Page 75 of The Best-Kept Secrets
That set Aunt Penelope’s team to good-natured shouts of disapproval, and the opposing team to cheers and applause.
“I believe I shall borrow an answer from Tobias,” Eve said, “and reply to your question with, ‘Some would say so.’”
Duke didn’t think he’d seen Aunt Penelope look so entirely delighted since this house party had begun. Her tender kindness to him that morning had further endeared her to him. He wanted to see her shed some of the weight of this family feud.
Nia, likewise, looked pleased to be taking part, which was a relief in itself. Knowing her happiness would help Eve worry a little less added to Duke’s feeling of relief. An evening of parlor games was proving a brilliant idea.
“I will choose to assume that Miss O’Doyle’s answer is an indication that this particular plant is edible but not in all instances or to all creatures.” Aunt Penelope began looking them all over, searching out the next person to whom she would pose a question. She settled on Duke. “Is this plant, which I suspect is eaten by some creatures, consumed by people?”
“Not bywisepeople,” he answered, finding a means of being just obscure enough to be slightly unhelpful.
But before his aunt could good-naturedly object or the rest of the gathering laugh, Father spoke up. “So, perhaps by Penelope.”
“Liam—” Uncle Niles cut himself off at just his brother-in-law’s name.
“Father, stop.” Duke didn’t manage quite as quiet a rebuke as he had with his grandmother.
His correction proved too little too late though. Much of the amusement in the room dimmed.
Aunt Penelope turned back to Uncle Niles. Though Duke couldn’t see her face, the look of loving concern on Uncle Niles’s told him his aunt was not so unaffected by the insult as she often went to great pains to appear.
“This sometimes-edible plant is consumed by animals, I can deduct. Is it eaten by domesticated animals?”
“Yes, dear.” No attempt at silliness or subtlety from Uncle Niles.
“You have but one more question, Penelope,” Grandmother said. “I believe this will prove beyond your ability.”
“This is a group which has shown itself prone to choosing things pertinent to the evening’s discussions or the people involved. The thing thought of is a plant that is eaten by domesticated animals. As I am one of ‘the people involved’ and I have been associated with one particular ‘domesticated animal’ for more years than our younger participants have been alive and those animals are quite known for eating a very particular plant, I will guess”—she looked directly at her brother and mother—“hay.”
Everyone applauded. Everyone except Duke’s parents and grandmother. They were so infuriating at times.
“Someone fromourteam now.” Charlie managed not to sound desperate to move on, but Duke knew him too well not to hear hints of it.
“Eve should be next,” Nia said. “She’s quite good at this game.”
Words of encouragement followed, and Eve acquiesced in her usual good cheer. She slipped into the corridor and closed the door.
“What should we have her guess?” Colm asked Nia.
“All the O’Doyles are excellent equestrians.”
“Something to do with horses, then,” Uncle Niles said, sitting with his arm around Aunt Penelope, whose spirits were noticeably dampened.
“What about a horsethief?” Father grumbled, eyeing Aunt Penelope sidelong.
“Father,” Duke said in a voice of warning.
“A horseshoe,” Fennel suggested.
“Excellent.” Tobias rose and moved toward the door, no doubt wishing to begin the guessing before Duke’s family could cause more consternation.
Eve stepped inside. She was smiling. The expression had its usual mesmerizing effect.
To Newton, she asked, “To which kingdom does the thing thought of belong?”
“Mineral,” Newton said.
She spun around and faced Aunt Penelope. “Does this thing of the mineral kingdom follow the pattern you discovered in bearing some connection to the group here tonight or to myself specifically?”
