“I did it!” she said, breathless. “Goodness, I did it!”
“You did, Mama,” Selina gushed. “An excellent throw, indeed!”
Her mother beamed, such joy in her eyes that Selina wondered if she would fare better here at Ashbrook. Of course, her father would never permit it, not in the long term, but it was a nice idea.
“Your turn, my dear,” her mother urged.
With a determined breath, Selina gathered the red rings and moved into position. She swayed back and forth, judging the distance between her hand and the stakes, feeling a rush of competitiveness.
She let go of the ring and watched as it fell just short of the stakes.
“Blast it!” she cried out, laughing. “So close, and yet so far! Mama, you made it look easy.”
Her mother chuckled. “It must have been beginner’s luck.”
“Nonsense. You just have a natural talent that I have failed to inherit.” Selina grinned as Melody stepped up to play with an armful of blue rings.
Yes, this ball was turning out to be a lovely thing, indeed.
“I am cursed!” Selina cried, her hand to her stomach as she doubled over with laughter. “It is physically impossible to miss by the same distanceevery singletime!”
Philip leaned against the terrace balustrade, watching her play with such enthusiasm. He had not been able to take his eyes off her, amused by her hopeless competitiveness. She certainly did not give up easily, which was probably a good trait in a wife.
“Have you tried just throwing it a little bit further?” Lizzy asked with a wicked smile, although her success hadn’t been much better.
Selina shot her a look. “Of course I have!”
“There is a theory,” Melody said, “that our muscles remember things. Maybe it has remembered the same distance, and it cannot be changed unless you teach it differently.”
“Or I am just terrible at this game.” Selina sighed, her laughter mingling with that of her friends.
Her mother was smiling too, as was the Dowager Duchess. It was a heartwarming sight.
Philip was tempted to intrude on it, to join in with the game and the laughter, but he held back. Selina seemed so happy, so at ease in the landscape of his house. Maybe it was better just to observe.
“You might have allowed me to win, seeing as I am the bride and all,” Selina complained playfully.
“Oh, my dear Selina, that is not how this works,” Lizzy replied, putting an arm around her. “We are ruthless.”
At that moment, Selina turned her head. She likely meant to look toward the Dowager Duchess. Instead, her gaze drifted up to Philip, and shielding her eyes from the sunset’s fierce glow, she smiled at him.
“I concede my defeat,” she said to her friends, though her eyes remained on him. “Let us return inside for refreshments.”
Murmurs of assent rippled through the small group as they began to make their way back to the terrace.
Lizzy rolled her eyes as she saw Philip standing there, and he thought he heard her whisper “traitor” to Selina, before flashing a smile and stepping into the manor.
“Do not keep her out here too long,” his grandmother remarked with a wink, passing him. “An engagement ball is for the guests, not for you. They will want to see the pair of you.”
“I shall only be a moment, Grandmother,” Philip promised.
Melody gave him a nod of acknowledgement, and the Duchess of Barlow patted him gently on the arm as she went by. Then, there was only Selina.
“Are we going to dance again?” she asked, leaning against the balustrade with him. “We shall have to discuss what isappropriate first, so I am not surprised when I am hoisted in the air.”
He smirked. “Come with me.”
“The dance floor is that way,” she said as she walked with him a short distance up the terrace, behind the potted laurel bushes that offered some privacy from the ballroom doors.
