Page 43 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
“But you love charades,” Juliet reminded her. Every Christmas, Cecily was the first to recommend this game. She usually loved taking part in such affairs, but now she wrung her hands together repeatedly and cast fearful glances at the drawing room door.
“Juliet is right,” Violet said firmly. “Just because Pa has no wish to join in with the games does not mean you do not have to.”
“I suppose.” Yet Cecily still didn’t look convinced. “The Duchess of Lantham might have a better time if I did not join.”
Juliet stared at her mother, curious at what a strange statement this was. It suggested care for the Duchess of Lantham’s feelings, even after so many years of declaring they were no longer friends.
“Oh, to hell with what others think,” Violet said suddenly.
“Language, dear,” Cecily warned, though she had a small smile playing about her lips.
“Well, Juliet is a little wild with her language, so I can surely exercise some wildness on occasion, too.” Violet stepped forward and looped her arm through Cecily’s. “You like to play, so come and play. Please, Ma. We’ll be glad of you being there.”
“Yes, we will.” Juliet took her mother’s other arm, and together, they drew Cecily back into the drawing room, where they were greeted warmly by the Duchess of Darby, who was glad to have another lady on her team.
“Come, Lady Clarence, sit here with me, and you can help me, for I fear I am no good at this game.” Unfortunately, the Duchess of Darby’s plea meant that Cecily was now also sitting next to the Duchess of Lantham, something that Cecily only realized once she had sat down and looked guiltily at the Duchess of Lantham.
Such a stony glare was returned her way that Cecily looked away again.
Angered at the sight, Juliet found herself moving towards Lord Ashton, where he sat by the fire as one of the other gentlemen stood up and read a piece of paper, preparing for the first round of charades.
“What are you doing?” Lord Ashton asked quietly.
“Does your mother really hate mine so much?” Juliet asked, knowing she was bending the rules as she sat down in a chair close to Lord Ashton. Not only was the Duke of Lantham looking her way with curiosity, but so was Lady Jane. She tried to ignore their glares.
“I suggest you don’t ask questions you do not really wish to know the answers to, Juliet.” Lord Ashton’s voice had softened so much that she stared at him.
For all the passion and excitement that he showed, there was more to him. He was offering her now a glimpse of a kind heart as he winced, clearly not wishing to spell out the animosity his mother had towards her own.
“Ah, that was too quick, far too quick,” the Duke of Darby declared as the first one was guessed all too easily. “Now, who is next. Lady Juliet? Perhaps you. If we can drag you away from your talking partner, of course.”
His words made everyone in the room turn and look at her and Lord Ashton.
“It’s all too easy to part from his side, Your Grace, I assure you.” She stood hurriedly and swept past Lord Ashton, taking her place on the rug. “I was merely discussing with him what we were going to do about the golden horse we won today.”
“Ah, yes, of course. Surely as a gentleman, the marquess has offered to give you the horse?” The Duke of Darby looked at Lord Ashton expectantly, who offered Juliet a challenging look as she took a piece of paper for the next charade.
“It all rests on our game now,” Lord Ashton explained. “If I can guess her charade tonight, and if she can’t guess any of mine, then I win and will get the horse.”
“Ha! A wager, I like it indeed.”
“Let us hope you are better at charades than you are a scavenger hunt, My Lord,” she called to him across the room as she folded the piece of paper. “You were holding me back today.”
A chorus of ‘oohs’ and tittering laughter followed these words.
“Was I?” he asked, that challenging tone returning. “And here I thought you had grown accustomed to my company today. Must have been a trick of the light when you were flailing about in the mud waving at me to get you back out again.”
They glared at one another, both trying not to smile as the laughter continued around them. The Duke of Darby and others made comments about how the parents’ arguments were spilling onto the younger generation, but not everyone seemed to think so. Violet was beaming widely, and Juliet strangely caught a glimpse of her mother, who laughed softly, though when the Duchess of Lantham looked sharply at her, that smile died.
“Right, are we ready?” Juliet called and turned to face them all to begin the game again.
“We have been waiting on you to begin,” Lord Ashton taunted her, causing more laughter to erupt around the room.
As she stared at him with a mock glare, she was beginning to wonder if their arguments were going to put anyone off the scent at all or if, God forbid, they were seen for what they truly were, flirtation.
***
“My Lady, where are you going?”
