Page 136 of A Shore Thing

But it wasn’t his battle.

As the pause drew out, Deighton Senior’s gaze flared with triumph.

“Because he was planted in a dunghill,” he told Hawkings. “Write that down.”

“Is it true?” Hawkings asked.

Kit shrugged his most quotable shrug and strolled after his Sisters.

“Griff!” Ponsonby vaulted into his path. “What in the hell? Where’s your bicycle? Are you—”

Kit grabbed Ponsonby by the shoulders, spun him around, and pointed between the basket chairs, guiding his gaze to a tree and the three women gathered beneath it.

“I swear to God,” said Ponsonby. “I didn’t know they were here. They must have arrived today.”

“They did.” Kit pounded his back, grinning. “We arrived together.”

“You patched things up?” Ponsonby grinned too, and hooted. “I knew you would.” A split second later, his grin closed up like an umbrella. “Oh, hell.”

He ducked behind a hedge.

“Erm.” Kit ducked behind the hedge as well.

“I’ve busted things up, with Nelly.” Branches rustled as Ponsonby crouched and wedged himself inside the hedge.

Kit rocked on his heels, nonplussed. He was glad now that Ponsonby had been out earlier, when the four of them called at the Oatridges’. The poor fellow needed time to collect himself.

More rustling, and then: “She can’t see me?”

“No one can see you but me,” said Kit dryly. “Which means everyone will think I’m communing with a shrub.” He went deeper into the greenery, until a tall camellia bush hid him from the festivities completely. “No one can see either of us here. You can come out.”

A negatory rustle.

“She won’t take it too hard. The bust-up. Unless you busted up another of her sculptures.” Kit paused. “What have you busted up, exactly?”

“My word. Our bond. I told her I’d wait forever. I knew my feelings had changed, but I hadn’t planned to act until I’d broken the news. But now…”

Kit stepped closer to the hedge, peering through the leaves. “Now what?”

Ponsonby spoke in a hoarse whisper. “I snogged another chap. Not that Nelly’s a chap. I mean, I snogged someone else.”

“You snogged a chap?” Kit blinked.

“He’s much more than a chap. Is it shabby of me, though? A shabby thing to do to Nelly?”

“Far from it,” said Kit automatically. “She’ll be relieved.”

“Relieved?” Ponsonby drooped like a basset hound puppy.

“Resilient, I mean. Heartbroken but resilient. Who are you snogging?”

“Who do you think?” Ponsonby reddened. “James.”

“Muriel’s James? James Raleigh? The doctor?”

“You’re shocked.” Ponsonby sounded devastated. “Because we’re incompatible? He’s so useful, and I’m so useless? I’ve nothing to offer?”

“You’ve plenty to offer. I can think of a hundred reasons he’d like you.” Kit cleared his throat. “I didn’t know you might like him, in that way.”