“Yes, Mother. We just took a fall,” Miss Childs replied, her mask firmly in place. Oliver’s chest tightened. He’d caught a brief glimpse of Kitty, and somehow he already missed her.
The matron studied them both for a moment before turning to her daughter. “I think that is enough games for one day. Come, finish your tea.”
“You should sit down,” Oliver suggested. “We will collect the equipment and join you soon.”
Miss Childs gave him a polite nod and followed her mother.
Tim stepped up alongside him, his arms full of paddles. “How did you know?”
“Hmm?” Oliver replied, his attention still on the young woman walking away from him.
“How did you know battledore would bring out Miss Childs’ lighter side?” Tim clarified.
“I didn’t.” Oliver turned to look at his twin. “But I wanted to find something, anything, that got her away from her mother.”
“Well played,” Arabella commented, and Oliver knew she was not referring to the game.
Kitty did her best to sit perfectly still as Polly wove pale green ribbons through her dark hair. She could not deny that the effect was lovely, but that did not change the fact that such adornments made her head itch. Still, there was nothing for it. Her mother would accept nothing less than perfection for Lady Swaffham’s ball.
Just as her maid finished, Mrs. Childs stepped into the room. She studied her for a long moment and then gave asingle nod of approval. “You’ll do nicely. If you can avoid behaving like a hoyden for the entirety of the evening, you should have a very successful ball.”
Though it had been two days since the afternoon at Fulbourn House, her mother had not yet forgiven her for her unladylike behavior during the game of battledore. The lectures had begun the moment they climbed into their carriage after finishing tea. Her mother was absolutely convinced that if Oliver Linfield jilted her, it would be because she had been overly energetic during a lawn game. Kitty disagreed.
Not that she intended their arrangement to be anything but a feigned courtship. But the only time she’d seen Oliver Linfield with a sincere smile, at least knowing it was him, was with a paddle in his hand. Rather than being put off, he appeared genuinely entertained by her antics.
She was still not sure what to think of the man. The version “courting” her had more in common with the polite but disinterested gentleman she’d seen at Arbor Hill. And yet, she knew the gentleman who mended walls on his own estate and discussed novels was in there somewhere. And apparently he enjoyed outdoor games. That version could touch her heart if she allowed it. But then he would vanish again.
Kitty stepped into the London townhouse of Lord and Lady Swaffham a short time later. After greeting her host and hostess, she found Oliver Linfield standing in the corridor, waiting for her. Her heart did a most unwelcome flip at the sight of his handsome form. “Mrs. Childs, Miss Childs.” He bowed politely and then offered his elbows. “May I escort you both into the ball?”
After they accepted his offer, Oliver led them through an open door and into what was likely the drawing room on any other day. Like most London townhouses, this one was not large enough to accommodate a true ballroom. Instead, most of the doors and furniture had been removed from the ground-floor rooms. It appeared that a partition wall had also been opened to allow a larger room for dancing.
They found the rest of Oliver’s family waiting just inside the room. As usual, Kitty’s mother put herself at the center of the conversation by launching into a commentary on Lady Swaffham’s chosen decor. Lady Diana and Arabella slipped in a few complimentary comments, but Kitty felt a growing pain behind her eyes as she listened to the mostly one-sided discussion.
At long last, their hostess announced the start of the dancing. Tim led his wife onto the dance floor while Oliver turned and held out a hand to her. “May I claim your first?”
“Of course.” His hand felt firm, and she could feel the warmth through their gloves.
Kitty and Oliver joined Tim and Arabella, and two couples she did not recognize, to create a set for a quadrille.
The first notes from the string quartet rang out and one of the unfamiliar couples started by taking three steps forward and then back. They then stepped forward again, clasped hands, and spun until they had returned to their original spots. Soon the entire quartet of couples found themselves twirling, switching partners, and finding their spots again.
The second time Oliver stepped past, he leaned in and whispered, “I find Quadrilles to be a frustrating dance.”
“How so?” Kitty replied duringhis next pass.
When they once again found themselves next to each other, Oliver answered. “They make conversation nearly impossible.”
“At least without six witnesses,” Kitty acknowledged as she spun away from him yet again.
“And yet, people will comment,” Oliver noted the next time they were close enough to speak.
“If we do not speak at all,” Kitty finished.
“Which is why most couples discuss the weather,” Tim commented as he stepped forward, confirming they had an audience.
The dance continued for several minutes before Oliver spoke again. “I find our current weather most pleasant.”
Kitty held back a laugh. In truth, the weather all day had been dreary with intermittent rain showers. “I’m so glad.”
