Page 11 of The Earl and Miss Muffet
Lord Crawford shrugged, truly more amused than upset. “The show must go on. What now? Darning stockings?”
Mr. Gunther nodded. “Prepare to be amazed. My knitting skills are my best-kept secret.” No one would believe Mr. Gunther could knit—his broad shoulders, strong masculine presence, and flapping mouth made the idea more ridiculous. He was the least serious person Elena had ever met.
She turned to share her amusement with Lord Crawford, who winked at her. She had heard only scandalous things about what it meant when a man winked at a woman, but from Lord Crawford, it felt like a shared secret.
Mr. Gunther pulled open the curtain, and the three of them started mimicking the process of knitting. They stood in a line starting with Mr. Gunther, Lord Crawford in the middle, and Elena on the end. Lord Crawford lifted up one leg and pointed to his foot. Then he began hopping on one foot behind their little line until he was behind Mr. Gunther. Out of the corner of her eye, Elena saw Lord Crawford take his raised foot and kick Mr. Gunther in the backside.
Elena gasped as Mr. Gunther dove forward. So, this was the reason for Lord Crawford’s wink. Mr. Gunther did not land on his face but managed to catch his footing. He turned to scowl at Lord Crawford right as Lord Crawford closed the curtains. Holding her stomach now, Elena did her best to get her giggles under control.
She heard Terrance say from the other side of the curtain, “I am not sure these scenes are painting a very clear picture for me.”
Lady Mary’s voice responded, “Yes, they are either very good actors or the very worst.”
Mr. Gunther popped through the curtain to their side but bowed to the audience as he did.
“Perhaps we should have rehearsed,” Mr. Gunther said. “There have been one or two surprises, I daresay. Already, I wonder what will happen in scene three. As a coauthor to this whole arrangement, I shouldn’t wonder at the ending.”
Lord Crawford cleared his throat and managed a straight face. “This act will go on without a hitch. Gunther, open the curtain and then prostrate yourself on the ground.”
Mr. Gunther raised an eyebrow. “Such a position makes me feel quite vulnerable.”
“Oh, go on,” Lord Crawford said. “Miss Muffet, might you make your hands into the shape of a book?”
Elena complied and without further ado, Lord Crawford reached over and scooped her into his arms. She gasped and her hands split apart and clasped Lord Crawford around the neck.
“Miss Muffet, I know it must be tempting to embrace me, but you must remember we are in the middle of a performance.”
His words were playful, and she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing again. She released him and put her hands together just as Mr. Gunther opened the curtain. Mr. Gunther dropped to the ground, and Lord Crawford put one foot on his back. A beat later, he lifted Elena up, so she nearly sat on one shoulder. Another gasp emitted from her mouth, and she had to steady herself with one hand on Lord Crawford’s head. As soon as she gained her balance, she put her hands back into position.
They held their pose for a few counts, and then Lord Crawford lowered her back into his arms and stepped off of Gunther. Gunther jumped up and closed the curtain, cutting off their audience but not the sound of their clapping.
Lord Crawford kept Elena in his arms for a moment and studied her. “You are very light, Miss Muffet. I should think I could carry you all night.”
Miss Muffet suddenly had an urge to push back a tuft of black hair on his forehead—to touch his face. In one exhale, her heartseemed to leave her in a single breath. The feelings she’d saved for a future hope now belonged to him. This was not the time, nor the man, she thought she would fall in love with. He leisurely set her on her feet, his arm slow to leave her back. All the while, his eyes remained on her.
Did he realize what had happened inside of her just now? This was supposed to be a silly game, but her heart felt lighter than she could ever remember, and it was all because of him.
They followed Mr. Gunther out behind the curtain to return to their prospective seats and hear the guesses of the others. Elena’s smile could not be hidden now. There was no adopting a mask of pretense. Not tonight.
“I would like to guess the answer,” Lady Crawford said, her eyes glinting with triumph.
“I should like to hear this,” Mr. Gunther said as an aside to Lord Crawford.
Lady Crawford put her hands together and placed the tips of her fingers to her lips. “Falling, dressing, praying. It has to be true love! First, the awkwardness of new love. The second scene, they can’t quite dress themselves, which clearly demonstrates how love sneaks up on us. Never is one quite prepared. Then last, the bride sends a prayer to heaven on behalf of her new love. Anton lifted his bride up, showing he will always put her before every other man.” She smiled rather triumphantly. “It was quite symbolic when you stepped on Mr. Gunther. I am duly impressed.”
Elena scrunched her forehead. That was not the conclusion they intended, but Lady Crawford’s assumption nearly paralleled Elena’s feelings. Had her emotions been so obvious that everyone had guessed them? She glanced over to see Lord Crawford’s jaw slack.
“Is that the answer?” Mary asked. “I admit to being vastly entertained, but I cannot fathom what it was all about.”
Terrance shook his head. “I am baffled, myself. Mother’s guess is as good as any.”
Mr. Gunther scratched his head. “I see Anton got his deep thinking from his mother. And I would have to agree with her conclusion.”
“Agree with her?” Lord Crawford laughed. “You know what the true answer is. We stumped them.”
“I saw what they saw,” Mr. Gunther argued. “I think this means it’s the other team’s turn. It will be impossible to outshine us, but do try.”
Heat flooded Elena’s cheeks. Were they laughing at her or the silly game? And what of Lord Crawford? She did not want to put him in an uncomfortable position. Not that she hadn’t already been in his arms twice in one night.
