The Pirate & The Porcelain Doll (WAYHAUGHT)

Chapter 18

"But can you eat them?" Nicole teased, pretending to hold a butterfly, her mouth opening in readiness to insert the imaginary insect.

"Stop it," Waverly replied, lowering her eyes, not wanting to give Nicole the satisfaction of making her laugh. "That's cruel. You really are naughty sometimes. How can anyone have a serious conversation with you?"

"Oh, so you want serious. In that case, let's play truth, or dare."

"No. No dares. You'll have me eating butterflies. I know you too well."

Nicole stuck out her lower lip. "No fun. Fine. I dare you to tell the truth."

Waverly looked at Nicole lying in bed, the top of her undergarment trailing open, the amount of skin showing making Waverly regret starting down this path. "I'm only answering nice questions," was all she could think to say in the moment. What she really meant to say was, she was not prepared to answer any question that would have her reveal too much.

"Nice questions," Nicole repeated. "I see. Nice questions. Nice questions. Oh, I have one. What is your favourite food?"

Waverly thought. "Not butterflies," she replied, earning a grin from Nicole. "My favourite food would have to be cook's treacle sponge, although your cook's trifle recipe is divine."

"Now you're cheating," Nicole said. "You're only allowed one answer."

"Then it has to be trifle. My turn. What was the first book you read?"

"Easy, 'Treasure Island'," Nicole replied, without thinking. "My turn. Where would you most like to be right now?"

Waverly thought. "Your mother's scented rose garden, but then I suppose I can't because it would have to be when the roses are in full bloom. Wait, I gave you that book. That can't be the first book you ever read."

"It was the first book I enjoyed reading."

"Nicole Haught! Stop cheating. I won't play if you cheat."

"Fine," Nicole replied, holding up her hands in mock submission. "I had books read to me by the nanny, which I don't consider me having read. Let me see. The first book I actually wanted to read was in my father's study. I was seven when I found it, in the drawer of his desk in his private sitting room. I wasn't meant to be there. Certainly wasn't meant to be looking in his private drawers."

"Why were you?" Waverly asked, already guessing the answer.

"Simply because I was told not to go in. I was being chased by Edward, I think, so it's his fault. The book was boring, no pictures. But, it had sentences underlined with pencil."

"What kind of sentences?" Waverly asked.

"I didn't understand at the time. So, I kept going back trying to guess some of the longer words. And then I found other books with pictures, of people doing things."

"I really do not want to ask this? Doing what?"

Nicole grinned. "Oh, things. Without clothes."

"I don't believe you," Waverly said, studying Nicole's face, desperate not to laugh. "You're cheating again. Pictures are not reading, you know that."

"They are," Nicole replied. "I read a lot into those pictures."

Waverly laughed. "You're only saying this to get a reaction. You think I don't know you. You love to shock. Oh my God, that's it. You love to say the most scandalous things, just to see how others behave."

"Moi," Nicole said, with her slight French accent. "But, you have me all wrong, mon papillon. So, Waverly Earp, who thinks she knows me, tell me, have you ever been kissed, on the lips?"