“But you are doing it wrong.”
“Then, I shall continue doing it wrong in my own way until I do it right,” she retorted, exasperated.
He rested his hands on his hips. “Why are you being so stubborn?”
“Why are you?”
“I am trying to help.”
“No, you are trying to meddle,” she replied. “I am content to do things my way. If I needed help, I would have asked Lord Luminport. He has scored twice as well as you. Indeed, I would ask Lady Joan before I would ask you.” She huffed out a tense breath. “Speaking of which, why are you not teachingherhow to play? It does not matter that she is better than you—it is the flirtation of the thing.”
An odd thought crossed her mind.That is not whatheis trying to do, is it?
She dispensed with the notion as quickly as it had appeared, almost laughing at the ridiculousness of the idea. He would have been more inclined to hitherwith the mallet than pretend to teach her for any sort of flirtatious reason.
“Lady Anna,” he said quietly, echoing her exasperation. “Are you… angry with me?”
She stared at him. “What?”
“Are you angry with me?”
She rolled her eyes, aware that they were being watched. “Currently or generally?”
“Are you angry because of what I said last night? Is that why you have been avoiding me?” Percival paused. “We both know it has nothing to do with salmon.”
Anna scoffed, hoping he could not see the heat blooming in her cheeks. “I have known you for many, many years, Percival,” she said in a hushed tone. “It would take more than a few sour remarks for me to bother with anger.”
Hehadhurt her, when he had tried to insult the nature of the work she performed. He hadhurt her when he had used her spinsterhood against her, though he knew it had never been her intention to be unmarried. He had hurt her when he had called her “Catchweed” again, for she had thought they had moved past that. He had hurt her in myriad ways, but she would never admit that to his face.
“Nor have I been avoiding you,” she hastened to add. “I have merely been enjoying time with my friends and brothers.”
Percival raised an eyebrow. “So, you didnotleave the table because of what I said?”
“I left the table because I could not stomach the salmon,” she insisted. “Now, if you please, I should like to take my turn. Everyone is observing us, and I doubt Lady Joan will take kindly to this intervention of yours.”
For a worrisome minute, it looked like Percival was going to stay there anyway, until he got the answer that he wanted out of her.
Then, with a breath and a shrug, he headed back to the periphery of the bowling green and stood there with a face like thunder, his arms folded across his chest. His entire demeanor seemed to say, “Go on then, get it over with.”
“Show that hoop that you will take no prisoners!” Olivia cheered, raising the anticipation of the gathered crowd once more.
Leah whistled sharply. “Swing as you have never swung before!”
Anna flashed her beloved friends an embarrassed smile, thinking for a brief instant that not so much had changed. They were as gloriously silly and supportive as always, even if half were missing, for Phoebe and Matilda were not due to arrive until later that evening.
“Anna! Anna! Anna!” the two women chanted together, spurring Anna on.
Brimming with confidence, a wide grin upon her lips, she made a few practice swings. Certain that she would succeed this time, she drew the mallet back one final time…
“Pretend it is a husband, Catchweed, then you will be sure to miss!”
Her eyes snapped up at Percival as the mallet came down, and with all the fury and hurt suddenly surging in her veins, she slammed the blunt end into the ball. It sailed into the air, missing the hoop entirely, barreling like a cannonball across the bowling green. Headed straight toward Percival.
As she watched it fly, her anger transformed into horror. A few ladies gasped and turned away quickly, while eyes widened, and hands flew up to cover open mouths all around the bowling green.
The ball struck the side of Percival’s face, and Anna was left standing there, mallet in hand, trembling at what she had done.
CHAPTERELEVEN
