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Richard nodded, but as he looked into Harry’s eyes, Richard saw something else lurking there. While what Harry said made sense, it also felt contrived.
Since when can anyone force Leticia to do anything? If she didn’t want to be here, Harry wouldn’t have been able to drag her here.
He watched his friend carefully as he loped away, swinging his arms in a carefree manner by his sides. He sauntered right up to Leticia’s side and began to flirt with her openly, picking one of the dandelions underfoot and using it to tickle her ear.
Richard’s hackles rose at the sight. While it was common for the Hudson cousins to tease and torment one another, he had never noticed the connection between them before. Probably because he’d always been a part of their taunts and jests, Richard had not bothered to see the color that sprung to Leticia’s face when Harry made her laugh or the way he showboated in a childish manner, trying to earn just one more grin.
The game began then, and Richard was forced to give up his observation of the two. The player holding the black mallet, Mr. Jeltson swung hard, sending his ball toward the first wicket. One by one, the players took their shots. Leticia’s landed nearest the mark, so she was permitted to take her next swing right away. Richard circled around hoping he might come alongside her so that once he hit his own ball they might walk toward the next wicket together, but just as he moved in her direction someone shouted, “Look out!” and he spun to see what the matter was.
Miss Loery had somehow maneuvered so that when she swung her mallet, out of turn, she nearly clobbered Leticia. “Oh!” she trilled. “I’m so very sorry, Lady Leticia.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine,” Leticia said as she skimmed her hand over the sides of her hair. “I’m sure it was just an accident as you didn’t see me standing here.”
Richard meant to rush to Leticia’s aid, but again, before he could move, Leticia reared back and swung her club with all her might. Miss Loery shrieked and jumped aside which only made Leticia laugh. “You’re fine, Miss Loery,” she said smoothly. “I assure you, if I meant to hit you, I wouldn’t have missed.”
Miss Loery’s mouth dropped wide open, but she shut it at once with a clicking of her teeth. She squared her shoulders and held her blue mallet slightly aloft as she scooted to the side, well out of the field of play now. Slowly, she began walking toward her ball. Richard’s gaze shifted toward Leticia, and he could see that she was pleased with herself. Whether Miss Loery had intentionally tried to hit her with the mallet was anyone’s guess, but Leticia had gotten the last word—just as she always liked to.
Richard tapped his ball using the green mallet, and without hesitation now, he made to follow Leticia. “Move out of the way, Braxton!” Harry called as he swung his mallet backward and gave his ball a tremendous whack. He hit it so hard, Richard heard it as it sailed right by his ear.
“I say,” Richard muttered as he turned to stare down at his friend. “Cutting it awfully close there, aren’t you?”
Harry shrugged. “Just playing to win.” He casually tipped his mallet upward so that it rested on his shoulder. “Anything wrong with that?”
“Of course not,” Richard said brusquely, “but I should like to leave this party today with all my body parts still attached.”
“Then perhaps you ought to stay out of my way,” Harry returned. And while his boyish grin lit his face once more, Richard could not be sure if he’d meant the comment in jest. He slowed his pace so that Harry might stride ahead, but his eyes lingered on his friend’s back.
I don’t know what he’s trying to prove…or maybe there’s a point he means to make, but I’m missing it entirely.
By the time Richard rounded the corner and came upon the next wicket, he saw that Miss Loery was continuing to torment Leticia. While Leticia was once again in the lead with her yellow ball far closer to the target than any of the others, she had her head bent as she was trying to line up her shot. Miss Loery stood very close by, but now, she was whispering loudly to her friend, Miss Walch who carried the white mallet. Eager to diffuse the tension, Richard rushed forward and stepped right up beside Miss Loery.
“So, tell me about the ballet you saw last night,” he said, giving Miss Loery one of his most engaging smiles. “My mother told me it was magnificent. I’m sorry that I had to miss it.”
“Your Grace,” Miss Loery said as she turned away from her friend and backed just a step away from Leticia, “I am also truly sorry that you were unable to attend the ballet. Father saved you a spot in his box. I’m sure your mother already told you as much as it was such a pleasure to have her join us.”
Leticia grunted loudly as she swung her mallet forcefully then she stomped off after her ball. “I do believe it’s your turn,” Richard said, nodding to Miss Loery’s blue ball.
“Indeed, it is.” She stepped toward the ball and centered herself so that she was in line with her ball. She swung hard but not with the strength Leticia had mustered, so her ball only skittered off to the side. “Oh well,” she sighed lightly, “perhaps I should just stay back here with you for the rest of the game.”
“Yes, I think that would be best.” Richard was startled by Harry’s voice, interjecting now, as he’d thought his friend had already marched ahead. “Why don’t you keep the Duke company, Miss Loery? I’m sure he would be delighted to spend the afternoon with you.”
Richard gave Harry an annoyed look, but he also smiled tightly at Miss Loery. “I think it’s best if we just continue playing the game.”
“Yes, of course,” Miss Loery acquiesced at once. “You’re perfectly right.”
Harry stepped forward then and pummeled the red ball using his mallet. Without casting a backward glance at Richard, he strode off, calling for his cousin to wait for him, so he might catch up with her.
“Take your time, Your Grace,” Miss Loery purred. “There’s no need to get hung up on this competition.” She laid one of her gloved hands on his forearm, but he instinctively shook her off.
“Forgive me,” he apologized at once upon seeing the aggrieved look on her face, “but I do believe it is my shot.”
She backed away, and as he hammered the green ball and watched it fly, he noticed that she walked away with the others, heading toward the next wicket. Over the course of the next several passes, Richard slowly but surely improved his ranking. He did not catch up to Leticia or Miss Loery right away, but he did manage to surpass Harry.
He was close enough to see Leticia when she hit her ball so hard it hit the ground, bounced several times, then continued to roll. She punched her arm in the air, relishing her victorious shot, and as she did, the blue ball went screeching toward her. “Leticia!” Richard shouted, but he wasn’t the only one warning her to move out of the way. There was no chance he could get to her in time, to push her toward safety, but he sped in that direction, watching as the ball arched toward the back of her head. She spun at the last second, looked up at the ball that was angling toward her, and deftly took one step to the left, allowing the blue ball to land so closely to her side, it nearly struck her foot.
Belatedly, as if she were stunned by what had just unfolded, her eyes widened, and she looked up straight at Richard. She stood there, looking so alone and helpless that he ran toward her and caught her in his arms. He only had time to feel her breath on his cheek before a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.
“I told you to leave her alone,” Harry said as he made to wrench the two of them apart. Richard clung to Leticia, unwilling to be parted from her.
