Page 10 of A Match for Princess Pompous
“Well, two of us.” Odette indicated herself and Miss Summerfield even as she tossed Terrance a look of amused taunting.
Terrance laughed good-naturedly. “A challenge?”
“A simple statement of fact.”
Terrance turned to Jack. “I believe our reputations are being called into question. We cannot allow the ladies to outshine us.”
“I don’t think it is avoidable,” Jack said.
Miss Summerfield’s cheeks reddened, but she appeared pleased. Jack did not wish her to be unhappy, yet he also dare not risk encouraging hopes he had no intention of fulfilling.
Odette leaned toward Miss Summerfield. “Shall we take up their challenge? See whether we receive more compliments during this drive than they do?”
“That is unfair,” Terrance said. “One glance around this carriage tells me that Jack and I will emerge the losers in that competition.”
“Shall we center our competition on something more suited to your particular strengths?” Odette very nearly smiled. How Jack had missed the sight of her smile. “I’m not certain I care to let Society determine who among us smells the worst.”
Terrance laughed long and loud. Miss Summerfield even laughed, something Jack didn’t think he’d ever heard.
Odette slipped her arm through Miss Summerfield’s. “The gentlemen are afraid of us. They know there is no chance of besting us in a ‘who is more popular’ contest.”
“Cowards,” Miss Summerfield said.
Again, Terrance laughed. Jack couldn’t help joining in.
“We accept your challenge,” Jack said.
“We do?” Terrance quickly changed his tone to one of confidence. “We do! We’ll count the number of people who express pleasure at seeing you ladies or the two of us. The team with the greatest number by the time we leave the park will be declared the winner.”
Miss Summerfield, quite to Jack’s shock, spoke again. “What prize do the winners receive?”
“Supper dance with the losers at the Salsteads’ ball on Saturday?” Terrance suggested.
Odette managed a look of theatrical disapproval. “Dancing with unpopular gentlemen hardly seems like a prize.”
They made their way through a few other suggestions, everything from ices at Gunter’s to another ride in the park, but in the end settled upon the supper dance.
“It is only fair, though, that we switch partners,” Terrance insisted. “Then each winner will not be required to spend more time with the exact gentleman she bested.”
Odette raised an eyebrow. “You expect to lose?”
“Fully,” Terrance said.
Odette turned to her teammate. “What do you think? Shall we agree to the proposed switch?”
Miss Summerfield blushed ever deeper but agreed without hesitation.
Odette met Jack’s eye. “That would leave us partners for supper on Saturday. Can you endure being partnered with a childhood friend?”
Hope, anticipation, eagerness all swelled inside. “More than endure, Miss Armistead. I will enjoy it immensely.”
She shook her head. “You will be the first this Season to do so.”
“Nonsense,” Terrance immediately answered.
Doubt filled her expression. “Princess Pompous does not exactly inspire odes.”
“But you do inspire gentlemen to acts of derring-do.”
