Page 105 of The Duke's Daring Bride

“I have an important announcement to make,” she announced importantly.

Alistair hid his smirk and joined his wife in pretending great interest in his younger sisters. Although he did turn Olivia’s hand over and scraped his thumbnail across her palm, causing her to shiver and him to grin.

“Well, do not leave us waiting,” Mother commanded. “We are agog.”

“Completely agog,” deadpanned Amelia. “Aghast. Against.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Olivia pointed out, trying to contain her giggles.

“Aglow? Agate?”

Olivia shook her head. “I think you mean agape. That would work in context.”

“Oh, yes, thank you,” Amelia said brightly, then turned back to her sister, who was frowning. “Agog, aghast, agape, et cetera. Do tell us your announcement.”

Deflating slightly, as if she was no longer quite so excited, Amanda’s chin worked mulishly. “I just wanted to share that I have decided to become a Muslim.”

There was silence. Even Alistair sat up a bit straighter in surprise.

“A Muslim,” Mother finally repeated, disbelieving.

Amanda’s nod was firm. “A Muslim.”

“That is one of those men with the long beards and the big turbans on their heads, who ride camels?”

“As far as I am aware,” Amanda corrected stiffly, “the camel is not compulsory.”

“Well,” huffed Mother, picking her spoon up once more, “you are going to have to work on your beard a bit.”

Alistair shot a glance at Olivia, and saw her fighting back laughter as well.

“Muslim,” Amelia repeated in a doubting tone.

Amanda picked up her spoon once more and clutched it like a weapon. “I am going to be Muslim!”

“You are eating soup which contains pork,” her sister pointed out. “Muslims do not eat pork.”

“…going to be a Muslim in all ways except dining practices, is what I was going to say, had you not interrupted me,” Amanda smoothly finished.

Amelia hummed. “It is because you like bacon, is it not?”

“I love bacon,” her sister corrected.

“If you are Muslim, does that mean you will not become a Catholic nun?” asked Mother.

Amanda nodded solemnly. “Inshallah.”

Apparently overwhelmed, Olivia burst into giggles. As all eyes turned to her, she appeared to struggle to control herself. “For-Forgive me! I’m just…” She pressed her free fingers to her lips. “I'm—I'm just so overcome by this soup. It’s delicious soup, is it not, Alistair?”

She turned to him, her eyes sparkling with humor, begging him to help distract his family.

His lips twitched. “Needs salt,” he rasped.

Mother gasped, inhaling some of the pork-based soup which set her coughing. While Olivia jumped up to pass a glass of water, Alistair’s sisters stared at him, open-mouthed.

Agog. Agape. Aghast.

As Mother did her best not to expire, Amelia finally opened her mouth. “You can speak, Alistair?” She pointed out the obvious in a rather tiny voice, eyes wide.

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