She was still looking at the game board. “I mean that there must be a prize to the winner,” she said. “Or… or mayhap there shall be no prize, but surely there must be an incentive.”
He knew her well enough to know that she probably already had something in mind. “State your incentive, my lady, otherwise, you would not suggest it.”
A smile flickered on her lips. “Since we are to spend an inordinate amount of time together, then we should come to know each other,” she said. “If I capture one of your pieces, I ampermitted to ask you one question. If you capture one of mine, you are permitted to ask me one question.”
Kress thought it wasn’t such a good idea, but the lure of it was too strong. He wanted to know more about this poetry-writing Welsh princess who cared nothing for her lineage. She was, in every sense of the word, an enigma. Against his better judgement, he nodded.
“Very well,” he said. “What are the rules for the questions?”
“There are no rules.”
He cocked an eyebrow, wondering what kind of questions were going to come out of her mouth.
“Proceed,” he said.
She did. Her first move, into the only vacant spot, allowed him to jump her piece and take it.
“Well?” she said. “What question do you have for me?”
He watched her as she decided which piece to move. “Anything?”
“Anything.”
“When did you discover your love of writing your… poetry?”
She selected her piece and jumped over one of his, snatching it. “I have always loved to write poetry, ever since Lady Summerlin read us a poem entitledMerry It Is While Summer Lasts,” she said. “It was a short poem, but it fed my imagination. Lady Dark came about when I saw a serving woman and a stable groom kiss in the kitchen yard one day. It was quick, and secretive, and it seemed to me that they were so disappointed when it was over and they were forced to go on their way.”
“It intrigued you.”
“It did.” She held up the piece she’d taken from the board. “Now it is my turn to ask you a question.”
He eyed her, but there was humor in his expression. “Very well.”
She fought off a grin as she returned to the game board. “You said I was a pretty lass,” she said. “How do I compare to the most beautiful women you have ever seen?”
“Youarethe most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Her head came up, looking at him with astonishment as he focused on the game and moved another one of his pieces, jumping hers.
“Is that true?” she asked, awe in her tone.
“You said only one question.”
She shut her mouth, looking at him with big eyes, as he set her piece aside. “What other talents do you have besides writing poetry?” he asked.
Cadelyn still wasn’t over his declaration that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but she pushed through it to focus on his question. She had no doubt, however, that she would revisit it at some point. Casually, she looked down at the game board, looking to see which piece of his she could jump.
“You’ll think it silly.”
“Given what I know about you already, I would not be surprised by anything.”
She found a piece to jump and she did, plucking it off the game board. “I like to experiment with cooking,” she said. “Lady Summerlin had a cook, all the way from Paris and she would teach me and Lily-Elsie new things.”
“Lily-Elsie? That was one of the other ladies back at Castle Rising?”
She nodded. “My very dear friend,” she said, sobering somewhat. “I miss her already, but I promised her that she could come and visit me at The Paladin.”
“I am sure she shall.”
