"Stop smirking," Lady Honoria said, elbowing him."You look as though you've stolen someone's favorite toy."
"I would never," he said."I prefer to leave them where everyone can see me playing."
Lady Honoria's laugh rang out across the lawn.Somewhere behind them, Woodmere groaned.
James did not look back.
Esme discovered that she liked battledore.
It was not that she was particularly skilled, but that the game made it nearly impossible to be careful.Shuttlecocks did not respect decorum.They flew where they wished, spun unexpectedly, dropped ignominiously.One could either be mortified or amused.
She chose amused.
"Ready?"Genny called, bouncing on her toes at Esme's side.
Miss Eaton, pale but determined, nodded.Mr.Carstairs, a thoughtful-looking man with dimples, swallowed hard.
"I cannot believe Lady Honoria didn't insert herself," he murmured.
"She is busy terrifying Lord Redford," Esme said."We must make the most of it."
Alexandra's whistle shrilled."Begin!"
Miss Eaton missed her opening volley entirely.Genny hit hers with such enthusiasm that it went straight past the opposing team and nearly decapitated a shrub.Mr.Carstairs apologized every time his racket so much as grazed the shuttlecock.
Esme, whose competitive instincts had been honed by a childhood of fencing with Harrison for the last slice of cake, found this approach intolerable.
"Mr.Carstairs," she called after he let yet another shot go unchallenged, "we are not playing croquet.The shuttlecock has no feelings.Hit it."
He blinked behind his spectacles."I wouldn't want to...overstep."
"You are meant to overstep," she said."That is the point.If you do not, Genny will, and someone will be injured."
"Someone will be injured anyway," Genny said, lunging for a lob.
Miss Eaton laughed.Esme caught Redford's eye and he lifted a brow.
The next serve came high and slow toward Miss Eaton.She swung—and missed.
Esme caught the shuttlecock."Again.You were too polite.Think of something that makes you furious."
Miss Eaton bit her lip."The way Lady Honoria calls me 'dear girl' as if I were six."
"Excellent.Hit her with that."
Miss Eaton's brows lowered, and the next time the shuttlecock came her way, she struck it with such decisiveness that it landed squarely in Lord Bertram's hat.
The crowd roared.
Mr.Carstairs stared."That was remarkable."
Miss Eaton flushed, but lifted her chin."Thank you."
"There, you see?Like ledger columns, only airborne."
Carstairs laughed."I do enjoy a straight column."
Esme's lips twitched."Do not let Lord Watford hear you say so."
