Page 36 of The Duke of Ice
Hell and the devil, she wasn’t going to choose him as the penitent, was she? He hadn’t played this game in ages, but he vaguely remembered it. The penitent tried to kiss the nun’s cheek through the grate, which would be Lady Lavinia’s hand.
“Duke,” Violet said, “since you won the other boon, would you like to choose the penitent?” Her gaze was expectant, and she seemed to be trying to communicate something.
He floundered for a minute, his mind searching until he stupidly realized what she was trying to accomplish. “I choose Romsey.” He turned toward his friend with a bland smile.
“Of course you do,” Simon muttered. He pivoted toward the ladies and offered a courtly bow. “My pleasure.”
Violet dragged a chair to the center of the room, and one of the other gentlemen, Mr. Seaver, placed another beside it. Miss Kingman took one seat, and Lady Lavinia took the other.
Simon moved to stand close to them. “Shall we begin?”
Lady Lavinia splayed her hand against Miss Kingman’s cheek.
“Alas these bars, these cruel, cruel bars!” Simon wailed, putting a great depth of emotion into the recitation.
Laughter filled the room, and Simon grinned.
Oh, this was truly brilliant of Violet. Nick was glad he’d allowed Mrs. Linford to talk him into coming.
Miss Kingman fluttered her lashes up at Simon. “They’re not so narrow, but you may bestow on me a kiss—one parting kiss!”
As soon as she uttered the word kiss, Simon leaned down and tried to kiss her cheek. Lady Lavinia closed her fingers, and he kissed them instead.
“Take this for your bad management!” she cried, grabbing his ear and giving it a tug.
“Ow!” Simon said, rubbing his ear.
Lady Lavinia blanched. “I’m sorry!”
Simon pressed a kiss to Miss Kingman’s cheek. “Ha! I win!”
Miss Kingman frowned at him. “You don’t. You’re supposed to wait until I say, ‘One parting kiss’ again.”
Simon looked around at everyone else. “Is that right?”
“I’m afraid so,” Mr. Adair, a lanky young fellow with light brown hair, said with a laugh. “Guess you’ll have to try again.”
Simon sighed with resignation. “Again, then.”
“I really am sorry about your ear,” Lady Lavinia said.
“I may have exaggerated my hurt in order to win.”
“Bravo!” the third gentleman, Mr. Woodward, called out.
Lady Lavinia narrowed her eyes. “You cheated.”
His eyes sparked with mischief. “I pressed my advantage.”
Nick couldn’t help but laugh. Everyone turned to look at him in surprise, reminding him that he rarely laughed. But it was Violet’s attention that seared through him. There was a glint of appreciation in her gaze, and a smile teased her mouth. He was captivated.
“Anyway, it did hurt alittle,” Simon said, straightening.
Miss Kingman shook her head at him, but her half smile said she found the situation as amusing as everyone else. “One parting kiss!”
Simon leapt into action and tried to land a kiss against her cheek. Unfortunately, he was foiled again by Lady Lavinia. She repeated the phrase, “Take this for your bad management!” but this time barely touched his ear.
Even so, Simon fell to the ground and pretended agony, grabbing his head and moaning aloud. This was met with sharp laughter and applause.
