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“Some folks have lost the ability to be happy,” she said as she drifted close to Lynette’s location. “Don’t let her attitude sour your own.”
“I won’t, but she’s turned bitter over the last year or so that sometimes it’s difficult.” Lynette frowned. “I have my own life; she needs to live hers instead of being dependent on me.”
The duchess patted her shoulder. “She’ll learn.”
Then Graham returned with a handful of servants, including the butler.
“Excellent!” The duke waved them into the room. “Set everything up right here.” He indicated a low, square-shaped table.
Mr. Alberts made a grand show of setting down the shallow platter while one of the kitchen maids poured a measure of flour into a large mound inside it. The ivory-hued mountain seemed unnecessarily tall for the game, but the duke didn’t dissuade them. Then Graham produced a black marble from his waistcoat pocket. Where he’d procured it from was anyone’s guess. He gently placed the marble atop the flour mound with a grin.
“Now, who shall go first?” The duke rubbed his hands together while tossing a glance about the room. Obviously, he still enjoyed a good game.
Lord Hollingsworth’s gaze fell upon her. “Why don’t we let Mrs. Hodgins go first since she’s a baker. Let’s see if she’s lucky around flour.”
“Good idea, Griffin.” The duke beamed and gestured her over with a hand. “Come, Mrs. Hodgins. No need to be shy.”
Twin threads of unease and excitement twisted down her spine. It had been an age since she’d indulged in such antics. Stephen and the duchess came to stand at her sides while the rest of the company gathered around the table. One of the kitchen maids handed her a shiny pie wedge. “All right. I guess there’s no use in delaying.” She kneeled at the table and carefully sliced into the flour mound without disturbing the marble. The flour she removed with the pie wedge, she deposited onto a platter that another kitchen maid held.
Lord Hollingsworth took a turn after her, with the same results.
Then Lady Lettice made a slice. The marble remained precariously balanced atop the flour as the three of them continued to watch while still on their knees.
John glanced between the flour and Lynette. “I wonder when it’ll fall?”
Stephen dropped to the floor beside her and nudged her gently in the ribs. “Take another turn, Mrs. Hodgins. Then the rest of us will have a go at it in a new game.”
“Why me again? Someone else should have a turn.” She couldn’t think clearly with him so near, but there was nothing she could do about it in front of all these people.
The duke snorted. “Have a go, Mrs. Hodgins. We’ll play multiple games,” the duke said with a nod and a twinkle in his eye.
“Fine.” Lynette accepted the pie wedge from Lady Lettice. The pile seemed all too precarious now. With care, she sliced into the soft, fluffy flour, but the dratted marble fell with a dull thud to the platter.
“Ah ha!” The duke clapped his hands. “You must retrieve it with only your lips, Mrs. Hodgins. No cheating!”
Oh, how embarrassing.She looked at Stephen, took in his slight smile, and she huffed. “Of course it would have to be me.”
“You can do it, Mama,” John encouraged as he leaned on his bit of table.
“Easy as pie,” Stephen whispered, and when she put her hands behind her back, he slipped the fingers of one hand about her wrists in a barely there touch. “Just in case you wished to cheat, you see,” he said with a wink, much to the amusement of his brothers.
With nothing for it, Lynette edged over the serving platter, highly aware the Ivy family as well as servants looked on. Forced to scrabble for the marble, her nose encountered the remaining pile of flour. Lord Hollingsworth kept cracking jokes, which made her laugh despite her resolve to appear dignified before the company. On one particular violent laugh, she unfortunately inhaled some of the flour. A fit of choking and coughing soon followed, much to the hilarity of the assembled guests.
The marble dropped back into the dish.
“Start over or forfeit, Mrs. Hodgins,” the duke called, his tones echoing in the room.
“I think I’ll take the forfeit,” she said. I must look a fright. As Lynette eased away from the table, she glanced at the smiling faces around her. “I would have been just fine had you not decided to joke about it.”
“That’s quite the fun of it, Mama.” Happiness danced in John’s eyes. “But you can try again later. Right, Lord Tilbury?”
“Absolutely.” Stephen gained his feet and then helped Lynette to stand.
“Oh, look at me! I could be a ghost with this mess.” When she tried to brush off some of the flour from her face and front of her gown, laughter circulates about the company.
Graham guffawed quite strenuously, which set off another avalanche of laughter. “The ghost of Ivy Castle lives!”
“Do shut up, Lord Bonham.” She sent a mock glare his way.
