He insisted it was coincidental. So they tested this theory several times and taking turns whistling. It worked each and every single time, regardless of the interval between tests. Meredith was secretly enjoying watching him grow increasingly exasperated.
“This time, we shall wait a full ten minutes before we conduct another test!” the Duke declared. He had pressed Meredith for some logical reasoning as to why this “preposterous assertion” always seemed to be proven right.
However, Meredith herself did not know why; the postman simply imparted this assertion to the children at the orphanage many years ago, and they were so thrilled to find that he was right that it never occurred to them to inquire if he knewwhyit was so.
This anecdote seemed to only vex the Duke even further as he was apparently an avid advocate of rational thought and reasoning. Meredith giggled internally at his petty anger, for in many ways it resembled Lady Cecilia’s tantrums.
The Duke took out his pocket watch and set it on the grass, “Mark the time, Miss Meyer. It is about a quarter past one. We shall conduct another test at twenty-five minutes past one.”
Meredith acknowledged his eccentric remarks.
“Would you care to play a game while we wait, Miss Meyer?”
She raised her eyebrows, “A game, Your Grace? What do you suggest? Do you wish to playI Spy… again?”
He laughed, “Oh, this will be far more interesting, Miss Meyer. Although, admittedly, I have not played it myself in years.”
Without further comment, he began collecting leaves and arranging them in the outline of a circle. He then gathered pebbles and handed some to Miss Meyer.
And finally, he lay down a dried twig about five paces away from the circle of leaves.
“Miss Meyer, you will have to forgive me if the rules are rudimentary at best, but please understand that I was a young boy when I invented it. Now, if you would be so kind as to humor me by standing behind this twig…”
Meredith did as she was told. The Duke moved aside, but remained standing relatively close to her.
“All right. I believe that’s everything. Now, if you would please direct your attention skyward, Miss Meyer, we shall begin.”
Bewildered by these arbitrary instructions, Meredith began to wonder if perhaps the lateness of the hour was affecting the Duke. Nevertheless, she gazed heavenward.
The clear sky afforded them a most breathtaking view of the stars. Finally, the Duke explained the objective and mechanics of the game.
“Pick a star, Miss Meyer, whichever one appeals to you. And if you are able to land a pebble inside the circle of leaves, you may claim the star as your own and pick another one to target.”
“However, if your pebble lands outside of the boundary of the circle, then I shall have the chance to claim your chosen star for myself.”
With the procedure clear, they began the game. It was trickier than Meredith had anticipated, especially since the pebbles were of irregular sizes and weights. As the game went on, she began to notice new things about the Duke.
The very conception of this game demonstrated that His Grace has—or at least had—a creative and imaginative mind. Standing next to him, she did feel quite secure for the Duke was tall and well-built. At one point, she even found herself thinking that the moonlight suited him quite well.
As he returned from the circle after collecting their pebbles, he exclaimed, “You have good aim, Miss Meyer! That now makes sixteen stars for you and fifteen for me. Which one shall be your next target then?”
Meredith accepted her share of the pebbles from him and began scanning the sky once more. “That one, Your Grace. To the right of the last star that you won.”
“Ah, so you dare encroach upon my territory?”
She chortled. “Impossible, Your Grace. The rules say nothing about the ability to take away the stars that your opponent has already claimed. My strategy is to simply box you in.”
She tossed the pebble and missed, so it was the Duke’s turn again.
As he calculated his throw he sighed, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful, Miss Meyer, if we could visit our stars? I know it is merely wishful thinking, but I would like to see if the stars are just as beautiful up close as they are from all the way over here.”
When Meredith didn’t respond, he turned to face her. But when he saw that she was already looking at him, he looked away instantly. Meredith was unsure before, but there was no doubt about it now.
She was beginning to fall for him.
“Your Grace?”
“Yes, Miss Meyer?”
