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“And as our guests will be arriving soon, I do hope that you will pull yourself out of your stupor and be prepared to greet them all with your most dazzling smile.”
“Yes, Mother.”
The Dowager stared down at him with narrowed eyes. “Are you just being agreeable because you do not wish to bicker, or have you finally recovered from your melancholy state?” She moved a step closer to him as her lady’s maid, Mrs. Hubbard, rushed forward, carrying a pink parasol that was a complement to the rest of the Dowager’s ensemble.
“Why can’t it be both?” Richard asked, testing out how it felt to smile once more. He had been in a bit of a mood since receiving the letter from Leticia, but he knew that missing his mother’s Annual Garden Party was not an option.
“I’m so happy to hear you say as much,” his mother gushed. She placed one of her gloved hands on his arm and said, “I do hope that you will keep an open mind today.”
“Is that necessary? Are we to debate politics and great pieces of literature as well as play at the party games?”
The Dowager arched her eyebrow and gave him a wry smile. “I would like to think this jovial exterior is a harbinger of good times to come, but I must make sure we understand each other.” She paused and cleared her throat delicately. “Now that you and Lady Leticia have parted ways, there will be many eligible ladies here today, and most of them will vying for your favor.”
“Please, Mother,” Richard scoffed. “I have no wish to rush into another hasty engagement.”
“But your list,” she retorted, tapping at his pocket where he had tucked the piece of paper just this morning. “I do believe there are still a few items on there that need to be crossed off.”
He ground his back teeth as he bit back the retort that came to mind. Finally, he inhaled deeply through his nostrils and forced a smile onto his face. “You are right, of course. I will show the Ladies every courtesy today.”
“Such a handsome young man,” his mother said as she moved her free hand so she could pat his cheek. “If you can just try to enjoy yourself today, I am sure the Ladies of thetonwill be lined up to court you.”
Richard rolled his eyes Heavenward and prayed for rain.
That’s the only thing that can get me out of this mess of a day. Let it pour.
* * *
“I’ll take the blue one!” Richard cringed as he recognized the voices of both ladies who had spoken in unison. He held the blue mallet in his left hand and clenched his free hand into a fist. Several hours had elapsed since the beginning of the party, and per his mother’s instructions, he had spent the morning circling among the guests, oozing charisma. But once the wickets were set in place, he’d marched toward the mallets, ready to participate in a game of pall mall.
I should have known…of course the two most competitive women in the world would want to play.
He turned slowly and saw both Leticia and Miss Loery standing in front of them. Leticia was dressed in an indigo blue dress that accentuated the bluebells which swung prettily in her hair. Miss Loery also wore a blue frock, but hers was a frosty blue color that matched her eyes almost perfectly. Richard grimaced. “Who spoke first?”
“I did!” The ladies chorused and then both shot glares at one another. Richard stood stock still for a moment as he waited for one or the other of them to bend, but neither did. Miss Loery continued to cast a scathing glance at Leticia, but Leticia’s eyes floated toward him. As her gaze met his own, he turned his head, unable to forge a connection with her now.
“Come on, Letty,” Harry said as he came down the sloping hill toward them. “Let her have the blue mallet. You’ll probably win anyway, even if you have to use the yellow one.”
Miss Loery made a disgusted sound, but she did it quietly so that only Leticia and Richard could hear her. Richard still couldn’t bring himself to make a move as he was sure if he handed the mallet to one of the ladies rather than the other, he was likely to suffer as a result of the sure-to-follow repercussions. But Harry didn’t have the same issues, so he continued striding forward. He plucked the blue mallet from Richard’s hand and held it out to Miss Loery.
“Here you go,” he said graciously. “Best of luck.” Miss Loery turned on her heel but not before looking sharply at Richard. He pulled at the collar of his shirt which suddenly felt awfully tight.
“Now…” Harry proceeded as he turned toward the rack of clubs, “I’ll take the red…naturally. And Richard, you want the green, right?” Richard nodded numbly as Leticia walked toward them. She reached over his shoulder and snatched the yellow mallet from the post.
“You’re right, Harry. I’ll win with or without the blue mallet.”
“That’s the spirit,” Harry said with a broad smile. He finished passing the mallets out to the others who had assembled, and he clapped Richard on the shoulder with his free hand. “Something wrong, old friend?”
“No,” Richard mumbled, but his heart wasn’t in the response as his eyes shifted toward Leticia once more. She was taking practice swings with the yellow mallet, and she looked awfully determined. Her friend, Mrs. Hoffingbrooke stood off to the side, swinging around the pink mallet but not showing nearly as much resolve. “Do you think I should talk to Leticia? Apologize maybe?”
Harry’s upper lip curled. “I wouldn’t. I don’t think she wants to talk to you. Anyway, I think there’s nothing left to say.”
“But if she doesn’t wish to speak to me, why did she come to my mother’s Garden Party?”
Harry’s look of distaste fixed firmly onto his face. “I’m telling you—I wouldn’t give it any more thought.”
“But…” Richard persisted, “if she came here today because shewantedto make amends—”
“Enough,” Harry shouted furiously. Richard’s eyes widened at the outburst, and he flinched when Harry moved forward and took him forcefully by the arm. “Look,” he whispered, pulling him off to the side so that they were no longer near any of the other players, “I’m sorry, but I can’t take it anymore. Letty doesn’t want to talk to you. I imagine, if I hadn’t forced her into the carriage, she wouldn’t even be here right now. Let’s just try to make the best of this situation, shall we?”
