Chapter Seven
Standing on the front lawn where the pall-mall course was set up, Bennett addressed the assembled group with grandiosity. “The game to end all games shall commence forthwith!”
Elodie did not look the least bit amused. “Aren’t you being a tad bit overdramatic? It is a game of pall-mall, not an innovative scientific discovery.”
“Only a tad bit?” Winston muttered under his breath.
Bennett smiled. “We need to prove to Delphine that we are a fun family.”
“If you have to try to convince her of such a thing, then perhaps we aren’t truly a ‘fun family,’” Melody remarked. “We might just be an ‘adequately fun’ family.”
From her seated position, Delphine’s lips curled into a smile. “I think your family is delightful.”
“Just delightful?” Bennett asked, feigning disappointment.
“Is that not enough?” Delphine inquired.
Bennett held her gaze and brought his hand up to cover the side of his mouth. In a hushed voice, he asked, “It is because of Winston, isn’t it? He is far too serious and lacks the ability to have fun.”
Winston looked heavenward. “I can hear you, Brother.”
“Good! At least we know your hearing is impeccable,” Bennett quipped. “But you will need to work on being more fun.”
“I can be fun,” Winston declared.
Bennett put his hand up in surrender. “I believe you. Although, I haven’t seen a lot of fun out of you since you started working as a barrister.”
Winston selected a mallet and asked, “Can we please play pall-mall and end this ridiculous conversation?”
“Of course,” Bennett replied. “I thought it would be best if we played in pairs. I will partner with Delphine, assuming that is all right with her.”
“It is,” Delphine said as her eyes lit up. Or had he just imagined that? He hoped not. He found that he greatly wanted to partner with her for this game.
Bennett nodded in approval. “Good. Now who else?—”
Elodie cut him off and announced, “I will partner with Melody!”
Turning his attention towards Miss Bawden and Winston, Bennett said, “That just leaves you two.”
Miss Bawden exchanged a look of disdain with Winston before saying, “As much as I would love to partner with Lord Winston, I think it might be best if we partner with someone else.”
Winston cleared his throat. “I must agree with Miss Bawden. We have tried being partners before and it did not end well.”
“No, it did not,” Miss Bawden admitted. “I do believe the game ended when my mallet ‘accidentally’ hit Lord Winston.”
Winston rubbed his arm. “Yes, I remember that day rather clearly, and I do not recall it being an accident.”
“In my defense, I wasn’t aiming at you,” Miss Bawden said.
“That is your defense?” Winston asked incredulously. “Why were you throwing a mallet in the first place?”
Miss Bawden tilted her chin stubbornly. “You could have moved out of the way, my lord,” she said dryly.
Bennett was about to interrupt their spat when Melody spoke first. “I will partner with Miss Bawden.”
A look of relief came to Miss Bawden’s face. “Thank you, Lady Melody,” she murmured.
Winston moved to stand by Elodie, nudging her with his right arm. “Which means we are partners. I do hope you won’t throw a mallet at me.”
