Page 37 of The Hellion and the Captain (Scandals and Scores #2)

T hree months later

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Emmaline called out to the few people who had come to watch this inaugural match. “I present to you, a match between the Manchester Ladies Football Club, and the Manchester Ironworkers. May it be the first of many to come!”

The match might be held in secret, but it was as real as could possibly be for the women lined up on the field in front of Emmaline.

After months of training, hard work, and finding a sponsor to support the team — thanks to Rhys’s bank, who had stepped up for their favorite bank manager — they were finally here, in their new kits.

Emmaline only wished they could wear breeches, but that was a dream that she would likely never see come to fruition.

However, the durable skirt and sweaters were far better than their usual wear.

She waved at her family, who watched from the sidelines. Even her brothers had attended, and Freddie actually seemed impressed by what he saw. Perhaps he had just been worried about her failing .

As much of an insult as that was, Emmaline was glad to have proved him wrong.

She lost the coin toss, which didn’t overly concern her, for she was used to it with Rhys never coming out ahead either. A few moments later, the match began.

It was far from the game she was used to with Manchester Central, but she accepted it for what it was. She was still on the football field, and furthering this game along was what mattered to her, not the caliber of play. She’d had that experience and now it was time for another, new step forward.

Rhys stood close to the sidelines, encouraging the women. He had stayed with them for the entirety of their practices, helping Emmaline put together drills and plays and determine which women would fit best in which position as she decided she favored an attack-heavy style of play.

It was all she had ever dreamed about, and that she had found a man who would do this with her, who understood her passion, was nearly more than she would have ever thought possible.

She broke through, ready to take a shot, knowing she had a clear stretch in front of her, but at the last second, slid the ball over to Ada, who found the middle of the goal.

They celebrated wildly, although it was too soon, for their goal only seemed to wake up the Ironworkers, and within a few minutes, the Ladies were down by two goals.

Emmaline did her best to rally her players, but by the time the hired referee called time on the game, they had been heavily trounced by the far more experienced and strong Manchester Ironworkers.

Emmaline had never been so happy to lose a game.

“We did it!” she exclaimed, walking over to Rhys and Lily. Lily was no longer playing with the team, especially with the news she had recently shared, but she still came to support them. “We finished the game. And everyone seems to be happy with the outcome.”

“I’m glad,” Rhys said, wrapping an arm around her. “You did wonderfully, Emmaline.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You could have,” he argued, “but I’m glad I was there to help you.”

The players from Manchester Central clapped as she and Rhys walked over to join them. The men had been happy to drop in at the odd practice and offer their support in any way possible.

“I think I still like you in a Manchester Central uniform better,” Tommy joked, and Emmaline felt a slight pang of longing for the past year, but looking at her team behind her on the field was enough to remind her of what was most important now. That, and the man standing beside her.

“Manchester Central will always have a place in my heart, Tommy,” she said, placing a hand over her chest. “Besides, Joey has returned.”

“Yeah, yeah, Joey!” Felix called out as they clapped for Joey, who nodded.

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep up with your last right fielder,” he said bashfully.

“I was only keeping your place warm, Joey,” Emmaline said. “It’s rightfully yours.”

“Well, you did an awful good job in there, Mrs. Lockwood.”

“Emmaline is just fine, Joey.”

“Right,” he said, dipping his head, reminding her that he was the one man on the football club she hadn’t gotten a great chance to come to know as well as the others.

“Say, Emmaline,” Tommy called out as he stayed back while the rest of the men started off the field, “Miss Draper didn’t play in the game.”

“Minnie decided that football just might not be for her,” Emmaline said. “She was here watching, however.”

“She was?” Tommy asked as he quickly bounced on his toes to look around. “Where is she?”

“I think she’s going to The King’s Head with a few of the ladies who aren’t afraid to be seen there. Perhaps you’ll find her there?”

She didn’t have time to finish her sentence, for Tommy had already taken off across the field. She chuckled, although she couldn’t help the pit of concern in her stomach, knowing there was no way the two of them could end up together.

Not with what Minnie’s parents had planned for her.

“What’s wrong?” Rhys asked as he joined her, pressing a kiss on the back of her hand.

“Nothing,” she said. “Just worried about Minnie and Tommy, is all.”

“Well, they’ll find their way, just as we found ours,” he said. “Are you ready to go?”

“I am,” she said. “You do know I’ll go anywhere with you, don’t you?”

“That I do,” he said, bending over to plant a kiss on her lips. “That I do.”