Page 11 of Snowbound with the Earl
“No, sir,” Noelle said.
“Good guess,” Swinton said. The other team went back to conferring, but Evergreen wasn’t listening to his team’s conversation. He was looking at Noelle. She felt heat race across her back, making her skin tingle. She wanted to lower her eyes, but she was no debutante like Miss Halifax. She could hold her own against a man. Evergreen raised his brows, and she knew he had the answer.
“What say you to our decision, Evergreen?” Dorsey asked.
He looked over at their host. “I have it.”
Dorsey looked surprised. “Go ahead then.”
“We should discuss it,” Turlington argued. “This is for the win.”
Evergreen ignored him. “The first is the sea. The tide rises and falls each day. The second is a son. The first-born son inherits a title. And the third is a season. There are four seasons in a year, and the social season is a rite for young ladies.”
“Bravo!” Dorsey said. “Is that correct, my lady?”
She nodded. Of course, he was correct. Her clue had been child’s play for him. She should have swallowed her pride and used Dorsey’s copy ofThe Temple of Fancy.
“My team, follow me! I will show you where I’ve put the mistletoe.” The other team laughed and chattered as they followed Dorsey out of the drawing room.
“I’m sorry,” Noelle said, turning to her team. “I should have used the book.”
Eva waved a hand. “Rubbish. Your charade was clever. Besides, it’s only a game.”
Miss Rummage yawned. “I think I shall go to my room,” she said. “I’m quite done in.” Mrs. Rummage agreed and linked arms with her daughter. Swinton wandered off, saying something about the billiards room. The others dispersed as well. Noelle was the last to leave the drawing room. She was weary after her travels that day, but she wasn’t quite ready to be alone with her thoughts. Outside the drawing room, she paused, touching her shoulders. She must have left her wrap on the couch. But when she returned, her wrap was nowhere to be found. She tried to remember if she’d had it after dinner and decided she might have left it in the dining room. She returned to the dining room, encountering a footman.
“May I help you, my lady?”
She glanced about the cleared table and empty chairs. No wrap. “I thought I might have left my wrap here.”
“Was it red and gold, my lady?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Cowell found it and inquired about it among the maids. Your maid claimed it and said she would put it in your chamber.”
“I see. Thank you.”
The footman bowed and left the dining room through the servants’ door. Noelle turned back to leave the way she’d come and spotted Mr. Turlington in the doorway. He held up a string with a sprig of mistletoe at the end.
“What are you doing with that, sir?” she asked.
“Trying to find the perfect place to hang it. Perhaps you might help me.” Noelle almost rolled her eyes. He wanted her to say something like,I know the perfect placeand lead him to her chamber. But the last person she wanted in her bed tonight was a rake like Turlington.
“I’m afraid I couldn’t possibly assist. Your team won the challenge.” She started through the door, But Turlington stepped toward her and lifted the mistletoe above her. Noelle looked at him, half-tempted to tell him to stop behaving like a child. But he wasn’t worth it. Instead, she offered her cheek, and Turlington sighed but gave her a quick peck.
Unfortunately, Lord Evergreen chose that moment to walk past them, and she caught his eye as Turlington’s lips met her cheek. Evergreen’s mouth thinned, and he looked away from her and turned so his back was to her.
Perfect. The first of five days at this house party and already she couldn’t wait to leave.
***
GRAHAM MADE HIS WAYto the library in the morning. The rest of the guests would be in the dining room, but he was not particularly hungry or in the mood to speak to others. He wanted to be alone, and he preferred reading over conversation. Snow had continued to fall overnight, and his valet had mentioned Lady Dorsey planned a contest for who could build the best snowman or snowwoman. Graham had escaped gathering greenery the day before, but he did not think he could forego today’s outing without being considered rude.
He opened the door to the library, feeling the chill as soon as he stepped inside the shadowy chamber. The servants had not bothered lighting a fire in this chamber. No doubt they expected the guests to be in the dining room this morning. He closed the door quietly and crossed the thick carpet to the heavy, floor-length drapes across the room. Taking the brocade material in both hands, he swept them open then took a step back when Lady Bonneville gasped in surprise. She dropped the book she’d been reading on the window seat and put her hands to her heart. “You scared me!”
Graham’s own heart was pounding. “I apologize. I thought the library was empty.”
She took a breath and scowled at him, her dark eyes flashing. “You might at least announce yourself.”
