Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Only the younger members of the house party crowded together on the lawn of the outer bailey at Tweed. The older members had stayed at Hedlund, where it was warm and quiet. Ben was certain Mia envied her father. Or any of the older crowd, if truth be told.
She stood at the front of the group, trying to quiet down the conversations that had begun on the carriage rides over. “We will start with a friendly game of croquet. We will return indoors for tea and to warm up. Then we thought it might be fun to have a friendly shooting competition this afternoon.”
“Shooting? Is that to be a fair competition? The men will surely be the victors.” Miss Newsome grumbled.
Ben grinned. “Perhaps the fun will be in teaching the ladies how to shoot.”
Lady Charlotte smiled cautiously at him.
“I thought we could participate as teams—for both activities. One man and one lady on each team. That should even things out, I should think.” Mia smiled at the crowd. It was not genuine, Ben could tell. He missed her genuine smiles. He’d not seen many of them in the last few days.
He frowned. Perhaps this party had been ill-advised. He had thought she would eventually warm to the idea. Especially once people arrived and the festivities began. But he also figured she’d become friends with some guests. But so far, that had not happened. She simply looked more exhausted than she had yesterday. And it was only the second full day of the party. Why was it taking longer than he’d expected for his plan to come to fruition? Or would she never come to enjoy it? And if she didn’t, how tired would she look in a fortnight?
“Lady Amelia, would you be my partner for croquet?” Cort asked.
Mia glanced over at Ben as if she were wondering why he hadn’t asked her. Why hadn’t he? He’d planned to, but Cort had jumped on the question rather quickly. Ben had not yet had time to think—let alone get the words out.
Mia smiled and nodded. “I would enjoy it very much, my lord. Thank you.” She glanced over at Ben and her brow creased before she glanced away.
A hand snaked around Ben’s arm. “Why do we not partner up, my lord?”
Ben looked down to see Lady Charlotte on his arm.
She blinked rapidly at him. Did she have something in her eye? He cringed, realizing she was likely trying to flutter her lashes at him. The lady needed to learn how to flirt better. Ben sighed and glanced over to Mia. “Do you hear the shags?” He raised his voice on the last word. “They are very loud today.”
Lady Charlotte twisted her head about, straining to hear the non-existent birds. “I don’t hear them, my lord.” She smiled up at him. “But then I do not know what they sound like. Perhaps you can introduce me to it better when we take a turn on the cliffs.”
“Indeed, I’d be honored to partner with you, my lady.” Ben sighed but hurried to add, “For croquet. I’m not certain about the particulars of the cliff activity as yet.” He made a mental note to ask Mia to be his partner for shooting first thing. He would not let Cort beat him to it again.
He also made a note to speak to her about their secret word. Thus far, it was proving no help at all.
“Let me fetch us a ball and some mallets. Wait here, my lady.” Ben sauntered off to retrieve their things. Lady Charlotte watched him with a puzzled gaze.
“Do you play croquet often, my lady?” Cort asked Mia as Ben walked past them.
“Rarely. It is not a sport I find very appealing.” She held her mallet by the head. “But Ben and Franny seemed to think it would be a game universally enjoyed.”
Cort eyed her. “Perhaps you don’t enjoy it because no one taught you how to play it correctly.”
Mia raised a brow. “Oh? I believe I play by all the rules, my lord.”
Ben paused with his ball and club in his hands and listened. What was Cort rattling on about?
Cort looked thoughtfully at Mia. “That is your first problem.”
Mia eyed him suspiciously. “Playing by the rules is my problem?”
Cort shrugged innocently. “Perhaps if we—” He pursed his lips and looked heavenward, “enhanced the rules, you might find the activity more to your liking.”
“What does that mean exactly?” Mia’s eyes widened. “You’re not suggesting we—” she looked from side to side before leaning in, “cheat, are you?”
“We would not be cheating, per se.” Cort lifted a shoulder. “Think of it as enlivening the game.”
He reached out and took the mallet from her hands. “But first, we must modify the accouterments.” He winked at her.
Ben took a step toward them.
Cort wandered off to the far wall and plucked up two sticks, each about three feet long. They were nowhere close to being straight, but they were thick, as if they were cut from the trunk.
He brought one over and presented it to Mia as if it were a royal scepter. “Your stick, my lady.”
She tilted her head to the side, confusion warring with gayety. “And what am I supposed to do with this, my lord? There is no head.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “It adds more challenge to the game, does it not?” He swung his own stick in front of him, like the pendulum on a long-case clock. “Now, as to those rules you follow so closely…” He waggled his brows at her. “I suggest you follow my lead.”
A smile twitched at Mia’s mouth, and Ben’s brows rose slowly. “Are we to inform the others of our—” She glanced around her, “enhanced game?”
Cort let out an exaggerated guffaw. “Now, where is the fun in that?”
Mia nodded. “Surprisingly, I’m not opposed to your idea—although I should be.” She looked suspicious. “What are your motives?”
Cort swept his hand in front of him and bowed deeply. “Merely to entertain you, my lady.”
Rags let out a disgruntled scoff. At least Ben wasn’t the only one noticing Cort’s odd behavior.
“Very well.” Mia sounded happy. Excited even. Ben did not know what to think as they moved away.
He moved to follow them but a hand on his arm stopped him. “My lord, shall we take our places?”
Ben looked down at Lady Charlotte and sighed. “Yes, let’s.”
Charlie cleared his throat and raised a brow.
Ben gave him a look that pleaded for help.
“I believe you’re on your own, Ben,” Reginald whispered from the side of his mouth as he escorted his wife to the playing field.
Lady Stoke gave Lady Charlotte a knowing look. She frowned and looked down at her mallet.
Cort and Mia stood in front of them. If Ben did not know better, he might think his friend had purposely held back so they might be closer to each other. However, the only reason Ben thought Cort might do such a thing was so they could chat as they played. But Cort spoke only to Mia. The two leaned their heads close together and whispered. It was all rather vexing.
He pushed thoughts of Cort and Mia away and lined up his shot. He swung his mallet back and struck the ball just as Cort stepped in front of him. The ball hit Cort’s foot and rolled back nearly to where it had started from.
“What are you doing?” Ben snapped at Cort.
“My apologies. I was walking to my ball. Perhaps you should be patient and wait until the previous team has finished their whole turn.” Cort held up his hands as he winked at Mia.
Mia covered her mouth with her hand, but Ben caught the beginnings of her smile. What the blazes? Mia hated croquet, except when she played with him. But now she was not only enjoying the game but also giving Cort a real smile. What was happening? She didn’t give up her smile easily, and yet Cort was the recipient because of his disreputable actions.
Cort stopped on the other side of Ben and Lady Charlotte. He waved a hand in front of him. “We are finished here. You may take your turn.” He smiled irritatingly. “Don’t forget to count your first hit. We don’t tolerate cheating.” His head tilted to the side as if he were scolding Ben.
“I will not count it.” Ben snapped. “If it was not yet our turn, as you said, then my hit did not count.”
“If that is what you wish.” Cort raised his brows. “But don’t worry. I won’t mention it to the others.”
Mention what? Was he implying that Ben was trying to cheat?
Ben clenched his jaw. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he didn’t like it.
Lady Charlotte took her turn, hitting the ball too softly for it to move very far. Her voice was not the only timid thing about her. They moved through the next few hoops without too much incident. Cort and Mia were not acting overly friendly, which suited Ben.
But on the fourth hoop, Cort gasped. “Was that lightning I just saw over there?” He pointed off in the distance. Everyone turned to look, but Ben saw movement in the corner of his eye. Cort bent quickly and moved the hoop closer to Mia’s ball. He stood up with a jerk as everyone turned back around.
“I saw nothing,” Miss Newsome looked over her shoulder questioningly.
“Nor did I,” Lady Heatherton gave Cort a bland look. Had she seen what he had done?
Cort clasped his hands behind his back. “Perhaps I was wrong.” He dipped his head. “Play on.”
Mia stared at the ground, her shoulders lightly bounced up and down.
Ben’s fists tightened at his side. What in the blazes was going on? How could she be a party to such underhandedness?
He rotated his shoulders. The game was nearly over. Then they could return to the house and warm up with some tea. And he could make certain Cort was nowhere near Mia.
Mia hit her ball. It careened toward the hoop but stopped just inches from going through. She stomped her foot. “Fiddle-faddle!”
Cort, without looking down, kicked his foot back.
Ponsy coughed, drawing everyone’s attention and giving Cort just what he needed. Was Ponsy in on the scheme? It did not seem in line with the gentleman’s character.
Cort clapped his hands together. “Well done, my lady. You are through the hoop.”
“But he—” Lady Charlotte opened her mouth to object.
“Do not waste your breath. The game is over,” Ben grumbled.
She pouted. “But they are claiming victory.”
Ben shrugged. “It is only a game. And a deuced irritating one at that.” He grabbed the mallet from her hand before stooping and plucking the balls from the ground. “I am ready for tea. Are you not?”
Lady Charlotte nodded and clasped her hands in front of her as she walked beside him. That was something new to think on, but he would not complain about it. “Indeed, I’m chilled through.” Her voice was low.
“I’m certain the fires have been stoked, and the parlor is warm.” He hurried them toward the house quicker than was acceptable. But he did not care. He was feeling more ill-tempered by the minute. All he wanted to do was discard Lady Charlotte on the nearest settee and release his frustrations on a billiard ball until it was time for the shooting competition.
Ben took a drink from his glass and set it on the sideboard. While he enjoyed tea as much as the next Englishman, he needed more than just warmth. He needed to calm his nerves and his thoughts.
"You seem to have an admirer,” Ponsy said as he stepped through the billiard room door and grabbed a cue from the corner.
“Not because of anything I did.” Ben pulled his cue back and struck the ball with a force that sent it flying across the table.
“If you don’t do something about it, you risk giving the wrong idea to the rest of the guests. They will think banns are forthcoming.”
Ben stood up and ran a hand across the back of his neck. “That will not be happening.” He placed the end of the stick on the tip of his boot. “But what am I to do? I have done nothing more than act as a gentleman. But the lady takes every action as a sign of encouragement.”
Ponsy eyed the table before bending and lining up his shot. He pulled the cue back and hit the ball, then stood as they watched it hit another and drop into the pocket. He nodded in satisfaction. “Perhaps you should seek another partner for shooting.”
“I’ve been trying to do that since the first day of the party. But Lady Charlotte is stealthy. I never know she is there until it’s too late.” Ben made a face. “I tell you, it’s not just her voice that’s quiet.”
“Perhaps if you arranged for the partner before we get to the activity…” Ponsy rested his chin on his hands at the top of the cue. “Then if Lady Charlotte sneaks up, you can claim you already have a partner. And it will not be a deception.”
Ben nodded. Why had he not thought of that before? It would kill two birds with one stone—effectively stopping both Lady Charlotte and Cort. “That is a capital idea, Pons. I feel rather silly for not coming up with it myself.” He would simply return to the parlor and ask Mia if she would pair with him. He really should not have to ask. After all, had he not promised to entertain her for the whole of the party? Was not their partnership a foregone conclusion? But ‘others’ seemed not to understand that.
Ponsy shrugged. “Sometimes when you’re in the middle of a problem, it’s difficult to see the solution on your own.”
Ben smiled at his friend. “Thank you, Ponsy.”
He nodded as he took his shot. “However, it’s better for my game to leave you vexed. But in this case….” They watched as the red ball dropped into the side pocket. “It did not seem to matter. A red hazard.” He grinned at Ben. “Shall we return to the parlor?”
Ben nodded. He could hardly feel displeasure at his friend’s victory when he believed his own victory so close at hand. “Indeed.”