The lady clapped her gloved hands. “That was a wonderful shot. I do hope I can do half as well.”
It was obvious she was looking for a compliment, but as he prepared to answer, Lady Dorothea squealed, causing him to look back. She sat on the ground, as if she’d fallen. His instinct was to come to her aid, but Lord Dearling had everything well in hand, if Lady Dorothea laughing as the man helped her to stand could be considered well in hand.
“Do you think I should set up my fall or attempt the angle?”
Though Lady Matilda spoke to him, Lord Leighhall answered. “The angle is tricky, but you would be sure to win if you made it.”
Forcing himself to refocus on the game, Felton stepped to where Lady Matilda’s ball lay and studied the line to the hoop. “In my opinion, you’ll have more success if you set up the shot.”
“Even if it takes an additional stroke?”
“Yes.” While the lady had skill, even he would have difficulty with the angle, something Leighhall was sure to know.
The lady took another look as if actually contemplating Leighhall’s advice. Finally, she lined her mallet up and hit, setting the ball up directly before the hoop and in the way of his own shot.
Leighhall laughed. “Now, that, I didn’t expect. Excellent setup, Lady Matilda.”
Felton gave the man a bored stare before glancing at his sister, who shook her head. She knew exactly what to do were it her turn. But it wasn’t, it was his.
Standing behind his ball, he examined the line and the distance between Lady Matilda’s ball and the arch he must send his ball through. Determining the best angle, he hit the ball toward the ground and watched as it jumped over Lady Matilda’s ball and through the hoop.
“Oh, that was marvelous!” Lady Matilda clapped her hands as Lord Leighhall stared.
“Where did you learn to do that?” Leighhall shook his head. “That can’t be fair.”
His sister looped her arm through Lord Leighhall’s. “Actually, my lord, it is. But I do believe it is our turn.”
As his sister and Leighhall determined their shots, he glanced back toward the third hoop to find that foursome talking as they waited for Lady Dorothea’s group on hoop four. Was hethe only person who cared about winning? If so, he’d be loath to play the game again.
“Tell me, Lord Harewood, are you equally skilled in hunting?”
Surprised by the question, he gave Lady Matilda his full attention. “I am. I do not like to fail.”
She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. “That was the impression I was under.”
For Jove’s sake, did she really think he had an interest in her beyond the game? If that was to be the case, he’d ask another lady to partner with him for the next activity. “And what of you? Do you excel at something other than pall-mall?”
She laughed daintily, her gloved hand half-covering her rather thin lips. “I do, but it is hardly attractive to brag. However, since you ask, I’m excellent at the pianoforte and sewing. I’ve also been given many compliments on my dancing ability.”
Surprised, not by her list, but by her forthright revelation of said accomplishments, he barely kept from asking how she was at kissing, as he would have with Lady Dorothea. Fortunately, the thought of Lady Matilda wanting to demonstrate that ability with him made it possible to refrain. “That is quite impressive.”
“My mother has been very insistent that I be well-accomplished. I was tutored by the very best governesses. You see, my father, the Marquess of Stamford, is well attended and expectations for me are quite high.”
And he thought Leighhall a braggart? “No doubt they are.”
“Brother, can you please take your turn? I’m parched and wish for a lemonade.”
Happy to have his sister interrupt, he studied the field to find his ball far from where he’d left it. Looking to his sister, he caught an impish gleam in her eye. Finally, a challenge. “Iwould not wish to keep you from your refreshment longer than required.”
It was obvious by the position of the balls that she expected him to jump her ball, but he had a far better plan. Lining his mallet up, he smacked it hard into her ball, sending it off the course. It did leave him with a terrible angle, but it was worth it to see her open mouth.
“Oh, dear, Lord Harewood. I’m not sure you will make this next shot.”
At Lady Matilda’s statement, he almost wished he was with Lady Dorothea’s group. At least they found their game entertaining, while he thought he may die of boredom before he finished his. Though he knew it wasn’t the most gentlemanly action to take, he hit his ball so it glanced off Lady Matilda’s, giving it just the angle he needed for it to fly through the final hoop.
Leighhall stepped next to him. “You’re in for it now.”
Lady Matilda’s mouth turned down and her upper lip plumped out in a pout.
