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Ari hurried over to him. “Oh, thank you, Papa,” she said. But just before she reached him, one foot slipped out from under her, and she landed in a heap in the snow.

“It’s just as I suspected,” her father said as he hurried to offer her a hand.

Ari giggled. “Thank you, Papa.”

“Perhaps I should have a servant at the ready to fetch the doctor,” he grunted, but a grin hovered on his lips. He looked at the group. “Are we just to stand here freezing, or are we to play the game?”

Freddie flicked up his brows. “Let’s play.”

Seventeen

Freddie tossed a shuttlecock to Fin. “Why don’t you and I start?”

Fin easily caught it in one hand. He tossed it into the air, and as it came down, he swatted it back up with his battledore.

Evie ran toward it—with some difficulty in the deep snow—hitting it just as Ari reached forward.

“Evie, that was coming right to me,” Ari complained.

“It was not,” Evie contested feebly. She slowly waded her way back to her spot.

Pippy couldn’t help noticing that she kept glancing toward Lord Finsbury. Curious.

Freddie followed after Fin, angling his battledore so the shuttlecock flew toward Pippy. She deftly hit it, but frowned when it went in Lord Kentwood’s direction. It was the object of the game, but she couldn’t help but wonder if he might not hold it against her.

To her surprise, he let out a grunt as he lunged forward and smacked the shuttlecock back into the air, sending it to Lord Stanhope. When he was done, he smiled and nodded to no one in particular.

Pippy smiled back. Could he actually have fun?

Lord Stanhope dropped his battledore low and swung it upwards, catching the snow and sending it flying toward them along with the shuttlecock.

Ari let out a squeal as she wiped at her face. “My lord, you surely did that on purpose!” The shuttlecock fell into the snow. Would they find it before spring?

Lord Stanhope looked too innocent. “Surely not. How could you accuse me of such treachery?”

Ari’s eyes widened before she lowered her battledore and swatted a return spray, mostly in the direction of Lord Stanhope. But a fair amount caught Freddie in the face.

“Oh, you are in the briars now, Arabella,” he said with a feigned scowl.

She squealed again and ran toward her father. “Papa, Papa! You must help me.”

Her father dashed out of her way. “Oh, no. You put yourself in this position. Did I not tell you I would not hear of it when it all went wrong?”

“But surely this is not what you had in mind. You were speaking of me injuring myself—a sprained ankle, perhaps. Not protecting me from my brother.” She darted behind her father, hazarding glances around him.

Both shuttlecocks had fallen into the snow, and now lay forgotten as everyone took their positions and sides.

“Freddie, leave Arabella alone. She was intending to hit Lord Stanhope with the snow. Not you.” Pippy defended her sister-in-law.

Freddie turned on her, a playful glint in his eyes. “My own wife, turning against me?” He dipped down and picked up a handful of snow, throwing it at Pippy.

She let out a gasp as it hit her in the chest. Several bits of cold snow bounced onto her face. Water ran down her cheeks and nose. “You threw a snowball at me just then, did you?” she asked incredulously.

He shook his head innocently. “I most certainly did not. That does not ring true to my character.”

“I beg to differ. It rings entirely true of your character,” Lord Stanhope said in challenge.

A snowball hit Freddie in the cheek.