It made Scarlett a little nervous. But after what she’d just said to Julian she couldn’t back out now, and though it might have been a little terrifying, it was also exhilarating to take control in a way she never had before. “I’ll start with a simple challenge and each challenge will grow progressively harder until one of you backs out, or one of you fails to complete a task.”
“What’s the first challenge?” Nicolas asked.
Scarlett tried to remember what she’d read in the history books. But this was her game; she could do it however she wanted. “Each of you must bring me a gift within the next three days, but it must be something you’ve never given to anyone else.”
“Will we get a prize if we bring the best gift?” Julian asked.
“Yes,” Scarlett said. “I’ll give a kiss to the winner of each individual challenge, and at the end of the game, I’ll marry whoever wins.”
It was the sort of thing Tella would have said. It was bold, and it made Scarlett feel bold as well.
But feelings never lasted, and the results of this game would.
9
Scarlett
Scarlett tried not to regret her choice in declaring her hand in marriage a game, while Julian appeared to be hiding how unhappy he was with the way their visit to Nicolas’s estate had turned out. After Scarlett had laid out the rules of the game, she’d convinced both gentlemen to sit down and have some of the tea and treats Nicolas had prepared. But of course it had turned into another competition; talk of traveling turned into a battle over who traveled the most. Talk of books had turned into a contest to see who was better read. And when the talk had stopped, they’d stared each other down until Scarlett finally declared it time to leave.
Julian now leaned his dark head against the window, one booted foot slung casually over his knee as he hummed softly. Scarlett knew he didn’t feel as careless as he appeared, but his melody was resonant and relaxing, making all the flourishing rows of country farms look even prettier as their coach lumbered over uneven roads.
“Do you also sing?” Scarlett asked. “I’ve never heard a hum so musical.”
The corner of Julian’s mouth hitched into a wry smile. “I have lots of practice. For years, Legend kept giving me roles as a minstrel who only spoke in song.”
Scarlett laughed. “What did you do to earn that?”
Julian shrugged. “My brother has a jealous streak. I think it bothered him that I was getting so much attention during the games. He tried to turn me into a joke. But everyone likes a handsome young man with a good voice.”
Scarlett rolled her eyes, but the world did turn lovelier when Julian started humming again. She looked out the window as the coach rumbled closer to an immaculately kept country house the color of Sun Festival peaches, trimmed in crisp white and surrounded by rambling faises that made her think of living lace.
Even the family out front appeared to be perfectly posed. They must have been celebrating the festival with an outdoor dinner. There was a long table atop the grass, set with flowered cloths and covered in what looked like a feast. The family of five stood around it, all drinking from earthenware goblets as if someone had just given a toast. Scarlett looked to the youngest child, a girl with long braids down her back. She held her goblet with both hands, lips smiling as if this was her first taste of wine. It was the sort of grin that hurt if a person held on to it too long.
But the smile didn’t change. Nothing changed.
Bitter-orange pinpricks of unease crawled over Scarlett’s skin as the coach trundled past and no one among the party lowered their goblets or moved at all.
Scarlett might have thought the family was a series of incredibly lifelike statues if not for the terrified plumes of phantom-purple swirling around their frozen forms. Plumes that were definitely not in Scarlett’s mind. She could see their feelings so vividly, her heart stated racing with whatever fright they were experiencing.
“Something’s wrong.” Scarlett reached across the carriage and opened the window to yell at the driver, “Stop the coach!”
“What’s the matter?” Julian asked.
“I don’t know, but something isn’t right.” She flung open the door as soon as the carriage came to a stop.