Page 22 of A Midwinter Wager

"Who'll be sleeping in the haunted room?" Alicia asked.

"Haunted room?" Fitz raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"Indeed. Mrs. Blakeley has just been telling us all about it," Miss Carlton said.

He tilted his head and smiled indulgently. "Whoever is least afraid of ghosts, I imagine."

"I think we should cast lots," offered Captain Brandt. "That would be entertaining."

"We can make it more entertaining still," said Alicia. "It's almost the season for a game of snapdragon, so I suggest we play that instead. Assuming the landlord has any raisins in his store cupboard. We know already he has brandy and is sure to have a shallow dish."

"I'd rather not—" Cesca began, but Alicia wasn't yet finished.

"Whoever gets the least raisins, will have the haunted room," she said. "There now. That avoids a squabble, does it not?"

Fitz glanced around the company, then stared fixedly at Alicia. He was thinking, just as she was herself, that this was a childish idea—but Alicia pointedly ignored him. Everyone else seemed much amused at the thought of snapdragon, and Captain Brandt was already giving instructions to the landlord.

Fitz opened his mouth to protest, then gave up with a shrug. When his gaze met Cesca's, he gave her an encouraging smile, but not even that could erase the chill around her heart. She had to hope there was no substance to the ghost story. For, as Alicia well knew, she would be the one who lost the game of snapdragon.

Because nothing on earth could induce her to put her hand into a living flame.