“Of course. We’ll sit on the roof. I’ll hold her.”
She smiled, pleased with his answer. But then a new concern followed. “Do we have enough money?” she asked.
“If we don’t, we’ll sell your hat,” he said.
“Why not sell yours?” she returned gamely, interested to hear his response.
Kit acted offended. “I can’t part with this hat. I like it too much. We’ve been through adventures together.”
Here was an opening she had been waiting for. “What sort of adventures?” She tried to sound nonchalant.
He made a hushing sound. “They are secrets. The hat won’t talk.”
“It won’t, hmm? Have you and your hat not heard of the law of traveling companions?”
“The law of traveling companions?” His eyes crinkled with amusement.
“Yes, it states that to while away the time, I can ask you questions and you must answer. I know very little about you.”
“I like it that way.”
“But I don’t,” she replied as if that should settle the matter. “My sisters and I play a game called three questions. I ask you three questions and you answer them.”
“I thought a game was something that went back and forth.”
She considered that a moment and then said, “You already know everything about me.”
“Do I?”
“Almost everything,” she amended. “By the way, I truly adore this hat.” She pulled on the brim of her new bonnet. “Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I needed it.”
“You are welcome.”
Elise smiled and took his arm, leaning into him. He didn’t complain. “My first question—”
“I don’t know that I agreed to play?”
“Youareplaying,” she informed him. “What do you do for work? Are you a gambler like my father?” This was important to know.
“That was two questions.”
She made a frustrated noise. “You quibble like Dara.”
“I hope that is a compliment.”
Elise thought of her sister, the one who always needed to control everything. “Yes, it is a compliment.”
“Well, thank you.”
When he didn’t say anything beyond that, she nudged him in the side. The man’s body was as hard as a rock. “I asked you a question.”
“Two questions.”
“Kit, answeroneof them.”
He grinned as if he enjoyed playing her game. The smile was a bit crooked, which was good. It gave his face character. Then he countered, “I’m more curious about what you imagine I do for work? I mean, since I’m not a gambler, other than for survival.”
A clue, and one that pleased her. She did not want him to be a gambler. “Truly? You did well last night.”
