed for what seemed like eternity until they both came up for air.

Vivienne opened her eyes to see the duke staring at her in a peculiar manner. His eyes were still filled with passion and desire, making the brandy-coloured orbs appear almost black. Suddenly, she could not look him in the eyes, and she lowered her gaze abruptly to the table in which there were only a few chess pieces remaining. The rest were scattered over the soft carpet. She could scarcely believe the fact that they had kissed! And not just a small chaste peck on the lips, but repeatedly.

The gravity of what they had done filled her and her hands shook beneath the table. Lady Torrington would be devastated! What was she thinking to have kissed the duke? It was not as though he was going to marry her! She remembered Lady Torrington's warning that debutantes had their reputations destroyed for far less than that. Unexpectedly, it became difficult for her to breathe. The faint scent of books in the library was no longer calming, and she felt the walls closing in around her.

She needed to leave.

She got up so abruptly, her knee painfully banged into the table. She ignored the pain standing to her full length, avoiding any eye contact with the duke, "I must take my leave now," she mumbled.

"Vivienne, wait—"

He did not get the chance to finish his sentence as the door to the library swung open and Preston walked in casually, freezing when he saw the both of them.

The butler quickly bowed, "I didn't believe anyone would be in here this early, Your Grace," he said in away of apology.

As Vivienne looked at the window in the corner, it seemed like twilight was upon them. She had not realized they had been playing for so long. However, she needed to leave the library now. She did not know what Preston was thinking seeing the two of them together, but his gaze landed on the chess pieces on the carpet.

"I can clean up after your done, Your Grace."

James was about to open his mouth, but Vivienne cut in, trying to save the little bit of her reputation. "That won't be necessary Preston. I was just taking my leave. In fact, it was a mere coincidence that I stumbled upon His Grace when I was searching for a book."

She looked at James silently whose jaws seemed to harden. Vivienne did not care what he was going to say, she needed to flee, before the other servants awoke. She curtsied to James, "Goodnight, Your Grace."

Before he could say anything, she fled the library as fast as she could, unwilling to take a moment to look back—for even a second.   

---------------

Did something happen this chapter? ;) Haha, just kidding guys, what did you think of the kiss between James and Vivienne? What is going to happen next? On a slight tangent, have you watched The Queen's Gambit? This scene was slightly inspired by the show. On greater tangent, I've officially completed my undergraduate degree! Guess that means more time for writing :) Please remember to vote and comment if you liked this chapter.