“So we’re to say that if the church bells needed to be rung in a rain storm, the bell ringer would be quite soaked by time he reached the church proper?”
“Exactly.” His eyes twinkled with mischief.
Playing along, she asked the obvious question. “Why is the bell tower so far removed from the church?”
“The Devil!”
She laughed at his expression of rounded eyes with his head jerking forward, much like an old man who fully believed in thefolklore. She did her part and slapped her hand to her chest, widening her own eyes. “No, it cannot be.”
He nodded sagely. “But it is. That devil was so bold and so prideful, he sought to take the bell tower away with him.”
She crinkled her brows. “But it’s still there.”
“Yes.” He leaned his head back against the tree and looked at her. “It was far too heavy with the weight of God, and he dropped it.”
“He dropped it?”
“Yes. He dropped it. That is why he took that poor man who was playing leapfrog here in this field. He was so embarrassed that he couldn’t bring the tower with him that he scooped up that poor soul instead.”
She chuckled at the seriousness of his tone. “Oh, yes. Now,thatstory is far better.” She held her hand up as if he’d speak. “No, don’t tell me the true reason the bell tower sits so far away. I much prefer to know the fiction.”
He studied her for a moment before continuing. “I promise not to tell you. But I have a suspicion that were we to stop there, you would scour the ground looking for clues.”
At his accurate observation, she laughed again. “You have figured me out, my lord.”
“So I have.” He appeared quite happy with himself. “As I stated, I observe people.”
Remembering the context in which he’d stated that, she lifted a forkful of duck. “And you make predictions. Have you ever attended a village fair and had your own future told?” She popped the savory meat into her mouth and chewed, anxious to hear his answer.
His brows furrowed. “Hardly. Why would I wish to be told lies? That is just a way to take precious funds from those least able to part with them.”
What a curmudgeon he was. “Oh, my, no. You really do not see. Those people are not spending coin they can’t afford on lies.” She shook her head, surprised he did not see the truth of the matter. “They are spending it for a little enjoyment, something different from their day-to-day lives.”
“Are you trying to convince me that they spend money to enjoy being told about a false future?”
“Yes. I know because I’ve been to a few. Once, I went with Lady Eleanor. We dressed like villagers and had our fortunes told. The old woman told me I would marry the dark one day.” She chuckled. “You can just imagine what I was thinking. For an entire day, that cryptic prediction kept my mind occupied. Did that mean I’d be spirited away to Gretna Green? Did it mean I wouldn’t know whom I was to marry? Did it mean I would marry an evil man?” She shivered for effect. “So of course, we had to go back, but this time, we dressed in our usual clothes. The old lady didn’t even look twice. She simply had me hold out my hand and read the lines on my palm.” She paused.
He immediately spoke, his interest in her experience obvious. “What did she say the second time?”
Pleased to have his undivided attention, she continued. “She told me I would have my choice of husbands, but to choose wisely and look beneath appearances, as only one was the right one. So once again, I went home thinking about the old woman’s message. Her second prediction was difficult to believe since I have had no men interested in me, never mind many. Still, I couldn’t help wondering if I would one day marry a man with a scar or a particularly large nose since she said to look beneath appearances.”
He chuckled, his green gaze alight with good humor. “So what you mean to say is that the fortune is a form of entertainment, but to what purpose? It is neither a comedy nor a tragedy. Nor is it a sport on which to bet on the best man.”
“It’s for fun. It’s to make people happy.”
His brows furrowed once again, obviously confused.
How could she explain? “It’s like you enjoying when your predictions come true. In fact, many people will make the future fit what was told them. Just imagine all the ways I could interpret marrying the dark one day. Why, if it was cloudy on my wedding day, I could say it came true.” She grinned, pleased to see him smiling again.
“I see your point and appreciate your understanding of others. I cannot say I ever gave it that much thought. I made a quick judgement when I didn’t have nearly enough information.”
His gaze was far too admiring, making her feel warm, though the day was quite perfect. She needed to distract him before she did something like kiss him in front of the entire group. “Let me have your hand.”
Chapter Thirteen
“What?” Lord Harewoodstiffened. “Why?”
Dory almost laughed as he’d pulled his hand back as if she’d offered him a snake. “I’m going to tell your fortune.”
