Page 20 of The Perfect Rose

She gave a quick nod and headed over to the opposite side of the rink. Lord Hanby followed after her a moment later.

Miriam sidled up beside her brother. “Frederick, what are you playing at?”

“Lawn bowls. Didn’t Lord Hanby explain it to you?” He smiled innocently at his sister.

“I know we are playing lawn bowls, Frederick.” She picked up her first ball and rolled it across the grass expanse. It sat far enough to the left that it was no obstruction for his next shot. “But why did you invite Lady Rose as your partner? You told me I didn’t have to be concerned about your feelings for her.” Her voice was low and clipped: a warning if he ever heard one. He rolled his ball, attempting to get the ball closer to the jack than hers, and failed miserably.

“Miriam,” he drew her name out, “it is a game of lawn bowls. And Lady Rose is tucked safely away from me next to Lord Hanby while we play here.” He refused to tell Miriam that he was using Lady Rose to make the house party easier for her. “I see nothing to be too concerned over.” Except that Lord Hanby looked all too happy to visit with Lady Rose about something he couldn’t hear across their game. Lady Rose picked up her ball and rolled it to sit a mere hand’s length directly in front of the jack. It was done so effortlessly, he was shocked. Lord Hanby whispered something to her before taking his turn. What was he saying that had her smiling so freely?

Miriam leaned in front of him and searched his face, her scrutiny telling even more of her concern than her direct question a moment ago. She was worried about him, and it was not at all connected to her own chances of garnering a gentleman’s attention. He put an arm around her shoulder as they watched Lord Hanby make his throw. “I know what I’m about, Miriam. Trust me.”

She took a deep breath. “Very well.”

Frederick shouldn’t have been surprised, but Lady Rose was excellent at lawn bowls. So good, in fact, that she easily won the game for them. Perhaps her presence had thrown Lord Hanby off his game. Although, it hadn’t seemed like it. He had played well, but her strategic thinking had far surpassed his skill. She got close enough to the jack that he had to try to hit her ball away from it, and usually, the result was in Rose’s favor.

What was more, Lord Hanby looked quite put out about the loss as they came over to shake hands. “Hastings, good game. Or perhaps I should just congratulate your partner, since she did all the work.” Lord Hanby took a few steps closer to him and for a moment, Frederick had the impression that Lord Hanby had the intention of starting a scuffle. But the moment passed, and Lord Hanby gave his arm to Miriam, turning his back on Frederick. “How can I make up for our loss, Miss Hastings?”

Miriam blushed. “I think some tea and biscuits would do the trick.” The two of them sauntered away arm in arm toward the house. Miriam fired one last warning look over her shoulder as she left.

“That was neatly done, sir,” Lady Rose commented as she turned toward him. “How did you arrange for Lord Hanby to ask me to go walking tomorrow morning?”

Frederick clenched his fists and then forced himself to relax. Why was he upset? “I didn’t arrange for anything. I only mentioned that you looked lovely and that I would like you for a partner in lawn bowls. You did the rest of it yourself.”

“Well thank you for mentioning me to him. It seemed to have worked, more than just a little.”

What did that mean? And did Frederick really want to know? He decided not to ask after details of their conversation on the other side of the yard.

Perhaps it was just Lord Hanby himself that made Frederick uneasy. The gentleman didn’t have enough fire in him to be a good match for Lady Rose. Frederick recalled the prize he won for winning the game. He would get to sit next to Lady Rose this evening during the musicale Miriam had planned. He could show her enough attention in the space of an hour or so that the other gentlemen would notice that she wasn’t as scary as she seemed.

Yes, if he was going to help Lady Rose garner attention, it might as well be a gentleman that would be better for her than Lord Hanby. He pulled at the collar of his shirt. But, if not someone like Lord Hanby, then who could that be? He shook himself. If nothing else, the musicale would be a good test to see if Lady Gardner was lowering her level of monstrosity at the party as her daughter’s prospects improved.

Miss Trenton and Samuel walked toward them.

“How was your game?” Samuel asked.

Frederick laughed, “You think I lost, don’t you? Well, I’ll have you know that Lady Rose made up for my poor performance. She won handily.”

Lady Rose blushed at his praise.

Samuel bowed over her hand. “You must be quite skilled. There are few that could salvage a game with Freddy as their partner.” He smiled up at her.

Frederick needed to distract himself. Lady Rose had more than enough attention for the moment without him hanging around. And who better to leave her with than the duke? Lady Gardner would be thrilled. He held out his arm to Miss Trenton. “Would you show me your painting? I didn’t get a look at it earlier.”

Miss Trenton blushed, a stained red splotch upon each cheek. He couldn’t help but compare it to Lady Rose’s faint deepening red when she blushed. It just didn’t have the same effect.

“Of course, Mr. Hastings.” She put her hand in his arm, and they walked to the shade where their supplies had been set out. “Has Miriam found the house party a success thus far?”

Frederick pulled his eyebrows low. “I thought she would have told you far more details than she would me.”

She pulled her lips between her teeth. “She’s been awfully busy. I don’t get to visit with her as much with all these people around.”

There was likely more to what Miss Trenton had said than Frederick could understand. She was rarely talkative with him. But she was right. Miriam had divided her time with all the house guests, and Miss Trenton had, more often than not, been in the presence of Mr. Quentin Redford.

Miss Trenton had painted a bowl of strawberries, he thought. Or maybe it was apples. But he praised her skill anyway. He noticed Samuel lead Lady Rose into the house. He supposed they were going in for some refreshment. The countess came up on Samuel’s other side and the three of them were lost from view.

All was going according to plan. So why did he feel like he’d been drinking sour milk? Frederick had done his part drawing attention to Lady Rose. Lady Rose was being . . . well, Lady Rose; perfectly suited to each activity of the day, capable of keeping even the bored viscount entertained. But being entertained was not good grounds for a marriage to be built upon. He felt sure Lady Rose would need someone who had enough vivacity of his own to keep her satisfied.

He would encourage more men in the party to give her a chance. Perhaps one of them would be a better fit for her. The churning in his stomach did not dissipate as he thought through the guest list. Would anyone truly be able to keep pace with her?