Page 94 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“Thank you.” Andrea smiled at the girl and felt her shoulders relax. “Shall we give them until the count of ten?”
The other girls eyes widened as Emma nodded at Andrea. “You have to close your eyes!” Elizabeth pointed at them.
Andrea nodded and closed her eyes, placing a hand in front of her face for good measure. “One!”
The sound of giggles and shrieking filled the air. She heard small feet scampering away and felt Emma slip a hand into hers.
“Two!” they said together.
When they reached ten, they opened their eyes, and Andrea spotted one of the girls hiding by the table. Quietly gesturing to Emma, she made an exaggerated show of creeping towards the giggling Tiffany.
As they drew close to her, Emma let out a delighted woop and dove for Tiffany who sprinted away. Emma gave chase, and Andrea followed after them, keeping an eye out for the other two foxes. Her heart pounded, and she had to lift her skirts to keep up with the children.
What I would not give for lighter fabrics, these are really not the best skirts for chasing small children in.Over the next hour, she chased the girls around the garden, all of them laughing and giggling in delight.
“We win!” Elizabeth clapped her hands together as the final fox arrived at the foxes’ den (the willow tree by the maze).
Andrea’s cheeks were flushed, and she was panting, sweat beading down her face. “Indeed.”
“Shall we play again?” Tiffany’s eyes were full of hope.
Andrea dabbed at her brow with a handkerchief, trying to think of something to say as she clutched a stitch in her side.
“I hear you lot are playing foxes and hounds, do you think we might join you?” Frederick appeared beside, her looping an arm around her as she caught her breath, he muttered, too softly for anyone else to hear. “The boys were getting rather jealous that the others had convinced you to play with them.”
“Am I truly in such demand?” Andrea whispered back.
Frederick shrugged, his eyes glittering mischeviously. “Of course, if you are too tired for another round, I am sure we can think of something else to do.”
“And let you have all the fun?” she laughed.
The girls were watching the boys apprehensively, looking between Andrea and the newcomers. Andrea swallowed and looked at the gathered children.
“Can we play too?” A young boy asked.
“That depends.” Andrea knelt down in front of him. “If we let you play with us now, will you let the girls join in when they ask?”
The boys eyes widened and he looked down at the ground sheepishly. A taller boy spoke up. “Everyone knows girls are slower than boys.”
“We are not!” Elizabeth glared at the boy.
“You are. That’s why you are too scared to let us play with you.”
“You said I could not play with you!” Tiffany pointed at the boy.
“Well, there is an easy enough way to settle this.” Andrea stepped between the two factions of children. “We shall play two games. The first game, the boys will be the hounds and the second the girls will be.”
The children nodded excitedly. Frederick arched an eyebrow at her as the boys began to count. Andrea ran, watching as the rest of the girls scattered.
The sound of laughter and excited yells mingled with the raucous conversation between adults. She was hiding behind a bush, when she felt strong arms wrap themselves around her and lift her into the air.
She let out a startled yelp as the smell of amber washed over her and she turned to find Frederick grinning at her. “And look what I have caught.”
“Put me down, you fool.” Andrea half-heartedly batted at him, supressing a giggle.
“I rather like having you in my arms.” Frederick’s eyes darkened and Andrea’s heart tumbled in her chest. “But if you insist.”
He put her gently on the ground, but kept his arms around her. She shook her head as she leaned against his chest. “How long have you been waiting to say that?”
