“I plan to have as much fun as possible this year,” Gwen replies, winking at Beth.
Beth wraps her arm through Bobby’s. “Fun, trouble, they’re really the same thing, aren’t they?”
“With the two of you, absolutely,” he says, laughing as Beth swats at him.
“I think it’s time we made use of the lovely lawn-bowling setup your mother so kindly supplied to have a tournament,” Gwen tells Lady Eloise.
“Only the debutantes and sons,” Lady Eloise says. “My father said after last year the parents aren’t allowed to participate.”
“That’s a shame,” Beth says. “Your mother was very good at croquet.”
“Yours, not so much,” Gwen says. Beth laughs and Lady Eloise gapes. “What? She’s my stepmother now—I say it with love,” Gwen defends.
“So, lawn bowling?” Prous puts in, before the ladies can devolve into a fast-paced squabble.
“Yes,” Gwen says. “We’ll play in teams, so everyone gets a turn.”
“In couples, of course?” Lady Eloise asks.
“Well, of course. What would be the point otherwise?” Gwen says brightly. “Lady Eloise and Prous, naturally; Lady Annabeth and Johnson; MissSusan with Haroldson; obviously MissLangston and Prince; and we’ll finish up with MissBertram and Mason; and Lord Demeroven, you’ll be with me.”
The couples pair off excitedly. Beth squeezes Bobby’s arm and he meets her smile.
“We’re going to wipe the floor with all of them,” he says loudly. Beth laughs.
He glances at Gwen, who has stepped up to Demeroven, making equally heckling comments about the other couples, he’s sure. Demeroven looks exceedingly uncomfortable, but he hears the man mutter, “Given your prowess at billiards, according to your father, I’m not sure we’re giving them any chance.”
Gwen laughs and Bobby files that away. Demeroveniscapable of having some manner of charm, then.
“All right, I believe Lady Kingsman has three sets available?” Gwen says, turning back to the group.
“Yes,” Lady Eloise says, her hand threaded with Prous’.
“Then we’ll play in groups of four, and then the winning three teams can be in the final tournament,” Gwen decides. “Lady Eloise and Prous versus Lady Annabeth and Johnson, and MissSusan and Haroldson versus MissLangston and Prince. Beth and Mason, you’ll be against us. And we are going to obliterate you, aren’t we, Demeroven?”
“Yes,” Demeroven says, glancing at Gwen and trying vainly to match her tenacity.
“In your dreams,” Beth says, leading Bobby toward the bowling set furthest from the patio.
“Are you any good at lawn bowling?” Bobby thinks to ask as they watch Demeroven stiffly unpack their set of balls.
“Oh, God, no,” Beth says brightly. “But I insist we win. We both know she’ll be insufferable if we don’t.” They both look at Gwen, who’s practically doing calisthenics to warm up.
“And that’s the woman you love,” Bobby mutters.
Beth giggles. “With all my heart, the terrible winner she is. You think James has any skill at this?”
Bobby’s about to say no, but then Demeroven removes his coat and lays it on a nearby bench. He has a shockingly strong,lithe physique, and coupled with those sharp cheekbones and piercing eyes—
“Bobby?”
“Oh, uh, no. Can’t have. Doesn’t seem like the lawn-games type,” Bobby hurries out, pretending he is not at all feeling any rush of anything at the sight of Beth’s cousin’s body.
“A friendly family game?” Albie asks, sauntering up to them.
“Perhaps,” Bobby says, hoping his voice sounds normal despite the pickup of his pulse.
“Your father told me to come over and referee so we don’t have any sort of repeat of... last year,” Albie tells Gwen.
