“Come on! It is not fair!” Cecily’s voice called out.
“Tell us!” another person shouted.
To Dominic’s horror, the shout became something of a chant with each person yelling, “Tell us!” over and over. The sound of it seemed to reverberate in his chest, and he saw Lady Andrea’s grin broaden.
This must be how a mouse feels when the cat plays with it.
Lady Andrea held up her hands and silence fell. She smiled at the crowd, her eyes scanning over each face. Dominic swore they rested on him and Charlotte a moment longer than anyone else.
“Only if the Dowager Duchess wishes it will I reveal the secret,” Lady Andrea said, looking to the Dowager Duchess and bowing her head respectfully. “After all, these are her games.”
The Dowager Duchess surveyed her, and the people gathered in the room. She stroked her lip thoughtfully, and even in his panic, Dominic had to admit that his grandmother knew how to put on a show.
She drew out the silence, holding the audience captive as she appeared to deliberate her answer. After what felt like an eternity she said, “I do not wish for you to reveal it, but I sense that this unruly brood wants answers. You may act out one more clue, and if anyone guesses right, you will tell them. Though you will only get half a point.”
“That seems more than fair,” Lady Andrea murmured as the gathered crowd began to whisper excitedly.
“You had best make it a good one, for you only have one chance.” His Grandmother said.
“That is all I will need.” Lady Andrea replied, her eyes meeting Dominic’s. “Just one chance.”
Lady Andrea began to act out giving someone flowers, pretending to receive them graciously and excitedly. She acted as though everything that would ever bring her happiness was dependent on the flowers. She looked at him once more, held her hands up so that the entire room could see and crossed her fingers.
She hid them behind her back and then mimed laughing and pushing away the flowers, acting as though the very notion disgusted her.
I do not know if I am worthy of you.The echoes of his letter seemed etched into his mind. There is no way his family would not guess this. There could be no way they would not see what she was implying.I am sorry, Charlotte. I have ruined everything.
“It is BATTY!” someone yelled excitedly, as though the answer had been obvious all along.
Lady Andrea looked at Dominic, her eyes boring into his, and then, to his great surprise, she nodded. A cheer went up around them, and people congratulated the clever guesswork.
Lady Andrea smiled and rejoined the crowd. Dominic felt Charlotte tug on his hand. Wordlessly he looked at her, and though she hid it well, he could see fear in her face.
The next person began their own act, but Dominic was barely aware of what they were doing. He used his cousins’ eagerness to play along to allow himself and Charlotte to be moved further backwards, waiting until they were at the farthest point from the action.
The sound of loud yells and guesses filled the air as each person tried to work out who was being impersonated, clearly riled up from Lady Andrea’s performance.
“She knows,” Charlotte whispered to him, leaning close. “I do not know how, but she does.”
Dominic nodded and murmured back so quietly he could barely hear himself. “That little act seemed entirely too pointed to be simple chance.”
“Why did she not tell everyone?” Charlotte frowned. “From what I have seen, she is not one to shy from a killing blow.”
“I do not know,” Dominic replied.
“Do you think it was a warning?” Charlotte asked.
“Perhaps.” Dominic answered, glancing around and finding Lady Andrea watching them. “But I think there is only one way to find out.”
Across the room, Lady Andrea smiled and mouthed the words, “Time’s up.”
Dominic’s heart sunk.We’ve lost.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
EVERYONE HAS SECRETS
“She’s leaving,” Charlotte murmured to Dominic indicating Lady Andrea’s retreating figure.
