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She had never sat among a group of men and women discussing the topic of kissing to this extent. Perhaps it was all well and good for them, who knew each other or were connected via their marriages. But Isleen shifted uncomfortably, then met Lord Farleigh’s gaze.
“The man being lectured for his lack of frivolous behavior hardly seems the right person to take me to task for disliking a holiday tradition.”
“I am perfectly capable of being frivolous.”
“And I am capable of taking part in a tradition, ridiculous as it may be.” But that didn’t mean shewantedto take part in it.
“A wager, then.” It was Sir Andrew who said the words, yet Isleen was staring at the earl when he reacted to his friend’s words. Lord Farleigh turned pale, and his eyes widened, then his eyebrows came down sharply as he turned a hard-edged smile to his friend.
“What did you say, Andrew?”
“A wager,” Lady Josephine answered for her husband. “What a wonderful way to begin the month. We will issue a challenge to the both of you.”
“I am not one to gamble,” Isleen said, trying to understand the gleeful light in Lady Josephine’s eyes. She looked to Lady Atella to see a similar expression.
“We never wager with money,” Sir Andrew said with a wave of his hand, dismissing the monetary notion entirely. “That would be quite dull.”
“All your wagers are dull,” Lord Farleigh said, between clenched teeth.
Lord Atella chuckled and leaned back in his chair. “I would not say that. My introduction to your family consisted of wagers. For boat races. Horse races. A puppet theater.”
Isleen very much wanted to follow that trail of conversation. Puppets seemed safer than whatever they were discussing at present.
“Here are the terms,” Sir Andrew said, steepling his fingers together. How had they come to havingterms? “We challenge our dear Simon Dinard, Lord Farleigh, to put aside his fears of frivolity and embrace the ridiculous during this month. If he fails—meaning, we catch him acting the part of a bore without reason—then he pays the forfeit of making a fool of himself at the Christmas Eve ball.”
The reaction of Lord Farleigh’s friends to this idea was far too appreciative. And supportive.
Lady Atella’s gentle smile turned into a wide grin. “What a delightful challenge.”
“This is ridiculous,” Simon muttered as he slouched forward to rub his forehead. “I do not agree.”
“Oh, but you will. Because Miss Frost will determine whether or not you succeed in your challenge. And if you do, her forfeit will be to knowingly stand beneath the mistletoe at the Christmas Eve ball until she has been kissed.”
“I will not.” Isleen sat up a little straighter.
“Are you saying you do not want to hold Lord Farleigh, heir to an English duke, beneath your Irish heel?” Lady Josephine asked, batting her eyelashes at Isleen. “Think of telling all your friends the tale when you return to Dublin.”
Curses. An appeal to her Irish pride was the quickest way to obtain her agreement. How had Lady Josephine guessed at such a thing? Isleen narrowed her eyes and looked for the first time to where her brother sat, on the other side of the room, next to their mother.
He met her gaze, as though he had been watching the proceedings from afar, and winked at her before turning back to his conversation with the duke and duchess.
Had her loving brother set this whole thing up? He knew how she felt about the English and their opinions about the Irish. What if he had a hand in this? What if it was his attempt to teach her a lesson?
She looked to Lady Josephine again. The challenge in the woman’s eyes made it difficult to deny the appeal of being an earl’s keeper for nearly an entire month.
“Let me see if I understand you,” Lord Farleigh said, before Isleen had quite thought everything through. “I agree to act more like this imbecile”—he pointed at Sir Andrew—“until Christmas, and if I succeed, then Miss Frost must give in to our English customs and kiss someone beneath the mistletoe?”
“Yes. A completely harmless forfeit, all things considered.” Lady Josephine’s innocent smile had returned. Isleen believed what it conveyed less than ever.Though the lady added, “We will not allow it to be anyone truly horrid, Miss Frost. If the idea truly horrifies you, you could name a different forfeit.”
“And it is up to Miss Frost to decide if Simon upholds his side of the bargain,” Sir Andrew added with a smug tip of his head. “Miss Frost, if you think he fails at this, Simon must do something especially ridiculous in front of all the duke’s guests on Christmas Eve.”
“He detests singing in company,” Lady Atella put in with an air of helpfulness that Isleen certainly didn’t appreciate.
“And what do all of you get out of this?” Lord Farleigh asked, glowering at everyone. “Besides watching me make a spectacle of myself.”
“That alone is enough,” Lord Atella said so quietly Isleen almost didn’t hear him.
Lady Josephine leaned against her husband’s shoulder. “We receive the pleasure of watching you enjoy the Christmas Season for the first time in years.”
