She stood from her table and walked across the open lawn with her friend, Miss Hardy. They approached a game of croquet that was quickly being set up by some of the other guests.
“What do you say, cousin?” Percival asked and laid a hand on his shoulder.
“To what?”
“We could join in the game.” Percival nodded his head at the croquet set and the ladies moving toward it. “Something tells me you might quite like a game.” Christopher narrowed his eyes at Percival, realizing that his cousin had seen something Christopher was trying very hard not to show.
He knows I have this fondness for her. It should not be there!
As others left their table, Percival dug him in the ribs.
“There’s nothing wrong with admiring Lady Helena, Christopher. If that’s what you want to do, then go ahead and make time for her.”
“That is not what is happening.”
“Then why else would you stare at her as much as you do?”
“I’m not staring,” Christopher insisted, drinking the last of his tea. Despite the temptation to turn round and look for her again, he fought it this time.
“Then you won’t object to me offering to partner her in the game.” Percival stood.
“Wait, what?” Christopher jerked his head up.
“I might join the ladies in their game. Unless you have any objection, cousin?” Percival asked with a knowing smile. Christopher cursed and stood hurriedly.
“Say nothing,” he ordered Percival as he hastened toward the lawn. Percival’s chuckle followed him toward the croquet game.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
“It seems we have another two players,” Lord Brummer, their host, declared and nodded his head at the Duke of Bridstone and Lord Sheylough.
Helena looked toward them in shock. She had never once seen the Duke of Bridstone take part in games such as this before. She had always presumed he had little interest in such things.
“We have too many players, so let us split into two groups,” Lord Brummer continued, gesturing between the large group of people that surrounded him.
“My Lord, the Duke and I will partner the two young ladies here,” Lord Sheylough said and stood beside Nancy, gesturing to her and Helena. Nancy raised her eyebrows at Helena, but the latter said nothing.
What is going on?
“Perfect, thank you for volunteering Lord Sheylough. Well, let the games begin.” As Lord Brummer’s group disappeared to the far end of the lawn, Helena picked up her own mallet, turning to face the Duke of Bridstone, who walked toward the two of them, hardly looking happy about the outcome.
“I had little idea you were fond of this game, Your Grace,” Helena said as Lord Sheylough introduced himself to Nancy, and they began to mark out the game.
“My cousin might have twisted my arm into doing it.”
“Does my company irk you so much?” she whispered. “You cannot even bear the idea of a game with me?”
“Now, now, no provoking today, Lady Helena,” he said and tossed one of the balls into the air, catching it in his other hand. “Let us play an easy game, yes? No teasing, no arguing, yes?”
“We can certainly try.”
“Miss Hardy?” the Duke of Bridstone said and walked around Helena. “Let me help you with that.” He took one of the hoops from Nancy and drove it into the ground when she was struggling to do so. It was such a gallant gesture that Helena stared at him, fidgeting with the mallet in her grasp.
I hadn’t expected him to do that.
“Let us begin,” Lord Sheylough said and took the first strike.
The next few minutes passed in easy gameplay though Helena said little as she played her turns. Each time she wished to speak to Nancy or talk about the game, she found Nancy was deep in conversation with the Duke of Bridstone. As Lord Sheylough took his turn, Helena stood behind Nancy and the Duke, her fidgeting on the mallet growing worse and worse.
