Sage read what he could of Roger’s terrible handwriting.It left him with more questions than answers, but there was a knock at the door before he had time to ask any of them.It was the call for dinner.Roger took the papers and hid them inside the book again before returning it to a different drawer than the one he’d taken it from.
“We will make time to discuss it in more detail before the week is out, I promise,” Roger told him before he went to the window and shut it.
As they left the study together, Sage was entirely unsure how to feel.He had never been responsible for planning or hosting anything before.Why did Roger have so much trust in him to make this work?
* * *
It was decidedbefore the second course that another round of charades would be the entertainment for the evening.Emrys all but demanded that Keelan and Silas stay to participate after they missed out on the fun the night before.Neither of them seemed particularly upset to have left early.
“Need we remind you that we ended our honeymoon early to be here,” Silas said.“You are lucky to be seeing us at all.”
Emrys waved a dismissive hand in Silas’ direction.
“Fuck him in this house, fuck him in another, it makes no difference.”
“Emrys!”Keelan turned pink and hid his face against his husband’s arm.Silas moved to wrap that arm around Keelan’s shoulders and held him protectively close, though there was a hint of a smirk on his features as everyone shared a polite laugh at the newlyweds’ expense.
“As I remember it,” Lady Anthea Fitzhugh said to Emrys, “you did not make a single guess last night.Your participation in the game was equal to theirs, all things considered.”
Emrys’ eyes lit with mischief.“And yet I consider myself the most fortunate of all.I enjoyed the game exactly as I wished to, andthenI took my spouse upstairs to make love to them.”
Wyndham rolled his eyes so hard at the far end of the table that it was nearly audible.“Enough,” he said to his brother, but the implication was there for the rest of them, as well.
When the meal concluded, Miss Thackeray pranced her way into the adjoining sitting room followed by her loyal subjects, new and old.Each member of the party returned to the place they’d been sitting the night before, with the addition of two chairs for Keelan and Silas.After a moment of hesitation, Sage called to one of the servants and requested that his chair be turned to face the rest of the group, though not any closer.He’d only just looked up from settling in his seat when he found a pair of large brown eyes on him.
Mr.Moore was on the floor again, wearing that confident smile of his.Sage did not know what he could’ve done to deserve it being pointed in his direction.Despite his efforts, he’d woken up thoroughly entwined with the man again.His extra pillow had evidently not lasted very long.Not only had he let go of it at some point during the night, but he’d cast it to the floor beside the bed.He might as well have never asked for it to begin with.
“Attention,” Miss Thackeray called out haughtily over the low chattering.It was followed by two sharp claps from Mx.Hillcrest.Miss Thackeray placed a quick kiss on their cheek.“Is everyone ready?”
The room went silent as everyone waited.The only sounds were the gentle pops coming from the fire behind Sage and a swell of rain as the wind pushed it against the side of the house.
Miss Thackeray cleared her throat.
“Forthwith!”Her gaze swept over the captive audience around her.“Delicate sensibilities beware.”
Roger made an uncomfortable sound.
“Bucolic delight, verdant and pristine;
A more magnificent expanse you have never seen.
Silk and silhouette, pay a visit to the modiste;
Couturier, spare no expense and give me your finest, I must insist.”
A chuckle burst out of Keelan as soon as Miss Thackeray finished reading.
“They really had to stretch on that last bit,” he said.
“Go on,” Emrys encouraged him.
“Er, well,” he began shyly, leaning back in his chair as he was suddenly aware of everyone looking at him.“Modisteandinsistwork well enough together in English.It’s not quite as beautiful in French.”
Lady Imogen Fitzhugh settled an inquisitive look on Keelan.“You speak French, Mr.Rook-Worth?”
“Only a little.”Keelan grinned when Silas took his hand and kissed the back of it.“My husband has been encouraging me to strengthen the skill again.”He pursed his lips.“Would you read the riddle a second time, Harriet?I believe there were several hints to that vernacular, in fact.”
Everyone listened closely as she repeated herself, though most kept their eyes on Keelan.He nodded confidently when she was done.
