Page 33 of Trapped with the Beastly Duke

He stiffened, but before he could say anything, Natalie peered around from behind her brother and grinned at Rose. “Have you come to play with us, too?” she asked brightly.

Alexander looked down at his sister, and Rose recognized the look as one she often used with her own sisters. It was one that said,Stop talking, now.

Rose forced herself not to smile, especially when Peter appeared at Alexander’s other side, an equally hopeful look on his face.

“Oh, yes, it’s much more fun with more people!” Peter looked at Rose and Olivia.

“I am quite sure the good ladies have other things to do.” Alexander’s voice was firm as he tried to nudge his siblings away. “They will no doubt want to return to their walk.”

He wants us to leave.

Yet, Rose found she could not bring herself to do so. This was a side of Alexander she had never seen before, and she found herself deeply curious.

Ignoring his words, she moved towards the group and bent down so that she was the same height as Peter and Natalie. “Iwould love to play with you both, but I am afraid I do not know what game you are playing.”

“Ah, see, well, there you have it, the ladies will have to—” Alexander began, relief evident in his voice, until Marie cut him off.

“We are playing Pirates and Officers,” she replied with an air of authority. “We are the Officers, and that is the Dread Pirate Golden Eye.”

“He lost his eye after he stole from a sea witch who sent a cursed bird after him. That’s why he has the scar!” Natalie mock whispered to Rose.

“Well, it is rather foolish to steal from a sea witch.” Rose attempted to keep her expression serious.

“I did not know she was a sea witch at the time, and it was only under the King’s orders that I did so in the first place,” Alexander explained, his formal tone at odds with his words.

Rose glanced at him, the corners of her mouth quirking up into a smile. “Ahh, well, in that case, you were betrayed.”

“Yes, and then he kept the treasure for himself. And we”—Peter gestured to himself, then Marie, and then Natalie—“have been sent to retrieve it and to end his life.”

Rose nodded. “So, to win, you must find the treasure and avenge your king?”

The children nodded, apparently pleased that she had picked up the story of their game so quickly. She pursed her lips as if in thought, glancing at Olivia and then Alexander.

“If I am to understand, the Dread Pirate Golden Eye has hidden this treasure, and no doubt there will be riddles and clues for you to solve to find them?” She waited for the children to nod in confirmation before continuing. “And I assume there are traps and all sorts of dangerous things to stand in your way?”

Once more, the children nodded, and she grinned. Moving quickly, she grabbed one of Alexander’s fallen swords and pointed it not at Alexander but at the children before her.

She put on her best villainous voice and said, “I will not let you stealmytreasure. For you see, I am Golden Eye’s Pirate Queen.”

Olivia joined her, folding her arms as she stared down at her siblings and added, “And now it appears that it will be three against three. For I am the infamous Black-Haired Maiden, the right hand of the Pirate Queen and the first mate of Dread Pirate Golden Eye.”

Behind them, Alexander groaned.

Rose smiled.

I shall see the real you, one way or another, Alexander Rokesby.

Chapter Twelve

The Game Begins

Alexander cast a sidelong look at his wife as she stood in front of him, having proclaimed herself his Pirate Queen. If someone had asked him that morning how his day would progress, he would not have expected this.

In truth, as soon as he had seen her, he had expected ridicule. Yet, she had surprised him. She had treated his siblings with gentle earnestness and then, in a complete turn, declared herself a villain.His Pirate Queen.Her words echoed in his head, and his chest tightened slightly.

Of course, at that point, Olivia had joined in, and Alexander knew there was no hope of escape.

Besides, look at the excitement on their faces.