Page 43 of The Wedding-Crashing Duchess

Sarah looked unconvinced. “How do you know?”

“I have challenged him several times,” Augusta replied. “He continues returning to speak to me, so I can only conclude that he does not dislike it as much as he claims.”

Sarah was quiet for a moment, and then she moved a little closer on the settee.

“Will you stay too?” she asked.

Augusta turned towards her.

“Of course I will,” Augusta said.

CHAPTER 10

“Ithink we should play a game,” Augusta said.

Ronan’s gaze lifted slowly, and the suspicion that entered his expression was so immediate that Augusta almost laughed.

“No,” he replied.

“You do not even know what the game is,” Augusta said, leaning back in her chair as she studied him. “You cannot refuse something before hearing the rules, particularly when I have spent the greater part of dinner behaving with remarkable restraint.”

“You have been unusually quiet,” Ronan said, and then he reached for his wineglass. “I assumed you were preparing to ask something unpleasant, and your announcement has done nothing to reassure me.”

“It is not unpleasant, although I admit that your refusal before I had explained it suggests you understand yourself well enough to know that ordinary conversation presents a danger.”

“I have no objection to ordinary conversation,” Ronan replied. “I object to conversations you disguise as games, since I suspect the disguise exists only to make it more difficult for me to decline.”

Augusta smiled, although she tried to make the expression appear innocent.

“We each ask one question, and the other person must answer honestly,” she explained. “Then the turn passes, and the game continues until one of us decides that we have learned enough for a single evening.”

Ronan rested his glass on the table.

“That is not a game,” he said. “It is an interrogation with alternating participants.”

“It cannot be an interrogation when you are allowed to question me in return.”

“It can, if your questions are carefully chosen and mine are not.”

“Then choose yours carefully.”

Ronan watched her in silence, and Augusta could almost see him searching for the hidden purpose behind her proposal.

“You have already decided what you intend to ask,” he said at last.

“I have decided upon the first question,” Augusta admitted. “The rest will depend upon your answers, although I promise that I am not attempting to uncover state secrets, hidden debts, or evidence of crimes you have successfully concealed.”

“You continue to mention crimes with troubling ease.”

“You married me after I accused you of one, so you cannot now complain that the subject has entered our conversation.”

“I can complain about anything I please,” Ronan said, although there was the faintest movement at the corner of his mouth. “Whether you listen is another matter.”

“Then you agree.”

“I have not said that.”

“You have already begun arguing about the rules, which means you are participating.”