Chapter 211: Questions Beneath the Rain
Chapter 210: Questions Beneath the Rain
Lyria’s POV
I stared at him cautiously.
Duke Thorncrest’s grin only widened beneath my scrutiny, which somehow made him appear even more suspicious.
"I beg your pardon?" I asked carefully.
"I said," he repeated with entirely too much delight, "that we should play a game."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"That expression," he said, pointing lightly toward my face, "suggests you believe I am about to commit a crime."
"I am merely b-being cautious."
"A wise instinct," he admitted. "But in this particular situation, unnecessary."
I was not convinced.
He leaned back comfortably against the settee.
"Since the maids have apparently decided we ought to perish from starvation before the refreshments arrive," he said dramatically, "we must entertain ourselves somehow."
"We shall play a game. A getting-to-know-you game."
I blinked.
"As I mentioned earlier," he continued, "I am quite curious about you. I should like to know you better."
The rain had softened further now, little more than a gentle patter against the glass. The grey light filtering through the windows had brightened somewhat, though the clouds remained thick overhead.
I considered his words.
"I have n-never heard of such a game," I admitted. "How is it played?"
His smile widened.
"We take turns asking questions," he said. "Each question must be answered within seconds. No prolonged deliberation. No careful weighing of words."
I frowned slightly.
"That seems r-rather rushed."
"That is rather the point."
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees.
"After the one who asks poses the question, the other answers. And after the answer, the one who asked must answer as well."
I blinked again.
"We b-both answer?"
"Yes."
He gestured toward the teapot sitting upon the low table before us.
"If anyone fails to answer," he said, "they must drink from that."
I looked at the teapot.
Then I looked at him.
"You just c-came up with that," I said.
He nodded shamelessly.
"Yes."
"You d-did not even attempt subtlety."
"I find honesty refreshing."
I stared at him for a moment longer.
Then, despite myself, I felt my lips twitch.
"Are you in?" he asked.
I hesitated.
The game seemed harmless enough. And I was also quite curious about him.
"Very well," I said. "I a-am in."
He clapped his hands together once, softly.
"Splendid."
He sat back again.
"Let us begin with an example," he said. "What is your name?"
I stared at him.
"That seems r-rather obvious."
"Humour me."
I sighed.
"Lyria," I said.
"Excellent," he said. "Alistair."
He smiled.
"You see? Quite easy."
I nodded slowly.
"It does s-seem rather straightforward."
He chuckled.
"It is."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Tell me," he said. "Do you enjoy games?"
I considered this for a while.
"I have not p-played many," I admitted. "But I do not d-dislike them."
"So you enjoy them."
"I s-suppose so. Yes."
His smile widened.
"Good."
He gestured toward me.
"Would you like to go first?"
I nodded.
I was quiet as I thought about what to ask for a moment.
"What is your f-favourite food, Your Grace?"
He did not hesitate.
"Roast pheasant," he said. "Prepared with herbs and a light glaze. My cook makes it exceptionally well."
I nodded, filing the information away.
"Your turn," he said.
I paused.
"Cherry pie," I said.
He laughed.
"Cherry pie is not a food," he said. "It is a dessert. A snack, perhaps."
I shrugged.
"I love it," I said. "I could e-eat it over and over a-again."
He chuckled.
"Fair play," he said. "I shall allow it."
He leaned forward slightly.
"My turn," he said. "What is your favourite weather?"
I did not hesitate.
"Cloudy."
He stared at me with wide eyes.
"Really?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Yes."
He blinked.
"I thought for certain you would say sunny."
"No," I said. "T-there is something about cloudy weather. The sun is not so h-high as to make one sweat. T-there is no rain. It is simply... c-comfortable."
He continued staring at me for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"You surprise me," he said.
"Is that g-good or bad?"
"I have not yet decided," he said with a wink.
I felt my lips twitch again.
"Your t-turn," I said.
He nodded.
"Sunny," he said. "I prefer the warmth. The light. The way everything seems brighter."
I nodded.
"Your favourite s-season?" I asked.
"Winter," he said at once.
I blinked.
"Winter?"
"Yes." He smiled. "I enjoy the cold. The way the world grows quiet. The excuse to remain indoors beside a fire."
I considered this. "That sounds c-contradictory. You like s-sunny weather but enjoy staying i-indoors during winter?"
"I am quite contradictory, Princess," he said with a smile. "Now, your answer."
"Autumn," I said.
"Autumn?"
"Yes. T-the colours. The crisp air. The sense that something is e-ending, but something else is preparing to b-begin."
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he nodded slowly.
"I understand that," he said.
He tilted his head.
"Your favourite colour?"
I hesitated.
"I do not r-really have one," I admitted.
He raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"All colours are beautiful," I said. "It feels strange to pick only one. I like different shades of different colours. It depends upon the context. The lighting. The surrounding hues."
He watched me carefully.
"That is a rather thoughtful answer," he said.
I shrugged slightly.
"You asked," I said.
He smiled.
"Yes," he said. "I did."
The rain had nearly stopped now. Only the occasional drop tapped against the glass, a soft counterpoint to the silence that had settled between us.
Duke Thorncrest leaned back.
"Your turn," he said.
I thought for a moment.
"What is your f-favourite memory?" I asked.
He was quiet for a while, and just before he could answer, we heard a knock at the door.
We turned just in time to see the maids walk in with the snacks the Duke had requested.
"I would have thought, given the occasion, this would have been prepared rather earlier than this," he noted.
Diana bowed then.
"We apologise for the delay, Your Grace. There were some things that we had to resolve," she said.
