“You certainly took your time getting here. If I did not know any better, I would accuse you of most inappropriate behaviour on your way here.” Frederick gave Dominic and Charlotte an overly exaggerated suspicious look as they walked into Caverton castle.
“Then it is a good thing you know better.” Dominic retorted as he helped Charlotte shrug out of her coat, grinning at his cousin. “Besides, my Precious Plum is a gentlewoman.”
He saw Charlotte roll her eyes good naturedly. “And Sweetkins is every bit the gentleman.”
“Ugh, stop it.” Fredrick pulled a disgusted face and then broke into a broad smile. “Anyway, it is good to see you both.”
“And you.” Dominic embraced his cousin and clapped him on the back. In the month since his engagement, they had not had time to meet.It turns out wedding planning is a rather involved process.
“Where is everyone?” Charlotte asked, peering around the empty entrance hall.
“In the hall. It’s the only room big enough to comfortably accommodate us all.” Frederick began to walk in that direction with Dominic and Charlotte following suit.
As they walked, Charlotte slipped her hand into Dominic’s. The warmth of it spread through him like a sip of the most exquisite whiskey. He smiled at her, marvelling at how good it still felt to be near her. Her answering smile melted his heart.
“Do you have any idea what this is about?” Dominic asked, trying to focus on the present and not get swept up in his feelings for his actual fiancée.
“Of course, I do not. It may be my estate, but Grandmother never tells me anything.” Frederick sighed. “Come to think of it, I do not think Grandmother ever tells anyone of her plans.”
“That is because it would spoil the drama,” Cecily added, making them all jump as no one had realised she was behind them.
“You are nearly as good as Grandmother at sneaking up on people,” Dominic said disgruntledly.
“Thank you.” Cecily curtsied.
He frowned at her. “I did not say it was a compliment.”
“Well, I am choosing to take it as one,” Cecily replied airily before turning to Charlotte and embracing her. “It is wonderful to see you Charlotte, even if it means I must endure my cousin for a little while.”
“You know you adore me, Cousin.” Dominic hugged Cecily fondly, and spotted Thomas over her shoulder.
Thomas walked over to them, running a hand through his hair. “I see Grandmother has roped you into these shenanigans as well.”
“Of course. You know that when she calls, we must all come running,” Dominic sighed.
“Indeed,” Cecily agreed.
“You should be careful, Cousin; she might use the occasion to trap you in a match.” Dominic directed his words at Thomas, thinking of just how right his cousin had been about his grandmother’s motivations during the games.
Though perhaps a match would do him good.
“I would like to see her try,” Thomas scoffed.
Before Dominic could say anything further, a voice from beside them hissed, “Shhh. She’s starting.”
“My darling relatives and friends. I thank you all for joining me today at such short notice,” the Dowager Duchess said in a loud and clear voice as she stood on a raised dais at the front of the hall. “I am sure you are all wondering why I have summoned you here.”
“We are,” Thomas murmured though not quite loud enough for anyone else to hear.
“Well, the reason is rather simple. At my first Dowager Dabbles, you were all given points, and it has taken me some time to decide on the prizes.” Dominic’s grandmother smiled at all of them, and even from this distance, he could see the mischief in her eyes.
“Did she say ‘first’?” murmured someone closer to the front.
“What does she mean?” another voice murmured.
His grandmother held up a hand for silence, and it was a mark of the control she had that everyone immediately stopped talking.
“For you see I wanted to ensure I could sustain these prizes at the next games and the ones after that.” She waved her hands as if indicating multiple things. “After all, my plan is that they will be a yearly affair.”
