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Rowena clinked the side of her wineglass with a spoon to get the table ’s attention, and Lily quickly fantasized that getting cornered into a conversation about French politics would surely beat whatever was about to happen

"If I may, my laird…" Rowena tilted her chin down and ly coy smile Lily could see from the dark look that flashed across his face that Eas less than pleased Settling into her seat, Lily took a gulp of wine and thought thisafter all

"As you all are surely aware, I have just returned froh where I stayed, of course, in Moray House itself…"

Rowena paused dra an awestruck response that the table did not provide, except for Tessa, who nodded and s The plain and faithful sister reminded Lily of a cocker spaniel, and she was so tickled by her own tipsy observations that she had to quickly turn an inadvertent laugh into a cough

"Lily, you can go first "

Lily gathered herself after what turned into a real coughing fit only to find that all eyes were upon her

"Ua sy to deal with such a di, everyone in court is ame?" Roas incredulous She pressed, "Surely you have heard of it I ’h if it hasn ’t made it into the French countryside …"

Uncle Donald came to Lily’s rescue and she could have kissed him for it "Refresh an old man’s memory, will you, lass? I don ’t spend myself on the fool pastimes of Lowland lassies and their dandies "

"Well " Rowena cleared her throat and made the word sound like a reproach "To put it as siave a saucy nod directly to Donald, which seeer Ewen yet merely amuse the older man "one person leaves the room Everyone places a -- personal token on the table The person co fro "

"How do you knoho the owner is?"

Rowena looked at Lily as if she were simpleminded "That is the point You do not knoho the owner is " Rowena’s disdain was obvious "You ’ve truly never played this game?"

"Oh, Miss Rowena " Robert took control of the situation, and Lily had to ade For hi on the cat "Not everyone has the luxury to spend their days enjoying such frivolity "

Hescientific observations about another culture "The primary player returns to the roo the owner of that item must do If the item’s owner does not perform said act, that person will lose the object they had placed in the pile"

Tessa exclai for the first time "Forfeits! That is why it is called Forfeits! " Donald muttered from underneath his linen napkin, "The lass is daft as a yett on a windy day "

Lily had to take a big gulp of wine in an effort to avoid laughing She had no idea what a yett was but was thrilled that she wasn ’t the only one at the table mystified by Tessa’s stupidity

"The second playeror they forfeit their possession If they refuse, the first player gets to keep it! " Tessa looked quite pleased with herself and Lily hty and just plain dim

Rorested the table ’s attention back to herself

"As I said, Lily, you shall leave the room first " Rowena flashed her teeth in as supposed to be a curt smile, and Lily’s sto to avenge that evening’s seating arrangements

Chapter 17

"Co on the table!"

Ewen could only glare at Tessa in response He had intended the evening to be no more than a simple meal He would introduce Lily to a select nun selection of loyal clanshlands, much less France, and whoossip would dispatch any lingering village speculation as to who Lily was or where she came from

Ever since she returned fro for his attention He had hoped that hosting her, the absurd creature she called a sister, and that poor simp Archie for a meal would put off her unwanted attentions for a while He couldn’t bear her company and didn’t understand why she persisted with her flirtations Ewen supposed she was the type of woman ould be incredulous to discover that there was actually a rowled, "asthis torture, if you don ’t put so for you "

Robert raised his eyebrows encouragingly "Yes, it would be pleasant to retire soon for the night "