“It is never a bad thing to do something for other people. I thought that Clara might enjoy running around outside. It will certainly lead to less damage in the house,” he said, intending this to be a joke, but Clara looked hurt. Charlotte, who was sitting beside Clara, put her hand around Clara’s shoulders and whispered something in her ear.
“I think it sounds like a wonderful idea,” Edmund said, clapping his hand on the table. “What do you say, Grandmother?”
Agatha laughed and shook her head.
“I’m afraid garden games are a thing of the past for me. Not to worry, Beatrice and I shall watch from the side. These games aren’t for women like us,” Agatha replied.
Beatrice looked utterly shocked at the thought of being grouped with Agatha, but Agatha was already looping her arm around Beatrice’s and mentioning all the things they could speak about while the others were playing. Beatrice sank into her chair, as though she wished to be swallowed whole.
Before Beatrice could cause a scene, Nathaniel checked with everyone else and received enthusiastic nods. Even Clara was smiling, although the smile faded when she noticed that he was looking at her.
That afternoon, they gathered in the garden. Nathaniel had placed two buckets at either end of a patch of grass, and the goal of the game was to throw the ball into the bucket, scoring a point. The ball was made of leather and fit into one of Nathaniel’s hands. It was small and light, so there was no danger of injury. Even Clara could hold it in one hand.
When the others arrived, he described the rules and said they would divide into teams.
“Mary and I will go together,” Alfred said immediately, flashing a smile at Mary, who blushed in response.
“Clara, would you like to be on my team?” Nathaniel asked, but the silence was deafening.
“I want to be with Charlotte,” Clara said after a long moment, and ran to Charlotte’s side.
Nathaniel gripped the ball tightly, trying not to let the tension show on his face. What was it about Charlotte that made innocent creatures gravitate toward her? Hector, Brutus, and now Clara. They all preferred her to him, and he couldn’t quite understand why.
“Then we shall make a foursome,” Charlotte said, moving toward Alfred and Mary. Of course, she would never deign to be on his team, Nathaniel thought.
“Champion! That leaves us as a trio. We’ll show them what for,” Edmund clasped his hands together. “Come on, Lydia, we can prove to Charlotte that we are the superior siblings.”
Lydia glanced at Charlotte. There was a mischievous smile on her face, but she did not make brash statements like her brother. They both joined Nathaniel.
“It seems the teams are unbalanced. Mother, are you certain that you won’t play?” Nathaniel called out.
Beatrice opened her mouth about to speak, but Agatha was a moment quicker.
“No, that’s quite all right, Your Grace. We Dowager Duchesses know our place. We can keep each other company,” Agatha assured with a wave. Beatrice’s face sank, looking utterly despairing.
“I don’t think their advantage is going to prove telling,” Edmund said with a wink.
“Don’t listen to him, Clara. I bet you’re going to score the most of everyone,” Charlotte said.
Nathaniel pointed to either side of the field, directing Edmund and Lydia to take positions there. Alfred moved toward Edmund, trying to cut off the pass to him, while Mary moved toward Lydia. Charlotte hovered in the middle, whereas Clara ran around without much strategy at all.
Edmund was calling for the ball, but Alfred was closing on him quickly, so Nathaniel decided to throw it to Lydia instead. The ball looped through the air. Lydia stood still and cupped her hands, waiting for the ball to come to her.
“Watch out!” Edmund cried as Mary was closing fast.
Nathaniel watched as the two women stood there, and when the ball came hurtling down, they both squealed, looking away.
“Good catch, sister!” Edmund said.
“Bad luck, Mary,” Alfred cried out.
Lydia opened her eyes and seemed shocked that she had caught the ball at all, but it brought a confident gleam to her eyes.
“What shall I do?” she cried out.
“To me!” Nathaniel said. He was already breaking into a run, opening his hands. Lydia laughed as she tossed the ball to him. Nathaniel gathered it in his arms and darted to the side, avoiding Charlotte. He then saw Edmund peeling away from Alfred. Nathaniel threw the ball flat, smiling when Edmund plucked it out of the air.
In one smooth motion, Edmund passed the bucket and threw the ball in. It made a loud clacking sound as it rolled into the metal bucket. Alfred put his hands on his hips, while Mary congratulated them all.
