Then it is a fortunate thing you haven't tried. I wouldn't know what to expect."
Oliver's mouth twitched, clearly amused. "Wouldn't you?"
"No," she said crisply, though her voice betrayed the slightest tremor. "And I rather think I should prefer to keep it that way."
"Hmm," he said, as if considering it. "That almost sounds like a challenge."
"It isn't," she returned quickly.
"Pity," he said.
The music drew to its final chord, and they separated. Alethea dropped into her curtsy, as though it might shake off the tension still clinging to her. But Oliver seemed rather calm in comparison.
But right as they were about to depart from the dance floor, Oliver leaned in to whisper in her ear one last time.
"You may prefer not to know, Duchess. But I rather suspect you'd enjoy finding out."
CHAPTER 10
"Tonight is family night."
The duke made the announcement to Alethea after breakfast. She only stared back at him, her hands resting on her hips.
"Family night?" she repeated, eyeing him carefully.
"Yes," he said, looking surprised at her ignorance. "I would have assumed that the girls would have told you already. They quite like it. It's a tradition here in our family."
Alethea waited for him to continue. She had not properly spoken to him since the ball, which had been a few days ago now. Admittedly though, he had scarcely left her mind.
"Family night," he continued on, entirely unbothered as usual. "It's a tradition in this house. The first Thursday of every month. Mandatory attendance by everyone."
"I was not informed," Alethea said, biting down on her lip. The idea did seem quite wholesome, at least from the name.
"Well, you are now." He paused, then added after a moment, "You'll need a costume."
"A costume?" Alethea was not sure if she had heard him correctly.
"A costume," he nodded as though it was the most normal request to make. "The more ludicrous, the better. Absurdity is highly encouraged. In fact, it's the only rule."
Alethea stared at him, utterly unsure whether this was some elaborate joke.
"You wish me to dress up. For... a domestic masquerade? That only the family members of the estate attend?"
"I wish no such thing," he replied, shrugging. "It's simply the law. One I myself established, therefore making it very difficult to contest."
"I see," she said, though she very much did not. "And what am I supposed to wear?"
"I am sure you have a rather active imagination, Duchess," Oliver said, already walking away from her. "I fully expect you to utilize it to the best of its abilities."
Alethea opened her mouth, closed it again, then said dryly, "You cannot possibly expect me to join in wearing a costume."
"You are one of us now, are you not?" Oliver raised an eyebrow, turning back to look at her.
She could not argue with that.
"I had rather imagined that being a duchess came with different expectations," she said instead.
"You'll find we do things differently here. Don't be a bore."
