Page 43 of Romancing Daphne

James placed the first of Miss Lancaster’s bowls in her hands.“Then I shall let you in on a well-held family secret.” He attempted to look exceptionally serious.“Ben has an infuriating habit of knocking the kitty far to whichever side most of his opponent’s bowls are not occupying.”

Miss Lancaster tsked.“Then ought I to do my utmost to make that difficult for him?”

James nodded.“Obstacles always have impeded his aim.”

“Ah. The benefits of familiarity.” She adjusted the bowl, her eyes narrowing as she gazed down the lawn at the white ball awaiting her throw.“In exchange for that insight, I will inform you that Artemis is an unabashed and unrepentant cheat.”

She made her toss, the bowl’s arched path placing it a very tidy distance from the kitty.

“Another tidbit: Artemis sighs louder than any other person I know, particularly when she feels she is being bested.”

James handed her a second bowl, which she placed at exactly the same distance from the kitty as the first, only on the opposite side. A third throwcame to a stop very nearly in front of the kitty, though slightly off-center.

“Ah.” James smiled.“I believe I see your strategy. To get closer thanyourbowls, one would have to throw around them, else risk simply knocking them closer.”

Miss Lancaster looked up at him as he handed her the last bowl. Sheoffered another dimpled smile, something he imagined few people ever saw.It was more than lovely. Natural and open in that moment, it was ratherstunning. Something about her was decidedly different today, though hecouldn’t say just what. Something in her appearance, perhaps, or in hermanner of carrying herself. Whatever it was, he found he liked it. She was still the same kindhearted person but with an added measure of confidence.

Only after Miss Artemis declared in a voice overflowing with sighs,“One cannot be expected to bowl with such a heartless sister as I have,” did James realize he’d missed his partner’s final throw. Her four bowls sat in near-perfect symmetry, a formidable guard around their treasure.

“A fine round,” James said, feeling pleased that she’d done so well.

“Mark my words,” she answered, her tone lighter than he ever remembered hearing it,“Artemis will find a way to undo what advantage we have.”

The prospect didn’t seem to overly alarm her. He was not expected toprevent the inevitable underhandedness nor find a means by which theycould win. Miss Lancaster had, in her unspoken and calm way, given him leave to not worry for a moment—a luxury with which he had very little experience.

Miss Artemis began her turn with a truly dismal throw, followed by a very dramatic sigh.

James bit back a smile and saw out of the corner of his eye Miss Lancaster do the same.

“Sighing is one of her talents,” she said.

“More than a talent, I would say. The girl is a prodigy.” How they both maintained straight faces, James could not say.“Regardless, I do believe you have her beat.”

“Lawn games are, perhaps, the only area in which I am remotely her equal,” Miss Lancaster said.

“I take leave to doubt that.” The honest comment earned James one more fleeting glimpse of her dimple.

Miss Artemis’s remaining throws hardly improved. All James needed to do was place his own bowls in such a way as to make Ben’s usual strategy extremely difficult to implement.

Miss Lancaster handed him his first bowl.“I believe we will slaughter them after all.”

“I certainly hope so,” he replied.

He lined up his first throw.

A high-pitched yipping sound was his only warning before a blur of fur and noise dashed onto the bowling green. Mother’s latest adopted mutt had been banished to the stables for damaging the furniture in Mother’sdressing room, but its natural exuberance apparently had not abated.

James moved swiftly toward the pup.“Leave those be, you scamp.” His directives came decidedly too late. Not one of the bowls remained unmoved and the kitty resided in the fur ball’s mouth.

The pup trotted over to him quite as if he were a hound bringing his master the prize catch of the hunt.

James squatted in front of the troublemaker.“That was not terribly sociable of you.” A pair of enormous brown eyes watched him hopefully.“You’ve ruined the game, you realize.” The pup dropped the now-wet white ball into James’s outstretched hand.

Alarm pulled at Mother’s features. She would worry over having the afternoon’s activities ruined and the impression that would make on their guests. But what could he do? How was one expected to curb the enthusiasm of a puppy?

James heard someone approach from behind, the swish of skirtsindicating a woman. He looked over his shoulder to find Miss Lancaster standing next to him.

“I am sorry about the game,” he said.“We would most likely have won if not for this mongrel’s interference.” He could not think of a means ofsalvaging the game. Miss Lancaster would be disappointed.

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