Page 41 of Counting on Love

Lady Olivia was waiting for them, wearing a lively look of expectation. The younger sister possessed the golden good looks of her elder two brothers. The square jaw might have lent her a slightly masculine appearance if not for the long lashes framing her wide blue eyes. Mr. Taverston had gotten his mother’s dark hair and more angular features. The Earl, she recalled, had been fair.

“They do play,” Lieutenant Taverston announced, with a hint of I-told-you-so.

“Alice does,” Georgiana said quickly. “I am not at all skilled.”

“Then you should be on Olivia’s team. She’s the best of us.”

“Pooh!” Lady Olivia cried. “I’ve only ever beaten you twice.”

“Fine. You take Miss Fogbotham and I’ll take Lady Georgiana. You may lead off, Miss Fogbotham.”

Lady Olivia asked, “Cue or mace?”

“Cue,” Alice said.

“Leather tipped?”

“Of course.”

Lieutenant Taverston laughed. “And for you, Lady Georgiana?”

“The same, I suppose.”

Lady Olivia placed three balls on the table. “House rules.”

Alice nodded. Then she bent over the table and used her cue to tap one ball into the others.

“Cannon!” The Lieutenant said. “Good for you!” He turned to Georgiana and swept his hand to the table. “Lady?”

She grimaced and tried to mimic Alice. Her ball rolled slowly to one side and stopped. She gave her partner an apologetic shrug.

“Well,” he said, forcing a frown to cover his laugh. “A game try. Olivia?”

Lady Olivia smirked and lined up for her shot. The game was interrupted by Mr. Taverston bursting into the room, carrying a large bucket. He looked angry. No, he didn’t. He looked as if he were trying to look angry but was more likely to laugh.

The Lieutenant said, “Oh, good idea. The pockets are likely a bit too small for Lady Georgiana.”

Lady Olivia slapped her cue against his arm. “Crispin!”

Mr. Taverston said, “This was in the library. In place of the chair.”

The words made no sense, but the Lieutenant gleaned something from them because he crossed his arms and said, “An outrage! Did you fall in?”

“No, it was upside down.”

“Small favors.”

“Do you have any ideas?”

“We’ll think of something.”

Lady Olivia put in, “You’re being very rude. What are you talking about?”

The Lieutenant laid his cue across the table. “I think it’s teatime. Olivia, dear, take our guests up to the south terrace. We’ll be right behind you.”

Lady Olivia tossed her head. “I hate when you get like this.” But she looked rather gleeful, so presumably her brothers were pranksters, not madmen. “Come along, Alice. Lady Georgiana.”

“Please just call me Georgiana,” she said, as Lady Olivia linked her arm through Alice’s.

“And I am Olivia. Phew, that’s much better, isn’t it?” She put her other arm through Georgiana’s and led them both out the door.