“Is determination not an admirable quality?”
Her eyes flashed with vexation. “I would call it pride if you aren’t wise enough to listen to the advice of someone who is only trying to help you.”
Our conversation was lost under Lady Tottenham’s voice.
“Now that you have retrieved the bullet, my lord, you must grant it to your partner. Well,oneof your partners. To whom will you bestow the honor?”
Lord Kirkham spit the bullet into his palm and wiped it on the side of his trousers. Lady Daventry’s nose twitched. I grimaced. Lord Kirkham’s eyes watered with tears from his coughing fit, and two ravines had formed through the flour on his cheeks. That tiny loaf of dough still rested on his chin. “I shall bestow it to Lady Daventry, of course.”
He strode forward with a proud grin, his flour dusted lips cracking. He presented the bullet to her as if it were a bouquet of flowers.
She received it in her palm with enough grace to make me forget this was a ridiculous game. “Thank you, my lord.”
“Very good,” Lady Tottenham said as she observed the exchange. “However, lest you forget, your team did lose the game.”
Lady Daventry’s hand fell slack, and she nearly dropped the bullet. Her eyes blinked in anticipation.
“It is only fair that your team is penalized. By bestowing the bullet to you, Lady Daventry, Lord Kirkham has unwittingly chosen you to pay a forfeit.”
A wave of delighted whispers came from the ladies across the room. I leaned my elbows on my knees, eager to catch more than just the profile of Lady Daventry’s face. An unwelcome surge of sympathy enveloped me, but I pushed it away. It was only a game. She seemed to be a strong woman, though apparently a bit shy and uncomfortable with being the center of attention.
Lady Tottenham snapped her fingers, and a footman strode forward with a glass bowl filled with pieces of parchment. “Now, please draw one slip from the bowl and present it to me. Some options are more favorable than others, so it will be the luck of the draw.”
The guests fell silent as Lady Daventry rose to her feet and joined our hostess at the center of the room. She lifted her chin and reached her gloved fingers inside the bowl. She released an audible breath as she unfolded her selection and read the words silently. Her face fell. Lady Tottenham snatched the paper from her hand.
Lady Daventry’s skin paled. Her terrified gaze met mine before dropping to the floor.
What the devil was written on that parchment? I shifted to the edge of my seat in anticipation.
Clearing her throat, Lady Tottenham read the penalty aloud.
“Kiss your partner.”
CHAPTER 3
ANNE
My vision lost focus, and the floor tilted up toward me.
She couldnotbe serious. I blinked fast, bringing Lady Tottenham’s ginger curls back into view, followed by her round, eager eyes.
She was mad.
How had I not realized this before? I had always called her ‘eccentric,’ but not insane. Kissing games were for the rebellious young debutantes, not the respectable widows and gentlemen that were here in the parlor. My heart pounded, and my hands sweat through my gloves. I knew I shouldn’t have come down to the parlor. But if I hadn’t, I would have been sent home. I had no choice but to follow the rules.
“In this case, you may chooseoneof your partners to kiss.” Lady Tottenham’s voice echoed in my ears.
Whispers erupted in the room. I accidentally glanced at Alexander.
He sat forward, brows lifted. Half his mouth curved upward. That smile was far too confident. He must have assumed he was the obvious choice, and there was something about that smug assumption that made my skin crawl.
In truth, discovering that he was Miles’s brother was the only thing making my decision difficult.
Yes, Alexander was vexing, but at least he didn’t have flour caked across his mouth.
Lord Kirkham dusted off his face discreetly, eyes gleaming in my direction.
My hands shook. Everyone watched me, awaiting my decision. Alexander’s gaze burned against my already blushing cheeks. I gritted my teeth, urging myself to be composed.I never blush.It was only a kiss. My heart hammered.
