Page 309 of Desires of a Duke Collection

The Rotherford family had invited a few of the local gentry to their picnic. Charles had been caught talking to Vicar John, one of the kindest men CeCe knew—but so terribly long-winded.

Her mother, the Baroness, sat under a Chinese silk umbrella with her sister-in-law, Lady Stephens, better known to the Mangrove twins as the Dragon of London, Elizabeth’s mother, and their paternal aunt.

Elizabeth was sitting near Spencer, trying to engage him in conversation. He was either too engrossed in his book to hear, or he could also be too intelligent to get into a conversation with her. The brothers had spent much time with Elizabeth when she had visited Mangrove Manor, and they each knew just how maddening she could really be.

Elias and Robert spoke with Augustus Ward, the vicar’s son, who had just come from the seminary. It was well known that he was going to do an internship with his father. Vicar John had been in the rectory for the chapel at Mangrove Manor for years. He and his wife had not had their child until later in life, and he was looking forward to taking some time for himself.

The vicar’s wife, Cynthia Ward, was an entirely different wax ball. It was not unusual to hear snide remarks coming from her whenever she was out of her husband’s earshot. Pompous to a fault and condescending as a duchess, the twins never seemed to have any patience with her. Truly, they had no idea how Augustus turned out so normally or how the vicar could live with her.

CeCe was hiding out a bit behind the hydrangea bush, talking with Widow Abbot and her great-niece and lady’s companion, Frances Abbot. Frances had only been living with her aunt for a year, so CeCe wasn’t as familiar with the niece as the widow.

Widow Abbot was a dear; both twins loved spending time with her. Instead of being old and bitter at being widowed over fifty years ago, she was sassy, slightly plump, and always had a mischievous grin on her face. What was not to love?

“Your mother looks to be in good health, CeCe dear,” Widow Abbot remarked. “We were happy to hear of her swift recovery.”

CeCe smiled down at her. “Yes, I was very concerned, but it would seem that she is doing quite well. Thank you ever so much for sending those sweet notes of encouragement and advice when she was ill.”

Turning to Frances, CeCe quickly added, “And thank you so very much for walking them over to the manor. I know we haven’t had much time to get acquainted, but I plan to stay in the area for a while and would love to have you both to tea sometime next week.”

Frances looked up shyly at the beautiful younger woman in front of her. “Th-th-that would b-b-be ever so nice.”

The widow smiled at her great-niece and answered, “Thank you, dear CeCe. We will be most delighted to come.”

“Let’s plan for Tuesday afternoon, shall we?” CeCe asked, and the two women confirmed.

“Are we to play any lawn games?” Eli asked Robert.

CeCe overheard this and added, “We need a rematch at wickets, and you know how they cheat.”

“CeCe,” the Baroness cried imploringly. “You can’t accuse the entire family of cheating!”

“You are so right, Mother. I do humbly apologize, Mariah and Richard. I know you would never cheat. I was referring to your three sons.”

“I do believe we’ve been issued a challenge,” Spencer voiced, snapping his book closed. “My dearest girl, you’re about to be served a rather healthy portion of crow.”

“Not today, you dastardly villain,” CeCe said with a smug grin. “I’m feeling lucky.”

“I don’t know why we do this to ourselves,” Eli muttered.

“Because it’s hard to say no when she asks so prettily,” Robert winked at CeCe, who laughed at his banter. “Are we playing teams or singles?”

“Singles,” CeCe replied without waiting to consult anyone else. Then, glancing around, she realized they hadn’t invited the widow’s shy piece. Turning to Frances, she asked, “Would you like to play with us?”

Frances blanched. “N... n... no thank y... y... you.”

Clearly, she hadn’t expected such an invitation to come her way. In truth, it seemed to CeCe that the girl was doing everything in her power to be as inconspicuous as possible. Was she intimidated by the close-knit relationship between the families? CeCe couldn’t be sure.

“All right then,” CeCe smiled graciously before turning about and chasing after the other players. Robert, Charles, Spencer, Elias, and Augustus fought over mallets and debated the best way to strike the ball.

Before she was out of hearing, Elizabeth called out to her. “You didn’t ask me! I want to play too. Wait for me.”

CeCe pasted on a smile and turned to see Elizabeth shaking off her skirts and marching toward them like a tyrant king amongst his loyal peasants.

In previous years the children would have reacted with a collective groan of disapproval. However, one can only endure so many deathly stares from their mother before they learn the lesson. Robert was always best at reaching out the olive branch to Elizabeth.

CeCe smirked at the nickname Elizabeth utterly despised. She couldn’t help the ribbing when she returned Elizabeth’s plea. “I wouldn’t think of going off without you, Eliza dear.”

Elizabeth’s cheek flamed, and the little pulse at the base of her throat was the only indication CeCe’s barb had hit its mark. However, those small nuances were satisfying enough for the present.

**

A few hours later…

“Your arm isn’t broken, you ninny,” CeCe said with a roll of her eyes as the bedraggled group of players left the field. “Honestly, Eli, you can barely see the bruise.”

“That has to be the most brilliant game ever invented,” Spencer added with glee.

“The most dangerous, perhaps,” Charles agreed.

“At least I didn’t end up with a black eye,” Eli grimaced, holding his purple wrist with his other hand and glancing over at Elizabeth.

They all winced at the sight of her bloodied nose and rapidly swelling face.

“We need to get something cold on that,” Robert said to Elizabeth as he kindly led her toward the kitchen entrance. Father went to fetch Doc Curry to take a look at you and Eli’s battle wounds. He won’t be but a moment.”

“Is it dreadfully horrible?” Elizabeth asked CeCe through copious amounts of tears. “It really hurts.”

As if to prove her point, Elizabeth reached up to touch the tender flesh, and despite her gentle touch, she couldn’t help but wince.

“No,” CeCe rebutted, but Charles just happened to say “yes” at the same time.

“I had no idea you were still such heathens,” Elizabeth complained with a nasal tone made far worse by her broken nose. “My dress is ruined!”

Indeed, her beautiful gown was now covered in blood and grass stains.

“You were standing too close beside me,” CeCe retorted defensively. “I did ask you to move several times.”

“I thought you were just trying to keep me away from Spencer,” she said mulishly.

Charles’s eyebrows had risen. “Why would CeCe try to keep you away from Spencer?”

“I don’t know!” Elizabeth spat, sounding like a spoiled child.

“You do realize that not everything revolves around you, Eliza?” CeCe snapped cattily.

“‘What’s good for the goose’ “ Charles murmured for CeCe’s ears only. Then, expertly avoiding CeCe’s sharp elbow, he went to help Elizabeth get settled. “It will fade in a few days. We have all had our fair share of shiners in the past.”

“This is just what I needed,” Elizabeth replied grumpily. “Why do I even bother?”

Charles looked over to the other side of the room where CeCe had wandered. She was gazing into the garden, her hair highlighted by the setting sun. She was stunning and nearly took his breath away.

“Are you even listening to me?” Elizabeth cried petulantly.

“Not a bit. If you would excuse me? “ He said, leaving her there to catch up to CeCe and see how she was faring.