The crowd booed.
“‘Mother!’ Lady Nauticus gasped. ‘How could you say such a thing?’”
“‘I could never love another, Cerise. Your daughter is my one true love,’ Captain Broadbent said,” Theo cried.
“Let’s face it, if we’re honest, no one else would have him. He’s lazy and not very heroly,” Mary said.
“That’s not a word, my sweet,” Zach added.
“Captain Broadbent hurried to where Lady Nauticus stood and dropped to one knee,” Theo continued, not missing a beat even considering the interruptions. “However, there was a stone where he landed, and soon he was howling in pain.”
“Take Poddington!” a female voice shouted. “Broadbent is continually injured or being pathetic!”
More booing and hissing followed. Iris was now highly entertained. “I have seen nothing like this before,” she said to Nathan.
“I doubt there is anything else like this.”
“If I may conduct a quick show of hands. Who is for Poddington?” Theo asked.
Hands rose.
“Broadbent?”
More hands, and the majority, were raised.
“‘Oh, my dear Horatio!’ Lady Nauticus dropped to his side,” Theo continued with the story.
“‘No!’ Cerise cried. ‘You love Poddington! Captain Broadbent is mine!’”
Iris looked around the crowd. Some had their hands clutched, and others had them pressed to their mouths.
“‘I have always loved Captain Broadbent, Mother. My love for Mr. Poddington was that of a young woman. My love now is that of a mature woman. A woman who knows her life will be forever empty without her one true love.’”
“Oh, that’s quite beautiful,” someone sniffed.
“Oh dear, that can’t be good,” Dimity said as the barrel started rolling.
“I thought you were holding it!” both Deville brothers said at the same time.
Iris watched in horror as the barrel picked up speed with Theo running on top of it, shrieking.
“I can’t watch,” Zachariel Deville said, following the barrel at a run now with a hand pressed to his eyes.
“If there is water, he will find it,” Mary said.
Iris, heart in her mouth, watched as the book flew out of Theo’s hands. At the same time, the barrel hit a stone bench. Theo then seemed to fly high through the air, arms flapping, and came down with a loud splash into the pond.
“While you Devilles get him out, someone finish the reading,” a man said.
“That’s very rude! Lord Montgomery could be hurt,” Iris said, stomping away.
“What is she talking about?” a lady asked. “Plunge always falls in the water.”
Iris did not wait to hear more. She did not stop until she reached Theo. He was now out of the water and spluttering.
“Are you all right?”
“I am, yes. Wet through and in imminent danger of a chill. My jacket will be ruined!” he wailed.
