Page 22 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
“I was more referring to Matilda and me,” Lady Cynthia said with a slight frown. “We ladies do not need the masculine-fuelled competitiveness spoiling our game,” she added, taking hold of Matilda’s hand and leading her away. “Although you are all very welcome to take your turn,” she called back to the men at the table.
They all got up to follow her and Lady Matilda. The group headed over to a clearing in the garden where Lady Cynthia had arranged for garden games to be set out.
“Why do not you gentlemen go and enjoy a game of lawn bowling?” she suggested. The last thing she wanted was for them to be bothering her and Lady Matilda during their game.
“I say, why do not we go along to the billiards room?” she heard her brother Anthony suggest.
“Certainly not!” Lady Cynthia declared at him, now taking an interest in their entertainment. “This is a garden party, and we must remain outdoors until it is over, I insist.”
“I thought it was a party to celebrate our homecoming," Anthony grumbled back at her. "It seems more about our younger sister bossing us around in her usual manner.”
“Come along, Anthony,” Lord Thomas encouraged as he had picked up a heavy ball in his readiness for a game of lawn bowling.
“You could at least have organised archery for us,” Anthony complained to his sister. “I dislike lawn bowling.”
“I thought it to be a little too dangerous to have arrows flying around, what with so many guests,” Lady Cynthia answered. “Besides, you were never a good shot, anyway.” She sniggered.
* * *
For Ethan, the talk of games reminded him of how competitive Josephine had been as a girl. She had always been a sore loser, and often he had allowed her to get ahead of him with most challenges.
His brothers had not been of the same opinion though, and mocked him for the soft spot he had for her. He had risen above his teasing brothers because of his fondness towards his very best friend, and he always defended her in those days.
His thoughts led to images of them all as children, playing in this very garden. Josephine had been good at archery, better than any of the boys. Neither of his brothers had been pleased when she had beaten them in the challenges.
For him though, he had felt pride to see her rise above all the challenges that life had thrown at her. As a girl, she had been such adventurer and he wondered where all her confidence gone.
Ethan was not concentrating on the group conversation, and he looked around to see if Josephine was close by. Just a glimpse of her would be sufficient to make him smile, though he wished she could be there to compete at the games she was so good at as a child. Never once did she brag at her triumphs, but she would go into a mighty sulk if she lost.
The memory caused Ethan to smile at himself, as those around him continued with their game play.
“What are you smiling at?” Anthony asked his brother as he looked his way. “Is it because of the lovely Lady Matilda?”
“Was I smiling?" Ethan answered. "I was not aware of it." He ignored the remark about Lady Matilda as he had no desire to discuss her.
“You know, brother, that she would make you the perfect match, do you not agree?” Anthony pushed on.
"She would be overjoyed if you were to propose such a match," Lord Thomas agreed as he joined in the conversation.
Ethan said nothing at first. He stood still and looked over at his sister and Lady Matilda at play, each of them giggling in the sunlight.
“I am not considering marriage yet, Thomas,” Lord Ethan replied. What he did not say was that whenever the thought of marriage came to his mind, so too did Josephine.
A pink-cheeked Lady Cynthia was soon by his side once again, panting at the exercise of the game she had played.
"Matilda has me beaten," she huffed, taking in a big breath from the exertion. "Will you play the winner, Ethan?"
He knew if he refused she would only be insulted. His sister had gone to such trouble to arrange the events and Ethan soon found himself with a bat in hand for a game of Battledore. His opponent was to be Lady Matilda.
He could not help but admire her beauty, it was undeniable that he enjoyed her energy and charm. But he could never truly compete with the fairer sexes. At the end of play, he had allowed her to beat him, to which she accused him of being a gentleman.
“Shall we go into the parlour and rest before dinner is served this evening?” Lady Cynthia proposed as they had all completed their turns.
“I would say to the billiards room with us,” Lord Anthony put in before his sister had the chance to rule the day completely. “Time for some real game playing, do not you agree, Ethan?”
“You go along with Thomas," Ethan replied as he watched the ladies depart from the garden. "I may join you later and play the winner.”
The garden party was finally unwinding, for it was late afternoon. All the guests looked glad to be retiring into the shady indoors of the manor house. The ladies would gather and gossip in the parlour whilst the gentlemen went off to gather to play billiards and cards before dinner.
