Lady Andrea was pretty, a few years younger than Charlotte if she was not mistaken. And there was a look of ruthless determination on her face that she had to admire.
“Well, you seem to be the only one who is enjoying this experience,” Dominic grumbled.
“I do not know about that.” Charlotte smiled. “I quite like having a puzzle to solve.”
“Well, when you solve it, let us know.” Cecily looked at Charlotte imploringly. “All this puzzling is making my head ache something fierce. I feel it might explode.”
“Are we not all here to win?” Lady Andrea frowned at Cecily. “I would think Lady Charlotte unlikely to give up her advantage so easily.”
“I think I would find it more satisfying a victory if I gave my opponents a sporting chance.” Charlotte looked at Lady Andrea, her voice polite but firm.
“They have a sporting chance; they have been given just as much information as the rest of us.” Lady Andrea gestured around them.
“Perhaps Charlotte holds to a ‘more the merrier’ sort of philosophy,” Dominic said.
“Well, let us see how well such a philosophy serves her.” Lady Andrea looked at the cards in her hands before playing several in quick succession. “That is another hand to me, I believe.”
“Not quite, Lady Andrea,” Charlotte said sweetly and played the three cards she had been saving for just such an occasion.If I have understood this correctly, then the hand should be mine. And if not… well, it will be back to the drawing board I suppose.
“Now that is a magnificent play, Lady Charlotte.” The Dowager Duchess appeared, nodding approvingly. “Wonderful win. Have… five-hundred-seven points. Dominic, I am so glad you brought your fiancée to my Duchy Decider.”
“Another name, grandmother?” Dominic raised an eyebrow at her.
“Yes. I have not yet found one that seems perfect.”
“And what iteration are we on?” Cecily asked her grandmother.
Cecily exchanged a smug look with Dominic who gave a faint shrug that piqued Charlotte’s curiosity.
“I believe it is the sixth.” The Dowager Duchess counted on her fingers. “Yes, it is the sixth name. Absolutely not, minus thirty-four points to you, young man.”
Charlotte watched Dominic nod to himself and whisper something to his cousin.A wager perhaps?Interesting.
The Dowager Duchess pointed to one of the few remaining tables around them and a bespectacled young man who coloured as soon as she pointed at him.
“Actually, your entire table bores me. All of you, leave. You can join us for the next event. Try and behave as though you are not complete and utter dullards, won’t you?” the Dowager Duchess said as she ushered the table from the hall.
Charlotte looked around and realised with a jolt that only one other table was still in the hall.
“Looks like we are amongst the last ones left.” Dominic had noticed the same thing.
“If we can figure out how to play!” Cecily whispered.
“Look, it really is quite simple once you work out the pattern,” Charlotte explained as she looked at her notes.
“Is it?” Dominic asked.
“You are not really going to explain it to them, are you?” Lady Andrea sounded horrified.
“Why would I not?” Charlotte asked.
“Because we are all here to win?”
“Well, Dominic is my fiancé, and what is mine is his. And I cannot very well share my knowledge only with him. That seems rather rude.”
“It is a competition,” Lady Andrea pointed out.
“And there is no rule saying I cannot aid my fellow competitors,” Charlotte shot back before turning to Dominic and Cecily. “Although, perhaps you might both be persuaded to make it worth my while.”
