Page 93 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
Andrea knelt beside the girl, and took her small hands in her own. “Well, that seems rather unfair.”
The girl nodded emphatically, clutching the doll tightly to her chest. “That is what I said.”
The hair on the back of Andrea’s neck stood on end, and she glanced up to see Frederick watching her from a distance. His eyebrow was raised and he had a small boy clambering over his shoulders. Their eyes met and he tilted his head towards her in question, already taking a half step towards her.
Andrea subtly shook her head, holding up a finger to him to indicate he should wait as she talked to the small girl. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him stiffen but he did not come towards them.
Her heart sped up as she turned back towards the child who was now twisting from side to side, a hopeful smile on her face.
“What is your name?” Andrea knelt down beside her, keeping her voice cheery and light, as she had heard Frederick do countless times before.
“Tiffany Stapleton.” The girl replied.
Andrea ran through a list of names in her mind, trying to work out which of Frederick’s numerous relations were the girl’s parents. “Is your father the Earl of Windthorpe?”
Tiffany nodded, her eyes bright with excitement. Andrea looked back up at Frederick who was playing with the other children, but she could tell by his posture that he was still watching her.
“Well, Tiffany. What would you like to play?” Andrea asked.
The girl paused with her thumb halfway to her mouth, her eyes scrunched up as she thought. “Do you know foxes and hounds?”
“I think so. One team is foxes and one team is hounds, and the hounds have to try and catch the foxes?” Andrea’s own brow creased as she tried to remember the specifics of the game. “And there is a den the foxes must reach and if they do that without being caught by the hounds, the foxes win.”
“Yes!” Tiffany clapped her hands together and did an excited spin as she yelled. “I’ll be the fox!”
Andrea nodded and stood up, noticing that several of the children who were playing with Frederick looked over at Tiffany’s exclamation, and a few of the girls who were playing quietly nearby did as well. One of the girls, a six year old who Andrea recognised as Elizabeth, one of the children of Frederick’s other cousins, stood up and walked over to them.
“Are you playing foxes and hounds?” Elizabeth asked.
Andrea could see the boys with Frederick watching them intently. She kept the smile from her face as she turned to answer Elizabeth.
“Yes.” Andrea gestured to herself and Tiffany who had ducked behind her skirts and was peering out from behind her at Elizabeth.
“May we play too?” Elizabeth asked, gesturing at the two younger girls who had padded over to them as well.
Andrea glanced at Tiffany who was still holding onto her skirts, a thumb in her mouth. “What do you think Tiffany? It might be fun to have more people in the game.”
“Will I still get to be a fox?” Tiffany asked, peering at Elizabeth suspiciously.
“Of course.” Andrea looked at the three newcomers. “Would one of you like to join me as a hound?”
“I will.” The smallest girl raised her hand in the air, jumping with excitement. “I am really fast.”
“Not as fast as me.” The other girl said, pointing to her chest. “Mama says that I am the fastest.”
“No, she does not, Elspeth.” The first girl frowned at the other, who was clearly her sister.
Elspeth sighed and looked at her sister, hands on her hips as she shook her head. “Yes, she does, Emma.”
“Does not.” Emma scowled at her sister.
“Does.”
“Does not.”
“I am sure you are both much faster than I am.” Andrea hastily stepped between the two children, hoping it would keep the two sisters from devolving into an all-out fight.
“Probably. But that is okay. I can help you catch everyone.” Emma patted Andrea’s hands soothingly as she looked her up and down.
