Leah narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips before finally giving an unimpressed shrug. “I’ve heard better.”
Owen propped himself up on his elbow, glaring at her. “How many attempts at being a donkey have you witnessed?”
Then, without missing a beat or showing any crack in her exterior, she replied, “Three.”
He worked his jaw for a second before sitting up fully. “I want to hear your best attempt then.”
“Me?” She reared back. “Why would I make a donkey sound?”
“If you are going to be hypercritical, I feel you should at least be willing to show me how you would like it done.”
“Nonsense. We have a play to finish.”
“I don’t know,” Jonas said, leaning against the wall. He crossed one leg in front of the other while inspecting his nail beds. “I think Owen is correct. I want to hear your best attempt. If you aren’t pleased with his performance, perhaps you could switch roles.”
“I am playing a lady. I do not believe Owen would wish for my part.”
“It cannot be worse than playing a donkey,” Owen uttered under his breath.
“Yes, Leah.” Miranda joined the camaraderie. “I believe you should show us your best donkey impression.”
“No, that’s really not—”
“Yes, oh please, Leah!” Rose bounced on the ground while clapping her hands. “It would almost be like a game of acting charades. I am rather bored with this play anyway. I would much rather do that.”
“Give the people what they wish for, Leah,” Owen prompted. She could not deny them all, could she? And he would love nothing more than to hear her attempt to sound like a donkey.
“If I do it, would you all agree to move on with the play?” She glanced about the room and one by one they all nodded their agreement. She sighed, putting a hand to her brow for a brief moment before letting it fall to her side. “Very well. I shall try.”
Leah cleared her throat, as if readying herself for a grandiose vocal performance. She shifted her feet and raised her chin. Then, with as much pride in her eyes as a young woman could muster whilst pretending to be a donkey, she let out the most horrid and unconvincing, “Hee-haw.”
Her face turned red as a ripe cherry, and the whole room erupted in laughter all over again.
But as they laughed, Owen found himself watching her and smiling. He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning his back against the chair that sat behind him. She did it. She rose to the occasion, and whilst it seemed to embarrass her to no end, she did not run away and pout. She embraced the moment and did not cower.
He had to respect that change in her.
The rest of the play went by with more laughs than actual acting skills, but that was the entire point. At least, it was to Owen. It brought them together and filled the house with cheer. What could be a more appropriate thing at Christmastime?
Chapter 10
Leah. Morning of the third day.
Leah’sfirstattemptattrickery had been a massive failure. While Owen had seemed frustrated with his role at first, he quickly dove into the part of Donkey Number Two with aplomb and made the entire evening full of laughter. She would have been more frustrated if she hadn’t been so pleased to see all of them laughing together and enjoying themselves. How could she begrudge that? Especially when it had all been her idea in the first place. He took the measly, silly role she’d offered him and turned it into the highlight of the night.
But she wouldn’t give up so easily. She only had to try harder. Think of something more clever.
And then it happened. Everything clicked into place and a slow, deliciously-wicked grin crept across her lips. “Rebecca?” Leah tried to sound uninterested as she called her maid’s attention.
Rebecca held the soft green gown Leah had specified she wished to wear. Rebecca reached her arm far out in front of her as she inspected it for any trace of wrinkles. Her faintly red hair sprung about her face, and while the fabric of her gown was a simple brown and made of rough fabric, Leah was still struck by how lovely she was—if a bit silly. But that was precisely what Leah needed at the moment.
Rebecca lightly draped the gown over her arm as she walked over to Leah. “Yes, miss?”
“Where is your rabbit’s foot?”
Rebecca’s head jerked toward her. She knew what Leah thought of the furry little object. “Why?” Skepticism marred her forehead, her copper brows leery as she waited for Leah to continue.
“Well,” Leah said with a sigh. She needed to somehow negate what she had said the other day. It was not likely Rebecca would offer up her little treasure after Leah had conveyed such an obvious distaste for it. “I have been thinking about the merits of such a thing. And I had rather hoped you would lend it to me.”
