Page 9 of Snowbound with the Earl
“There’s nothing quite like curling up with a book before a warm fire on a cold day,” Noelle remarked.
“Precisely!” Miss Rummage exclaimed.
“I would rather be outside,” Miss Edmonton said. “I did enough reading in the school room.”
Miss Halifax had still not uttered a word. Politeness dictated Noelle attempt to include the girl. “Miss Halifax, do you enjoy reading?”
Miss Halifax shook her head.
“Not at all?” Noelle asked.
Miss Halifax looked up, her blue eyes wide. “I do sometimes look through the latest issue ofLa Belle Assemblée.” Her voice was so quiet, Noelle had to lean close to hear her.
“Did you see the most recent issue?” Miss Edmonton asked. “The evening dress with the standing ruff collar was simply divine. I have begged Mama to purchase one for me just like it.” Miss Edmonton continued, describing the fabrics and colors she most desired and Miss Halifax listened and nodded. Noelle simply could not understand what qualities in Miss Halifax might appeal to Evergreen. Graham—the earl, rather—loved to read. He could talk about books for hours. Noelle, who had always been a great reader herself, had often asked his opinion of dozens of books when they’d courted, and she’d never mentioned one he hadn’t read. Was it Miss Halifax’s looks? She was very conventionally attractive with her blond hair and blue eyes and porcelain skin. Those features seemed to appeal to most gentlemen. Indeed, the year of her own come out the diamond of the first water had been a girl with features very much like Miss Halifax. Of course, that lady—who had gone on to marry a duke—had also been witty and clever. Dozens of men had vied for her attentions.
Noelle was relieved when the men finally joined the ladies, and she could leave the conversation over whether the Blucher bonnet was out of style or whether it might bea la modewith a few embellishments. Unfortunately, the men’s arrival signaled the start of charades, and she did not look forward to charades either as she’d had no opportunity to prepare any. In charades, one team or player gave a three-part clue. The first part was the first syllable of the word, the second the second syllable of the word, and the third a clue to help the listener guess the word as a whole.
Lady Dorsey stood and addressed her guests. “Lord Dorsey and I thought to lead a game of charades and riddles. He will captain one team and I the other.”
“You might have noticed,” Dorsey said, “that we did not hang any of the mistletoe gathered this afternoon. The winning team has the honor of hanging the mistletoe where they choose—and perhaps stealing the first kiss under it.”
The young ladies giggled, and Noelle wished she had something stronger than tea in her cup. Lady Dorsey chose her first team member, who was Miss Rummage. Noelle nodded her approval. Even from her brief conversations with Miss Rummage, Noelle could see the young lady was intelligent and well-read. Lord Dorsey chose Evergreen; whereupon Lady Dorsey chose Mr. Swinton. And so it went until Noelle was chosen by Lady Dorsey. She took her place on Eva’s side of the room just as Lord Dorsey chose Miss Halifax. Noelle hadn’t wanted Miss Halifax on her team, but she also didn’t want to watch the lady on a team with the earl.
When the teams were assembled, Lord Dorsey spoke again. “My lady, would you prefer to give or receive first?”
Lady Dorsey smiled. “We will receive, my lord.”
“Very well. Turlington, you are first to give Lady Dorsey’s team either a charade or a riddle. The team has three guesses to earn the point.” Lord Dorsey took a book off the mantel. “If necessary, one may use my volume ofThe Temple of Fancy.” He held up a bound book that Noelle presumed had ready-made verses for the purpose of this game.
“Oh, that’s cheating,” Mr. Swinton exclaimed. He was on Noelle and Eva’s team.
“Then feel free to craft your own,” Lord Dorsey said. “Turlington?”
Mr. Turlington took the book, turned to a page, and nodded. “I have a riddle for you.”
Noelle could feel the other members of her team lean forward as he read.
“I’m called by the name of a man,
Yet I’m little as a mouse,
When winter comes, I’m often seen,
With my red target near the house.”
Noelle and her team gathered close. Lady Dorsey whispered, “Called by the name of a man must be a given name, like John or Charles.”
“Yes, but it is something small,” Swinton said.
“Perhaps a nickname, like Chris for Christopher,” Noelle said. “That makes the name smaller.”
“I think it is an object or thing small in size,” Miss Rummage said. “Something red.”
“Yes, the second part of the clue mentionsredandwinter,” Lord Foster said.
“What do we see in winter that is red?” Lady Dorsey asked.
“A decoration?” Swinton suggested.
