Chapter Eighteen #3
"A clock," Henry Blackwood said before anyone else had fully considered it.
Mr Pritchard nodded. "Correct."
The gentlemen greeted their first point with considerable relief. Amelia applauded before remembering which side she belonged to, and Miss Harriet Sitcombe immediately turned towards her with a scowl.
Henry reddened, though James thumped him approvingly on the shoulder and told him he was a "clever fellow."
"The ladies have three correct answers and the gentlemen one," Mr Pritchard announced. "One riddle remains." He glanced down at the tally, then towards Lady Hortensia. "The gentlemen cannot now win, madam."
Lady Hortensia frowned. "They might have done had Colonel Fitzwilliam not decided to assist the opposing team."
Richard showed no sign of repentance. "Miss Bennet appeared in need of help."
"Miss Bennet was surrounded by nine ladies perfectly capable of helping her. You deprived your own team of the opportunity to answer." Lady Hortensia turned to Mr Pritchard. "The river riddle was spoiled. You will replace it."
Mr Pritchard selected another folded paper from the pile beside the ledger. "Then two riddles remain. If the gentlemen answer both correctly, the teams will be level."
"And we shall use my deciding riddle," Lady Hortensia said.
The gentlemen sat forward with renewed interest. Across from them, the ladies drew closer together, their earlier confidence giving way to greater attention.
Mr Hadley looked along the sofa towards Richard. "You understand, my good Colonel, that we must now answer both?"
"I understand completely, Mr Hadley."
"And if we lose, it will be entirely your fault."
Richard glanced across at Jane. "I am prepared to bear it."
Jane lowered her eyes, but the amused smile she was trying to conceal made Elizabeth suspect that Richard would not find the burden especially heavy.
Mr Pritchard unfolded the next paper. "I have a neck but no head, a body but no limbs, and I may be full though I never eat. What am I?"
"A bottle," Captain Fanshawe said before anyone else had time to speak.
Mr Pritchard inclined his head. "Correct."
The gentlemen greeted the answer with such enthusiasm that Captain Fanshawe was obliged to accept several hearty handshakes.
Sir Geoffrey declared it the first properly constructed riddle of the morning—which earned him a dark look from their hostess—while Mr Hadley assured Fanshawe that he had restored the honour of the team.
"Three to two," Mr Pritchard announced when they had settled again. "The final riddle will either secure the contest for the ladies or bring the teams level."
The room grew quieter as he unfolded the last paper. "I have a tongue but cannot speak, a sole but cannot love and go wherever my owner goes. What am I?"
A few uncertain answers were offered and dismissed. Elizabeth had only just begun to consider the word sole when Mr Anstruther leant forward and said softly, "A shoe."
Mr Pritchard paused, and Elizabeth suspected he was starting to enjoy his role in the drama being played out in the drawing room. After a moment, he inclined his head gravely. "Correct."
The gentlemen's response was louder still.
Mr Ashcombe let out a rather unmanly whoop and directed a triumphant glance at Lady Frances.
Mr Anstruther looked faintly embarrassed by the attention, though Mr Hadley clapped him on the shoulder and Captain Fanshawe immediately claimed that quiet men ought never to be underestimated.
Mr Pritchard consulted the tally. "Three correct answers to each team."
Lady Hortensia reached for the folded paper which had remained beside the ledger throughout the contest. "Then we require the deciding riddle. There will be no conferring. The first correct answer will secure the three points."
Both teams turned towards her, the earlier laughter giving way to concentration.
"I am always coming, yet I never arrive. What am I?"
The silence lasted only a moment. "Tomorrow," Darcy said.
Lady Hortensia looked to Mr Pritchard, who nodded.
The gentlemen surged to their feet, cheering noisily and talking over each other as they offered their congratulations. Richard caught Darcy by the arm before he could escape, and James Blackwood came up behind him and lifted him bodily from the floor.
"Put me down, Blackwood."
"Accept your laurels, man," Mr Hadley called. "You have saved us from disgrace and defeat."
James only laughed and held him there a moment longer.
When Darcy was finally returned to his place, he sat down and arranged his coat and cuffs with such injured dignity that Elizabeth laughed aloud. He looked across at once, and the severity of his expression only made her laugh harder. At last his mouth gave way, and he bowed to her from the sofa.
Lady Hortensia thumped her cane against the floor until the gentlemen returned to their seats. "That will do. Mr Pritchard, you may record three points to the gentlemen."
He opened the ledger and entered the result. "The gentlemen now lead by eleven points to ten. Two points remain to be decided in the captains' debate."