Page 30 of To Steal a Kiss

“It’s your hat,” she said. “Don’t you want to do it?”

“Not this time,” Kitty said, breathless with eagerness. “I want to take a dare.”

A murmured oooh of excitement shivered over the group as Kitty looked round at them expectantly. “Who else is going to dare?”

There was a tense silence and then Lucia reached out and stuck her hand into the hat, pulling out a thin slip of paper. “There,” she said, her beautiful face flushed and strangely defiant.

Kitty crowed with delight. “Hurrah! Now my turn.”

Her dark eyes were alight with excitement as Bonnie made a show of stirring the hat.

“Very well then, Kitty. Fate awaits you!” Bonnie said with a thrilling tone. Of all the girls, she had something of a flair for melodrama.

“Eeek!” Kitty said, before plunging her hand into the hat and rustling about for a bit. She withdrew a slip of her own, and everyone held their breath.

“You go first,” she said, as she turned to Lucia.

They watched with avid attention as Lucia unfolded the slip of paper. Matilda noticed her fingers tremble a little as she did so.

“Oh, come on!” Bonnie exclaimed, sitting on the edge of the settee. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”

Lucia read the words of her dare, the corners of her mouth twitching a little. “Smoke a cigar and drink whisky in a man’s study.”

There were murmurs and gasps as everyone considered this.

“Drat,” Kitty said, scowling a little. “I would have liked that one.”

“Read yours, Kitty,” Ruth urged as everyone’s attention turned to the girl.

Kitty stared at the piece of paper in her hands and took a deep breath as everyone waited. She read the dare and a frown of consternation wrinkled her forehead.

“That makes no sense,” she said, looking up at everyone.

“Read it out loud,” Lucia suggested as everyone leaned in, eager to hear what challenge awaited Kitty. The girl had been rather vocal on the idea of these dares, so she was in no position to back out.

“Dress the Earl of St Clair’s bear in evening attire.”

Everyone gaped at her and then burst out laughing.

“His bear?” Harriet asked, wrinkling her nose. “I do hope that’s not a euphemism.” This was said with the utmost sincerity but caused the rest of the group to dissolve into giggles. Harriet looked nonplussed. “What? I don’t think it’s funny. That’s a good way to get yourself ruined.”

“Oh, oh,” Minerva said, clutching at her sides and struggling to speak through her laughter. “B-But it does make sense, and it isn’t a euphemism. He really does have a bear.”

“He does?” Kitty stared at her, aghast.

“Not a real one,” Minerva said in a rush. “At least, it was real, but it’s dead. Stuffed.”

Kitty heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh! Thank goodness.” She grinned at Minerva. “I had visions of wrestling a grizzly bear and trying to tie a cravat around its neck.”

Minerva shook her head. “No, it’s in the library at Holbrooke House.”

“That’s close to our home in Sussex. It’s huge, an Elizabethan behemoth,” Harriet said, pushing her spectacles up her nose. “It’s a fascinating place, said to be haunted. Apparently, St Clair’s great-great-grandfather rebuilt the west wing and put a kitchen over the original chapel. He’s punished for it by being forced to walk the corridors on stormy nights.”

“Good heavens.” Ruth looked amused and sceptical at this idea. “Surely you don’t believe it?”

Harriet shrugged. “No. But it hasn’t been disproven and many people believe they have seen it. I would love to understand what causes the apparition, and what it really is. For it can’t be a ghost, of course.” She frowned, turning her teacup on the saucer. “I haven’t been there since last year, but I certainly don’t remember a bear. It must be new.”

“Anyway,” Minerva said, returning the conversation to the point. “Every summer, they hold a grand party. Everyone who’s anyone will be there.”