LITMIR.BIZ

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can bat well if I have to go in. It would be dreadful to make a mess of it as our team stands a chance of winning. But there is every chance I won’t have to go in. Only ten more runs. Lord Bingfield did promise he’d arrange things so that I would not have to go in. And it appears he has.’

      ‘I am Hannah Grayson.’ The woman said the name like she should know it. ‘My fiancé is playing for the other team. He is the bowler for this over. You know, the bowler who took all those wickets in the first few overs. Sir Ronald Ferguson. We became officially engaged last night.’

      ‘Congratulations.’ A pang went through Sophie. Miss Grayson seemed so happy and in love. She could well imagine how that engagement went. Nothing like her own pretend one. ‘Have you known each other long?’

      ‘For a year or so, but I never expected things to go so quickly. I thought we were simply friends, even though Mama had hopes.’ Miss Grayson held out her hand where a diamond surrounded by garnets sparkled. ‘Sir Ronald gave me the ring last night. It is completely perfect. I am ever so grateful to my brother. I owe everything to him. I had feared that this day would never come to pass.’

      ‘Your brother?’

      Miss Grayson bent her head and picked at her glove. ‘He came up from London and sorted everything out. At first I thought he wouldn’t be able to stay beyond a day and a night, but he has. It turns out that Sir Ronald was the year below him at Eton and that made everything easier. And yesterday evening, everything fell into place. The settlement, everything. I feel so happy that I could embrace the whole world. Isn’t it marvellous how things work out sometimes? Love is a truly wonderful thing.’

      ‘Yes, it is. I am very pleased for you.’ Sophie composed her face. Somehow Miss Grayson’s unbridled joy only served to underline the hypocrisy of her own position. Getting married should be because you were in love with someone, deeply and irrevocably. It should not be because society dictates you must marry a stranger in order to save your reputation after an item has appeared in a newspaper. And it should not be because you want that stranger to kiss you. There ought to be more.

      ‘Do you have a brother, Miss Ravel?’ Miss Grayson asked as the bowler started his run up.

      ‘I’m an only child. I’ve often wished for a sister, but never a brother. Alas, it was not to be.’

      ‘I agree it would be pleasant to have a sister, but I shall make do with my brother … for now.’ Miss Grayson’s brow knitted. ‘It is most vexing that he remains unmarried. He truly is the most perfect of brothers. I pray he finds a woman who deserves him.’

      ‘Maybe he will marry and you will get a sister,’ Sophie said. Miss Grayson did seem overly keen about her paragon of a brother. She had to hope the mysterious Mr Grayson was worthy of such praise.

      Miss Grayson’s lips parted as if she wanted to say something more, but a great shout went up and the bowler appealed to the umpire, who nodded and raised a finger, signalling out.

      ‘I fear, Miss Ravel, my fiancé has taken your fiancé’s middle stump. You’ll have to go in after all. A pity.’ Miss Grayson gave a little clap of her hands. ‘There is only one more wicket to go and then Ronald will have won the match. It is terribly exciting. I had never considered cricket to be anything but dull, but it isn’t. Good luck, Miss Ravel.’

      Sophie stood up and grabbed her bat. She swung it lightly to test her arm. She could do this. There were only five more runs required.

      On the way out to the middle, she met Richard, who looked furious at making the mistake.

      ‘Never mind, it was a difficult ball to hit,’ she said. ‘You played marvellously to get us so close to the number of runs required. Before you went in, I feared our side would lose by a huge amount. Now we are nearly level and poised to win, if I can avoid getting out.’

      ‘Who were you speaking with?’ he asked, his brows knitting together. ‘Just now? Another recruit to the game of cricket?’

      ‘A Miss Grayson.’ Sophie swung her bat slightly, testing its weight. She was surprised that Richard had even noticed where she was sitting or whom she was conversing with. She had thought he would be totally focused on the game. Her heart gave a leap at the intelligence. Despite everything he had noticed her!

      ‘Are you acquainted with Miss Grayson?’

      ‘She has very recently become engaged and wanted to sing her brother’s praises as he apparently enabled it to happen. I was the nearest person to hand,’ Sophie explained. ‘I suppose love will do that—make people overly inclined to speak to strangers.’

      ‘I regret my mistake interrupted your conversation.’ He stopped her bat swinging and adjusted the grip. ‘You were marvellous to volunteer when Charlton failed to show. It has allowed the entire match to proceed. I never thought you’d actually have to bat.’

      Sophie’s heart did a little skip as she basked in his praise, but it put more pressure on her to do well. The last thing she wanted was to let him down. And she had known that taking part in the match was the only way she could spend time with him. If it had been called off, she wouldn’t have an excuse to stay. She would have had to go visiting with her stepmother. The prospect had held little appeal, particularly as it would have meant less time to be with him.

      ‘It is perfectly fine,’ she said, tightening her grip on the cricket bat. ‘I hope I don’t make a mess of things. I would hate to think we will lose because of me.’

      ‘You won’t.’ He put a hand on her shoulder and his eyes turned serious. ‘Keep the bat straight and swing if you have to. Keep the bat low and the ball will fall harmless to the ground. There is only one more ball left in the over. Let Armstrong do the rest.’

      ‘Thank you for the advice.’

      ‘My pleasure. You will do wonderfully, Sophie.’

      Richard allowed Sophie to walk out to the crease and then went towards where his sister sat, shading her face with a parasol.

      ‘Hannah!’ Richard glowered at his sister. He had known Ferguson was on the other side, but he had thought Hannah would stay at home with their mother, discussing plans for the wedding. He had given his approval last night and had simply assumed Hannah would be too busy to attend today’s match. The last thing he had wanted was Hannah here when he was attempting to manoeuvre Sophie towards marriage. It was a delicate operation, but it was for Sophie’s own good. The last thing he needed was his sister causing mischief.

      ‘It is not like you to miss a shot,’ his sister said with a faintly smug smile. ‘Ronald clean bowled you. Took out your middle stump. When was the last time that happened? At Eton? Or before that? You see, he is the better cricket player after all. You shouldn’t boast so much, Richard. It doesn’t become you.’

      Richard tightened his jaw. He had missed the shot when he saw his sister speaking to Sophie, against his direct orders.

      ‘I thought you were not to speak to Miss Ravel until I told you that you could.’

      Hannah pouted slightly. ‘I wanted to see what she was like. I’d only had a glimpse of her at the Assembly Rooms the night she announced the engagement to everyone. I thought her wonderfully brave, no matter what Mama said.’

      ‘And you should have told me that you intended on defying me over this cricket match. I would have found an excuse not to bring Miss Ravel.’

      ‘But I’m pleased you did.’ Hannah clapped her hands together. ‘She is extremely beautiful, Richard. It is the sort of beauty which lasts rather than coming from a paint pot or cleverly dressed hair. And she was sitting on her own. I thought it couldn’t hurt.’ Hannah’s teeth worried her bottom lip. ‘It seemed opportune. I wanted to meet the woman who has made my happiness possible. I wanted to see if she was worthy of my brother!’

      ‘Did you have to go on about your brother? We had agreed to keep everything separate for our mother’s sake. Sophie needs to remain in ignorance. It is far too risky.’

      Richard

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