He then translated for those gathered around. “Below lie buried the bones of the venerable Elena, who gave this sacred house as a home for the nuns. She also lived here as abbess, full of good works.”
“Clever boy,” Lady Fitzhoward said. Then she announced, “I’m done in. I’m going to my room.” She turned to take her leave.
“Shall I walk with you, my lady?” Rebecca offered.
“I am not an invalid yet. Oh, very well. Come if you’re coming.”
Rebecca took her arm and was glad when the older woman did not pull away. “Indeed you do seem tired.”
“Revisiting history is a taxing business.”
“Shall I send for tea? Summon Joly?”
“Don’t fuss, Miss Lane. I shall be my old cantankerous self again after a nap.”
Rebecca bit back a grin. “I am excessively glad to hear it.”
———
After walking with Lady Fitzhoward to her room, Rebecca rejoined the others, now lingering in the cloisters.
“It is a lovely day,” Thomas Wilford observed. Then, with a glance that encompassed her, his brother, and Miss Newport, he said, “How about a game of lawn bowls?”
The four of them agreed and met outside on the bowling green half an hour later. Sir Frederick and Rebecca had remained as they were, while Miss Newport had donned a pelisse over her day dress and Thomas had changed into casual coat and trousers.
The mid-March air was brisk, but the garden wall and hedges protected them from the wind.
“Let’s play in teams of two,” Thomas suggested. “Miss Newport and myself against Frederick and Miss Lane. Any objections?”
When heads shook, Thomas smiled slyly. “I, too, thought the arrangement most agreeable.”
Frederick produced a coin, and the brothers flipped to see who would go first.
Their team won the toss. “Will you deliver the jack, or shall I?” Frederick asked her.
“I will, if you don’t mind.”
He had obviously expected her to demur, and Rebecca found she enjoyed surprising him.
She stepped to the marker, placed her left foot forward, bent her knees, and gave the smaller white ball an energetic roll.
Now that their target had been placed, the game began in earnest, with each player trying to roll nearest the jack.
Sir Frederick played with ease and skill. Rebecca watched him, hoping her attention was not obvious. She admired his broad shoulders, masculine build, and prowess.
When Miss Newport’s turn came, her bowl rolled weakly less than halfway toward the goal.
Thomas said, “You cannot just toss it, my dear Miss Newport. You must really put some effort into it.”
“I am sorry.” Selina pouted prettily. “I have not done this in an age.”
“That’s all right. It will be my pleasure to show you how the game is played.”
Thomas clearly relished the role, letting his hands linger at her narrow waist, demonstrating how to position her feet, and advising her how to aim.
The game continued, Miss Newport flirting and teasing and praising the men’s skill. When it was again her turn to throw, her bowl missed the others by a wide margin and disappeared under the privet hedge.
“No, no,” Thomas chided gently. “Remember, these balls are slightly biased instead of perfectly round. If you aim directly at the jack, it will curve to the side.”
