Page 31 of The Scoundrel's Christmas Challenge
“It shall be an inside game.”
All four sets of eyes locked on her.
“Croquet inside?” asked Lord Bentson.
“How will you get the hoops to stand?” asked Lord Elwood.
“Oh, I have no doubt she has a plan,” said Lucius.
“When I was young,” began Christiana, “my parents would make up inside games when the weather was bad. We would put numbers on pieces of furniture, and they would be our hoops. We would play from one room to the next and then move to the lower level.”
Lord Bentson slapped his knee, his face crinkling with pleasure. “’Pon my soul, child, that is clever. I bet your mother thought it up.”
Christiana smiled at him and nodded. “We will begin on the first floor in the small parlor and work our way back here. My lady’s maid has placed the numbers on the next floor and will have them laid out down here when we return.”
The group followed her upstairs, and each took a mallet with a ball. The upstairs parlor had a small hearth flanked by two small brocade chairs, a chaise longue by the window, and several tables.
“As you see, the paper on each piece of furniture tells you what order to send the ball.” They took turns hitting the balls first under the chairs, then a side table, the length of the chaise longue, and under another table.
“Now what?” asked Lord Bentson, swinging his mallet like a dandy with a new cane.
Christiana walked to the top of the staircase and pointed at the bottom. A chair had been placed between the bottom step and the front door. “The ball must go down the stairs and under the chair. Then once we are back in the entryway, you must send the ball back under the chair and into the drawing room.”
The chaos began. Lord Elwood sent his ball bouncing down the steps, on top of the chair, clunking against the front door. Lady Elwood’s ball made it halfway down the steps and stopped. Lord Bentson got his ball to the bottom step but not beneath the chair. Lord Page managed to get his ball down the steps and under the chair.
Once in the entryway, Lord Elwood sent his ball back under the chair, slamming Lord Page’s ball toward the drawing room, and stopping below the last step. Lady Elwood tapped hers from the middle of the stairway, hit Lord Bentson’s, which hit Lord Elwood’s, and all three balls rolled in three different directions. The clank of wood and the exclamations and shouts from the players had Christiana laughing so hard, she had to wipe away tears.
“I do believe this is more fun as an adult,” she said between hiccups. Lucius angled his ball from the drawing-room door to the center of the room. By the time Lucius was declared the winner, Lord Elwood had finally made it out of the entryway.
“Brandy is always a good idea after a battle,” said Lord Bentson.
“I second that.” Lord Elwood went to the side table and poured two glasses, then looked over his shoulder at Lord Page, who nodded. “Ladies? A drink? Some sherry?”
He passed out the drinks, and they settled back into the seats they’d claimed as their own during the house party. The atmosphere was jovial, and Christiana wanted the camaraderie to continue.
“Lord Page has three points. He wins and will be granted the mines in Wales.” Lord Bentson was the first to point out the obvious. “Although I’m disappointed, I have to say this is the best house party I’ve attended in years. And at my age, that’s quite a list.”
“I’m not actually gaining the mines. It’s Sir Horace who is buying them,” reminded Lucius.
Lady Elwood patted her husband’s arm. “I’m sorry you didn’t win, love.”
“I admit I’m a bit disappointed, but I’m overjoyed you—we—have made a new friend. And to think she’s been our neighbor all this time.” He smiled down at his wife, then at Christiana. “Lady Winfield, we hope to see much more of you in the coming months. My wife throws splendid garden parties. Or so I’m told.”
Christiana beamed. “I have an announcement. This entire charade began to rid myself of all the men who wanted something from me. I thought I wanted peace and to be left alone. Instead, I have made new friends who I hope become dear old friends.”
“A toast!” said Lucius, standing. “To a new year and new beginnings.”
They held up their glasses and drank to one another.
“Lord Bentson, I am still willing to sell you the Ming vase. I believe my mother would have wanted you to have it.” She smiled at him, her chest expanding with happiness. “However, your last offer was much too high. We shall come to a fair price before you leave.”
“Lady Winfield, you are a diamond of the first water,” he said, slapping his knee. “I thank you.”
“Under one condition,” she said. “We must keep in touch. I would be heartbroken if our time together ended here.”
“I’d be honored. I have more stories to tell you,” he agreed, his hazel eyes glistening.
“Lord Elwood, if we are to be friends as well as neighbors, I see no reason you cannot hunt on my property. My only request is you notify me, so I avoid that area when you are shooting.” She grinned. “By notifying me, I mean an invitation to your lovely home which I would love to visit.”
