Page 54 of The Best-Kept Secrets
The Pack vocally approved.
Eve was on Charlie’s right side, meaning the next question would be posed to her. She grinned in anticipation.
“Which character of Greek mythology is the most troublesome?” he asked.
Greek mythology? Eve had given very little thought to the topic, beyond reading about Artemis’s namesake after becoming one of that lady’s dear friends. A few names flitted through her mind but none that was a single syllable. Ought she to think of a sidestepping answer, as Charlie and Artemis had done with their questions?
But then she remembered. “Zeus!”
Charlie sighed as if disappointed. “I was so looking forward to hearing you attempt to say, ‘Artemis,’ in a single syllable.” He earned a laughing shove from his wife for that comment.
Eve turned to Duke. Those beautiful eyes of his. She would never grow tired of looking at them. “Which of Charlie’s brothers is more clever than he is?”
Duke shook his head solemnly. “An unfair question, as the only accurate answer would be ‘all.’”
The group laughed. A flit of humor twinkled in Duke’s deep-blue eyes as he looked at his friends. It was so good to see him light and happy. But when he looked back at her, some of that lightness dissipated. Washe upset with her, as Nia had wondered? Eve could think of nothing that had happened.
To her game question, Duke answered, “Most.” And then he turned to Toss to continue the game. He hadn’t lingered on her even long enough to see if she appreciated his answer. Something clearlyhadhappened.Three nights earlier, he’d kissed her. Now, he barely acknowledged she was there.
“Which instrument,” he asked Toss, “is played by the most intelligent people?”
That earned Duke approving laughter. Toss was an exceptional musician, but his instrument of choice was the pianoforte, which was four syllables too long. No matter his answer, Toss would be declaring himself lacking in intelligence, the prospect of which was making him laugh even harder than everyone else.
“Pianoforte,” Toss declared.
“That’sfivesyllables,” Newton said at the same time Artemis said, “You’ve managed to lose on your very first turn.”
Looking excessively proud of himself, Toss said, “Well worth it.” That set everyone to laughing yet again.
Hilarity was near constant when this group of friends was together. This gathering was no exception. Of course, it absolutely helped that the Seymours, other than Duke and Colm, were not in the room. That was unlikely to be true most of the next fortnight.
“Ask Daria a question,” Artemis instructed Toss, “then sit there and ponder what a troublemaker you are.”
As jovial as ever, Toss turned to Daria. “Which Pack member is, without question, the greatest, most loving, handsomest, most talented, exceptionally amazing husband?”
Daria grinned. “Toss!”
Shouts of “No fair” and “Foul” and a fair number of boos answered that. But Toss put an arm around his wife and looked out at all of them smugly.
In the midst of the good-natured teasing, the group heard carriage wheels outside.
“Lisette!” Artemis jumped up and made for the door of the drawing room, the rest following suit.
But Mrs. Greenberry stood on the other side of the threshold. “I must ask you to wait a moment.”
“But this will be Lisette arriving,” Artemis said. “We’ve not seen her in a year.”
“Please,” Mrs. Greenberry repeated. “It is very important that this not be interrupted.”
“Thatwhatnot be interrupted?” Eve pressed.
Mrs. Greenberry stood firm. “Something of paramount importance that must go perfectly, or it will be an absolute tragedy.” There was too much sincerity in her expression for her declaration to be an exaggeration.
“We can see through windows,” Daria declared excitedly.
The Huntresses exchanged looks before rushing to the drawing room windows facing the front drive. Nia moved quite a bit more slowly, allowing Eve a chance to ask their hostess one more question. “Watching won’t cause difficulties, will it?”
“Not if you aren’t obvious about it.” She glanced behind herself in the direction of the entryway.
