Page 103 of The Best-Kept Secrets
Charlie sighed. “We really should have forged this close connection with a group of thickheaded ladies instead of clever ones. We’d get away with a lot more.”
“But what fun would that be?” Toss gave Charlie a shove as he walked past.
Within a few minutes, they were all dressed once more, coats pulled on, and out the door.
Uncle Niles had brought a wagon. “Hop in,” he instructed, climbing onto the driver’s bench. “I’ll have all of you back to Fairfield before the Huntresses can say, ‘I suspect the Pack have been involved in clandestine boxing.’”
In the end, not a single one of the Huntresses offered up any guesses as to the Pack’s activities when they arrived in the Fairfield drawing room. The ladies motioned grandly to the adornments they had created and used to decorate the space.
Duke, without having to even ponder a destination, made his way directly to Eve’s side. She took his hand without hesitation.
“It’s very festive in here,” he said. “The Huntresses have been hard at work.”
“We enjoyed it,” Eve said.
Artemis eyed everyone triumphantly. “The Pack are welcome to offer us both a hearty congratulations and your unending gratitude.”
“For what this time?” Scott asked.
“We decided amongst ourselves which team won the greenery gathering competition this morning,” Artemis said. “And I am deeply disappointed to say that it was not my team.”
“Which one?” Duke asked.
“The Greenberrys’ team,” Lisette said.
That inspired whoops of excitement from Colm, Tobias, and Toss, and a grin from Daria.
Duke lowered his voice and leaned toward Eve. “Nia’s not here for the celebration.”
“She’s sleeping. This morning’s excursion depleted what strength she had.”
“Is Dr. Wilstead worried?”
Eve shook her head. “He said her heart still sounds very strong.” Her next breath shook a little, but she looked more relieved than concerned. “And setbacks like this are to be expected. Dr. Wilstead said, so long as Nia rests, she’ll regain her strength.”
He raised Eve’s hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “That’s good to hear.”
From among the group, Daria said, “We’ve been so curious, Charlie, what prize you decided on for the winners.”
“Only the most brilliant of prizes.” Charlie looked absolutely giddy, which usually meant a bit of absurdity was about to be unleashed on them all. “Each of us on the losing teams will draw a portrait of someone from the winning team.”
It was, as predicted, absolutely absurd. And everyone looked as entertained as Duke was by the idea. Indeed, mere moments passed before they were all provided with parchment and lead pencils as they planned their works of art.
Duke hadn’t the first idea if anyone in the group had the least artistic ability. But quality was not the point of the undertaking, and he was absolutely certain the Greenberrys’ team would be surprised if any of the offerings they received from their defeated opponents were at all impressive.
Duke, while doing his utmost to draw something that he hoped at least vaguely looked like a human being, spoke with Eve, who was bent over her own piece of parchment. “Who are you planning to draw?”
“It is a secret, Duke.” She looked up at him, her eyes dancing.
He tipped a corner of his mouth upward and allowed his gaze to turn a bit flirtatious, a bit warm. “Is there no way I could convince you to spillthatsecret?”
“You could certainly try.” Her whisper was undeniably bewitching.
But Charlie broke the spell when he chose that moment to pretend to be struggling not to be ill.
“You’re ruining Christmas, Charlie.” Duke gave him a pointed look that he knew was too filled with amusement to be effective.
They’d not been at their drawings for more than a few minutes when yet another disruption occurred. The butler arrived in the drawing room with a silver salver containing three sealed letters. The first he presented to Mme Fortier, the second to Artemis. The final letter, he handed to Eve.
