Edwina gave her an amused look. “I daresay that you are the most competitive person I know when it comes to pall-mall.”
“More so than Lord Winston?”
She hesitated. “Well… perhaps not.”
As she said her words, Bennett entered the room and informed them, “Everything has been set up and it is time to play that game of pall-mall.”
Miss Bawden jumped up from her seat. “I call the blue mallet.”
Bennett chuckled. “I assumed as much, considering you think it holds some kind of magic power.”
“All I know is that whenever I play with the blue mallet, I win,” Miss Bawden said. “It is too much of a coincidence to ignore.”
Miles appeared in the doorway, his gaze seeking out Edwina’s. “Are we to be partners again?” he asked.
“I am not opposed to it,” Edwina replied.
Miss Bawden bobbed her head in approval. “And I shall partner with Lord Dunsby.”
Edwina looked at her friend knowingly. “I can tell that you are already formulating a plan in your head,” she said.
“I am,” Miss Bawden confirmed. “One must not go into a game of pall-mall without a victory strategy.”
Miles approached Edwina and offered his arm. “Shall we come up with a strategy as I escort you to the lawn?”
“I think we have no choice in the matter,” Edwina replied, her gloved hand fitting perfectly into the crook of his elbow.
As they made their way out towards the lawn, Miles asked, “Did you go riding this morning?”
“I did, but it was rather early when I left the stables,” she replied. “I’m afraid I had a lot on my mind this morning.”
“Is that why you missed breakfast?”
“It was,” Edwina admitted. “To be honest, I couldn’t bring myself to face my uncle. He is not the man that I thought he was.”
Miles’ eyes held compassion. “We will figure everything out together. You need not worry.”
“How can I not?” Edwina asked in a hushed voice. “My aunt will be devastated when she finds out. She adores my uncle.”
“Do not be so quick to jump to conclusions,” Miles attempted.
Edwina frowned. “I do not understand why you are trying to defend him. That little boy from the cottage looked very much like my uncle.”
Miles patted her hand. “Whatever happens, it will be all right. I promise.”
“Please don’t make promises that you can’t keep,” Edwina said.
“Who says that I can’t keep that promise?”
Edwina’s lips tightened in a slight grimace. “When the truth comes out, our lives are going to change and not for the better.”
Miles grew silent. “You are allowed to be hurt, angry, and even resentful, but for how long? At some point, you must accept what you cannot change and move forward.”
They walked the rest of the way together in silence as Edwina considered Miles’ words. She was angry. She was angry on behalf of her aunt. Her cousins. And for anyone else her uncle had deceived. But Miles was right. Her anger could only take her so far. If it consumed her, she was no better than her uncle.
Miles stopped on the lawn and dropped his arm. His eyesstrayed towards Miss Bawden, who was in the process of gracefully stretching with her blue mallet in hand.
“I do not understand why Miss Bawden needs to stretch before a game of pall-mall,” Miles said.
