Me?
Victor Pratt removed the blindfold.
“Here, Pratt, hand me that,” Burwood called. “I think as punishment for being so tardy to our little game, Lady Honoria should be the blind man—or blind woman, as it were.” He laughed at his own joke.
The delicious plum cake sat heavy in her stomach, and her limbs seemed to be firmly fixed to the ground. If Colin were there, he would come to her rescue immediately. “Oh, no. I couldn’t . . .”
“Of course you can.” Burwood snatched the blindfold from Victor’s hand. “It’s my party. What’s the point in being a duke if I can’t choose who assumes the most important role in the game? Now, turn around.” He made a circular motion with his finger.
Drake turned from where Anne had tethered herself to his arm. “Burwood, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He remembers. Oh, thank you, Drake.
Unfortunately, the duke ignored him. As he tied the blindfold around her head, he leaned in and whispered, “Remember what I said. You have an ally in me.” Giving the cloth a sound tug, he asked, “Now, Lady Honoria, can you see anything?”
She shook her head. And that was precisely the problem. Panic crept in with the darkness.
Once as a child, she’d hid in the root cellar on her family’s estate to escape her governess’s lessons, only to become trapped inside. She’d called out for what seemed like hours in the pitch-black, chilly space until her brother had found her and pried open the stuck door. To that day, she hated not being able to see.
“Very well,” Burwood continued. “The rules of the game are thus: I shall spin you around three times. Then you try to catch one of us. If you do, and you can identify who you’ve captured, that person becomes the new blind man. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” She hoped the dread seeping in didn’t reach her voice. She took a deep breath in an effort to calm her nerves.
Someone—presumably Burwood—spun her around. If it was three times, she would have to take his word for it. The action alone disoriented her.
“Over here, my lady.” A masculine voice called from behind. Mr. Pratt, perhaps?
Hands outstretched, she turned around and took a tentative step forward. Her stomach lurched. What if she tripped and fell? Giggles sounded from her left. Anne or perhaps Lydia?
“Over here,” someone else called from her right. On and on it went, voices calling out, urging her forward in their direction. Her hands clutched nothing but air. As soon as she moved in the direction of one voice, it would shift positions.
“Be fearless, Lady Honoria! You must be quicker.” Burwood?
I’m trying!
She concentrated, trying to gauge the distance and positions of theparticipants, reminding herself she was not trapped. Why didn’t she hear Drake? Where was he?
“Straight ahead!” Burwood again?
Something in his voice made her believe he understood her pain and frustration. Would he hold still and allow her to catch him and end this torture? She barreled forward, determined not to let fear of humiliation win.
People yelled all around her, disorientating her again. As she raced forward, she hoped—nay prayed—she would grasp onto someone.
A man shouted something unintelligible.Drake?
Suddenly, her breath was wrenched from her lungs as someone ran into her, knocking her to the ground and landing on top of her.
Drake’s insides roiled.Honoria had confided in him about an experience she had as a child. Not being able to see terrified her. He stood perfectly still as she stumbled his way, waiting, hoping she would reach him, but she veered off to the side.
Hands pressed against his back, and before he could say a word, he was propelled forward, straight into Honoria’s path. He stumbled into her with such force she rocked back, and he wrapped his arms around her to steady her. But it was too late. She toppled backward, taking him with her.
“Oof!” Air whooshed from his lungs as he landed on top of her.
Simon jeered behind him. “I say. I don’t believe you are supposed to run into her.”
Drake scrambled off Honoria, and peered up at Simon’s laughing face, suspecting exactly whose hands had pushed him.
Like the good sport she was, Honoria kept the blindfold on, her hands pushing against the ground in an attempt to right herself.
