Page 36 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

The way the game was played was simple. The team whose turn it was sat in the middle of the room by the fire as the others stood in a circle about them. A clock on the wall was used as a timer, and the game began when one of the coupled pairs said their first word.

The first team was Violet and Aurelia’s mother. They sat themselves down and the circle formed around them. The duke stood by his sister and Aurelia made sure she was across the other side, away from him. A problem, she realized immediately, as that put her directly across from him, and he watched her with a curious smile that suggested he knew what she was doing.

But what am I even doing? Is it not a better idea to act aloof, as if I do not care? The way I am acting I may as well scream at him what is on my mind.

“Flower,” Violet began simply.

“Garden,” her mother said back quickly.

“Manor.”

“Marriage,” her mother said with a smirk,

Violet’s face dropped and she fixed their mother with a glare. Nothing said, all eyes on them. Their mother raised an eyebrow, Violet’s expression hardened.

“Violet...” Lady Hargrave prompted. “It is your turn.”

“Misery,” Violet said just as the clock ticked over thirty-seconds.

“Four connections,” Diana announced.

“It was five!” Eveline cried.

“Misery?” Diana looked at her. “I think we can all agree that is not a proper connection.”

Violet was glaring at their mother as the two rose, replaced next by Diana and Daniel.

“Horse,” Daniel said in a tone that suggested he was bored.

“Rider,” Diana shot back.

“Destination,” Daniel said.

“Gala.”

“Dancing.”

Diana opened her mouth to respond but seemed suddenly unable to speak. Her chin began to wobble. Tears started to well in her eyes. “Rom... rom.... romance...” she stammered eventually, just as the clock ticked over to thirty seconds, which saw her burst into tears.

“That’s five!” Eveline cried, oblivious to the poor woman’s sadness.

Diana sniffed and apologized, hurrying from the circle. Daniel sighed and walked out also, still appearing bored and disinterested.

“Aurelia, your turn,” Violet pressed her.

“Wh -- what?” Aurelia stuttered.

“Who is your partner?” Violet asked.

“Oh...” She blinked and looked about awkwardly, as if to say who it was would give her away. “I... I am with... my partner is...”

“It is I,” the duke stepped into the circle. “Although I do hope my partner’s tongue will become untied before we begin.” He raised an eyebrow at Aurelia, which had the small group chuckling.

As was so often the way with Aurelia, the best means to get her to do anything was to anger her. The duke watched her with a smug smirk as he sat down, and she narrowed her eyes as she sat across from him. They said nothing at first, holding one another in their stares as if daring them to begin.

Silence fell upon them. The crackle of the fire was all that could be heard. There were half a dozen people in that room, but Aurelia found her attention fixed completely on the duke. She looked right at him, he looked right at her, and the tension of the moment built.

“King,” the duke said finally.

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