Angelica met his gaze with her own, breathing in his suggestion. His assessment of his competence, as it was, was met with a warm little chuckle and a small sound of agreement. “We will see, sir. We will certainly see.” What was talk and what he could back up with action, Angel didn’t know, but she was painfully eager to find out.

“A feint then,” Angel provided as he reached for a bottle of sherry, she assumed. Raising an eyebrow at his assumption (fine, she found the casual act of deciding for her attractive, there were few things more alluring than a wizard who mastered his environment) Angelica closed the space between them to take the glass. “Something to keep my pirate guessing.” Angelica allowed her fingers to brush his as he handed her the glass, the simple contact sparking through her like lightning. “There is some virtue in the long game, I suppose. But the bold solution is so much more delightful.”

Angel took a slow sip of the sherry, allowing her eyes to close for a moment as she savored the sweet burn on her tongue. “You have delightful taste, sir. I hope the same can be said of mine.” She nodded to the firewhiskey in his hand, truly interested in whether or not she had read his tastes correctly.

Looking around the rather luxurious room where he’d received her, Angel noticed an obvious lack of a certain object. “I do not see any cards at the ready. Was there another matter you wished to discuss, Mr. Selwyn or are you hesitant to play with me?” The only true surprise would have been appearing for an actual card game. What were the chances he would now want to be literal?