No, to wonder about that wasn’t Lily’s place. The woman wouldn’t behermother-in-law. She was nothing more than a kind stranger to Lily. She followed the countess from the room and together they made their way down to the garden. Indeed, the others were already gathered, talking and laughing together.
When Lily exited the house behind the countess, Lockhart’s laughter faded, though. He held her stare a moment and then shifted his focus to his mother.
“And now we’re all here,” he said with a smile for her. “Let the battles begin. I intend to beat you this time, Mama.”
The countess shook her head with a laugh. “I’m sure you would do so and so I won’t even face off with you, so my record won’t be risked. Mrs. Manning has kindly agreed to partner with your father so I may watch the festivities with Lady Westinghouse.”
“Yes,” Prudence said with a little glare for Lily. “I’ve never much liked lawn games.”
“I see.” Lockhart looked closely at his mother for a moment and then shifted to the rest with a wide smile. “Then let the best team win. And by that, I mean the team of Miss Westinghouse and me.”
Alice tittered, but Lily could see it was with nervousness. They all took to the green and Lily gave the earl a little curtsey. “I hope I shall be a good partner to you, my lord.”
He looked down at her with a smile that was so like his son’s that she blinked in surprise. “Are you of a competitive nature, Mrs. Manning?”
She nodded, unable to do anything but return that dazzling smile. “I am, indeed, my lord.”
“Excellent. Then I have no doubt we willtrounce them all.” He said the last part with great emphasis, causing a laugh to rise up from all the others, including her sister.
And so for a little while, Lily pushed aside her troubles, and played a game that didn’t involve hearts, just strategy. One she was far more certain she could win than the one that involved Lockhart.
* * *
George stood to the side of the lawn, watching as Lily and his father discussed tactics for their next roll. He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her all afternoon. She was very talented at the game, but she was also incapable of doing anything but charming everyone she met. His father was clearly taken with her, laughing at every little joke she made and cheering her on anytime she knocked down their pins.
It would be easy for her to fit into their group with her friendly, competitive nature. With her sister, it was a little more complicated. He glanced at Miss Westinghouse and found her staring off toward the house, her expression clouded. She was trying to match his play, her effort was undeniable, but she wasn’t practiced at the game, it seemed. They were losing by a large number of points throughout the little tournament. Even more importantly, she seemed not to be enjoying the time they were spending together.
His father and Lily finished their turn and the next round of play was with Clarissa and Kirkwood. They appeared to be playing their own game. Though they were a team, they were equally competitive against each other, but there was a loving undertone to their interaction. Kirkwood couldn’t stop smiling at his wife every time she knocked down the pins and spun on him with a triumphant cry of pleasure. So strange that not that long ago, his friend had been lamenting the circumstances that forced their union. And now…
Well, it was evident he had never been happier.
George looked again at Miss Westinghouse. “It will be our turn again soon.”
She seemed a little startled by his statement, as if she had been leagues away in her mind. “Oh. Oh yes. I shall try to do better this round.”
“You did fine the last few rounds,” he tried to reassure her.
She laughed. “I may be naïve in a great many things, my lord, but I’m not a fool. I know I’m the worst player on the field. Nothing like my sister.”
That last sentence hit him in the stomach like a punch, for it felt so true on so many levels. He pushed the inappropriate thought away and smiled at her. “Well, I’m certain you’ll have much practice in the years to come, for this is a game we play with great gusto all summer long.”
He hoped she would respond to that statement with something that would connect them, but she glanced at the ground instead. “Yes, so your mother said. I will try, of course.”
She sounded so forlorn by the idea and for a moment he could see long years of his life stretching out, this woman barely tolerating or understanding his pursuits. She had already said she was no great reader, she didn’t like lawn games, he had no idea of her thoughts on any topics that were his passions, actually. He didn’t even know what any of hers were.
And yet he knew Lily far better. From her bad marriage to her love of books to the fact that she could hold her own on the field. Not to mention he knew her flavor and the sound of her shuddering breaths when she came.
Clarissa and Kirkwood finished their round and George motioned Miss Westinghouse to lead them to the lawn. She did so and took a deep breath while the servants reset the pins into their triangle shape. When she bowled, the ball rolled to the side and she only knocked down two pins.
She glanced at him. “I really am rubbish at this. You’ll have a challenge in your roll.”
He shook his head to reassure her even though she wasn’t wrong and they finished the round still far behind the others. That concluded the game and made his father and Lily the winners. The earl crowed, shaking her hand with enthusiasm as she laughed.
“Good show, my dear, good show,” he said, and then started toward George’s mother. “If you are resting yourself, you may always pair me with this young lady, Louisa. She is a fine player.”
“I shall keep it in mind,” his mother said with a laugh.
Miss Westinghouse gave George an apologetic look and then returned to her mother and his parents. Clarissa and Kirkwood were to the side of the lawn, deep in what seemed to be intimate conversation as he pushed a lock of hair off her cheek.
