Page 10 of Snowbound with the Earl
“With the name of a man,” Noelle added.
“A robin,” Miss Rummage said. The team erupted in acknowledgement. Miss Rummage stood. “Our answer is robin redbreast.”
Turlington bowed and Dorsey made a note of the point.
The game continued with Dorsey’s team scoring several points and Lady Dorsey’s team behind. Miss Halifax was the last member of Dorsey’s team to give a clue, and she took the book in trembling hands. She turned the pages, seemingly lost, until Evergreen, who had been standing behind her, leaned over. “Shall I help you choose?”
She looked up at him with unmistakable gratitude in her eyes. “Yes, please.” She handed him the book.
Noelle clenched her hand into fists and looked the other way. She hadnotbeen imagining something between them at dinner. Clearly, Evergreen had some affection, to say the least, for Miss Halifax. Finally, they decided on a riddle. Miss Halifax took the book and read. Her voice was so faint, everyone had to lean close to hear.
“In spring I look gay,
Deck’d in comely array;
In summer more clothing I wear;
When colder it grows, I...” Her voice trailed off, and the perpetual pink of her cheeks turned bright red.
“Go on, dear,” Mrs. Halifax said. Miss Halifax shook her head and pushed the book into Evergreen’s hands.
He cleared his throat. “When colder it grows,
I fling off my clothes.”
Miss Edmonton put a hand over her mouth.
“And in winter quite naked appear.”
Noelle could see now why the girl didn’t read the last lines. Around her, the team discussed possible answers to the riddle, but she looked over at Evergreen, who closed the book. Had he chosen that riddle to embarrass Miss Halifax or to shock her? Or perhaps he wanted to express his intentions toward her, to let her know he wanted to fling off his clothes and be with her.
Or perhaps it was just a silly riddle in a book, and she was assuming far too much.
“Do you agree, my lady?” Eva asked Noelle.
Noelle had no idea what answer they had determined, but she nodded.
“We think the answer is a tree,” Lady Dorsey said.
“Correct!” her husband said. “Very good, my dear. The teams are tied, and you have one more player left. If we guess, we win. If not, we will need another round to break the tie. Go ahead, Lady Bonneville.”
Noelle took a breath. “I will give you a charade,” she said. Evergreen held out the book, but she shook her head. She would not walk across the room and retrieve the book from him. Miss Rummage had created her own clue. Noelle would do so as well.
“My first comes in and goes out but twice in a day.
My second to a title is heir, or so the laws say.
My whole is composed of four, and yet each young lady longs for her first.”
She gave a slight curtsey and took her seat. “I couldn’t think how to rhyme the last line.”
“No need,” Lord Foster said. “I was most impressed you concocted that spontaneously.”
“I doubt they will guess,” Mr. Swinton said, gesturing to Dorsey’s team, who was huddled together. “I have no idea of the answer.”
“Neither do I,” Eva said. “I think I know the second part, but the first part eludes me.”
“Is it watchman?” Turlington asked from across the chamber.
