“No one does, but it is a part of her process,” Edwina joked.
Miles walked over and retrieved two mallets. He extended one towards Edwina. “We forgot to discuss our strategy.”
“We did, but let’s play to win. That could be our strategy.”
Miles’ eyes crinkled with amusement. “‘Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful’,” he said, quoting Shakespeare.
“You have readA Midsummer Night’s Dream?”
“I do not know why you are surprised,” Miles said. “I attended university, where we read most of Shakespeare’s works in great detail.”
Edwina practiced swinging the mallet. “You do not strike me as a man that enjoys Shakespeare.”
“I never said I enjoyed Shakespeare, just that I read his works. There is a difference,” he pointed out.
Turning to face him, Edwina said, “Yes, I suppose there is. What else do I not know about you?”
“That is a long and very intriguing list,” Miles remarked.
Edwina smiled. “I have time, especially since Miss Bawden’s stretching routine goes on for quite some time.”
Miles swung the mallet over his shoulder. “You should know that pall-mall happens to be one of my talents. Arabella may have been dreadful at it, but I am quite skilled.”
Bennett approached them with a confident stride. “Shall we make this game more interesting?” he asked eagerly. Almost too eagerly.
“What do you have in mind?” Miles asked.
“A wager, perhaps,” Bennett suggested.
Edwina eyed him skeptically. “What kind of wager?”
“Something simple,” Bennett replied. “Whoever wins thismatch will have the honor of dancing with Edwina first at the soiree.”
“What soiree?” Edwina inquired.
With a smirk, Bennett replied, “The one that my mother has been planning for the past few days. You didn’t think she would pass on the opportunity to honor our esteemed house guest, did you?”
Edwina gave her cousin a blank stare. “Why hasn’t she asked me for help in planning such an event?”
“You have been rather occupied as of late,” Bennett remarked.
“When is it?” Edwina asked.
“In three days’ time,” her cousin informed her.
Edwina turned towards Miles. “Did you know about this?”
Miles shrugged. “This is the first I am hearing about it, as well.”
“So we are in agreement, then?” Bennett asked. “The winner will have the privilege of dancing with Edwina for the first set.”
Edwina hesitated, unsure if she wanted to be part of this bet. “I don’t know, Cousin. What about Miss Bawden? Will she not feel left out?” she asked.
Miss Bawden spoke up from where she stood, adjusting the mallet behind her neck as she continued her stretching routine. “Do not concern yourself with me. I want no part of this wager.”
“I accept your wager,” Miles abruptly declared.
Bennett smiled triumphantly. “Then let us play pall-mall,” he exclaimed, beckoning towards the lawn with a flourish of his hand.
