Page 27 of A Wallflower's Wassail Punch
“A ball?”said her father.
“Snowball!That was brilliant,” cried Mr.Hawkesbury.
“Yes!”Annette clapped.“You come up with the next one.”
The red-haired man pursed his lips and tapped his heel some more.Then he smiled.
“My first a blessing sent to earth,
Of plants and flowers to aid the birth.
My second surely was designed
To hurl destruction on mankind.
My whole a pledge from pardoned Heaven,
Of wrath appeased and crimes forgiven.”
“The blessing to plants and flowers could be rain,” said Lady Henney.
“Destruction,” mused Lord Weston.“Fire?But does it hurl?No.”
“Water, floods,” murmured her father.
“Noah saw a rainbow after the floods.”Lord Weston snapped his fingers.“A bow is let loose to hurl toward its target.So, rain and bow.Very clever, Hawk.”
“Thank you, my lord.Your turn.”
Weston crossed his ankle on his knee and drummed his fingers on his leg.Annette watched the digits brushing his muscular thigh; her mouth went dry.
“My first is an animal’s coat;
Many trees in my next you may place.
My whole, to your grief, will denote
That time has made work with your face.”
“Fur!”shouted Fitzjames.
“Yes, Fitz, we’re all very proud of you,” said Lucius.
“Thank you,” he said, ignoring her brother’s placating tone.
“Row, the trees would be in a row,” added her father.“Furrow would be what’s happened to my face.”
They continued the game.Annette found herself challenged more than once and enjoying the company, at ease with younger suitable men.Looking at her brother, she realized he’d handpicked these men.Affection swelled in her chest for Lucius.He’d done a fine job of it, for if anyone had told her she’d be in this situation six months ago, she’d have laughed.Or ran.
CHAPTER12
23 December 1820
“How goes the chase?”asked Bowman as he helped Andrew undress for the night.“The other gentlemen leave tomorrow.Any progress?”
Andrew shrugged his shoulders.“As in the suitors that Page brought with him?”Fitzjames had made himself into an extra appendage, not leaving Lady Annette’s side.Hmph.“We were originally to go into the village by coach.I think the suggestion to take the horses was designed to discourage Hawkesbury from going.”
“I see.”Bowman brushed off the coat and put it in the wardrobe.He returned and removed the cravat and then the collar.“However, I meant progress with improving your charm.”
