Page 22

“You cannot.”

Reeds, Lady Dorothy, and Lady Bridget entered the gardens. Reeds and Lady Dorothy carried mallets, while Lady Bridget held the balls needed to play pall mall.

“Oh!” Catherine exclaimed, her face brightening. “I am quite splendid at playing pall mall.”

“Are you?”

“The best,” she said.

Reeds laughed heartily as he reached the bench where William and Lady Catherine sat. “Did you just tell our guest that you are the best at pall mall?” Reeds asked. “That is a gross exaggeration of the truth.”

“It most certainly is not!” Lady Catherine argued. “When we last played this game, I emerged victorious!”

“You managed to best me once,” Reeds replied. “I do not think that makes you thebestat pall mall.”

“More than once,” Lady Catherine replied.

“Twice.”

Lady Catherine scowled. “More than that. I have bested you quite often.”

“I would be astonished to learn that either of you kept a record of every game,” Lady Dorothy replied, smiling with amusement. “Can you both not simply enjoy the game?”

“No,” Reeds said.

“Decidedly not,” Lady Catherine agreed.

William said nothing, silently watching as the siblings seemed to forget his very existence. Reeds and the other ladies had thus far not even acknowledged his presence. It was no mystery why Lady Catherine was such an unusual lady. Her family behaved in an uncomfortably familiar way, even before guests.

“You ought to have anticipated that answer, dear sister,” Lady Bridget said, smiling wryly. “You know how they behave when there is a game.”

“I believe that I will emerge victorious today,” Reeds said.

Lady Catherine leaped to her feet. “I regret to humiliate you, especially before a guest, but I am quite sure that I shall win. Prepare yourself for defeat, my brother.”

“We shall see,” Reeds said. “Will you join us, Sarsen?”

“Certainly.”

William stood, noting that the Leedway siblings had already brought an additional mallet with them. They had anticipated inviting him to join them. William supposed he ought to think kindly upon their hospitality, and he might have, if they were not otherwise so informal in their mannerisms.

Reeds led their journey through the garden path until they reached a flat expanse of grass with the iron loops already placed in the ground. Lady Catherine took a mallet from her brother without one even being offered.

“Excuse you!” Reeds exclaimed in mock offense.

Lady Catherine grinned, her eyes alight. “I hope you are prepared to be defeated.”

Lady Bridget shook her head. “Every time.”

The rest of the mallets were distributed, and William stood awkwardly, leaning against his as though it were a cane. He tried to think of some excuse not to join them, for it was readily apparent that he did not belong. The Leedway siblings were all clustered together, watching as Reeds made his first strike and sent the ball flying over the ground.

He was, admittedly, quite good.

Lady Catherine struck a ball next. It hit her brother’s ball and sent it skipping over the ground and away from the next ring.

“You!” Reeds exclaimed. “Howcouldyou?”

“All is fair in love and war,” Lady Catherine declared.