As if the Duke would be marrying anyone this Season, let alone her!
* * *
Rowan stood in the middle of the green field, leaning against his cricket bat, tapping his foot idly. He was restless for the game to start and take his mind off of the impending doom of marriage, and meeting his mother for dinner this evening.
“All right, gentlemen, I expect a clean game. This is for charity, and there are children present, so let us keep manners at the forefront of this game.” The referee chuckled. “You all know the rules. We will play as the Prince’s word, so keep your eyes open.”
They all nodded, and Marcus trotted over to him, nudging him with the long wooden mallet he held. “You look pissy. Someone seems to have stolen your lady.”
Rowan looked over at the giant white tent that housed their audience, as well as the Royals, but he did not see Alice.
Why do I even care where she is? Either she is here and working on romancing the Earl, or she is not. It does not affect me what she is up to.
As soon as he went to look away, her honey-blonde hair caught his eye, several loose, flowing curls catching the sunlight under her green and white hat as she walked around the tent to speak to a group of people. He watched her as she leaned her head back to laugh, exposing the neck that he remembered caressing with his hand.
He swallowed, looking away. “The Earl of Eaton has his eye on her.”
“You’d better play like hell today.” Marcus laughed, stepping toward the ball.
Their attention was brought to the tent, where the prince walked out, seemingly more drunk than when Rowan saw him earlier. “Gentlemen! Are you ready for some fun?”
The gentlemen hooted and hollered, and Rowan nodded to him, looking back over to see that Alice had made her way back to her seat, and was looking at him. He winked at her, and her polite smile dropped before being replaced with a bashful one. He just barely noticed, but he could have sworn she stuck her tongue out at him, making him grin.
“Let’s play!”
A horn sounded as the prince made his way back to his seat, and the game began.
* * *
“Oh.” Alice flinched as she saw the Duke’s team miss another point and the opposing team make their runs.
“It will be fine,” Camilla reassured her from across the table. “He played while he attended Eton. Very well, if I remember correctly.”
“Why did he stop?” Alice asked, taking a biscuit from her plate.
“Well, after his father passed, he shut down and quit almost every activity to spite his mother and her reputation. I heard she was coming today,” Camilla said idly, checking her nails. “She’d better stay away from him if she wants to not cause a scene.”
“Is it truly that bad?”
Camilla’s mother finally spoke up, raising her eyebrows at the talk of a scandal. “I have not spoken to her since the funeral. She was ostracized until the ton found more interesting things to fret about.”
Alice looked back at the field, following Rowan with her eyes. He leaned forward and was able to move swiftly across the field, swinging his mallet around and sending the ball soaring through the air toward the infield.
“Miss Snow.” The Earl had returned, obstructing her view of the field and sitting next to her. “Apologies for my absence. I had some business to deal with.”
“Are you a businessman, My Lord?” she asked idly, not entirely interested. She had an idea, though.
“I am. I love anything that can make my little sisters happy, which happens to be money.” He chuckled.
“Oh, do you? I heard that the Duke of Grafton has been quite lucky in recent years, as well,” she said, watching his expression change to one of jealousy. “He is looking for investors currently. I do not know much of the English trade, My Lord, but I am sure you two could have an enjoyable conversation about business.”
“Well, certainly anything he is offering, I can afford.” He adjusted the lapels of his jacket. “I will have you know that I am quite apt when it comes to investment.”
“We can talk to him after the game, then, My Lord.” She smiled.
He gave her a showy smile, seemingly thrilled to flaunt his wealth in front of her.
It worked. The Earl believes that I am attracted to the Duke’s money, which means he may have just earned a new investor. Plus, I am closer to securing a suitor.
