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 closed his eyes. Sophie provided a bright spot in his life, untainted by his parents’ warfare.
Would she understand why he loved them both and wanted to maintain cordial relations with both of them, rather than choosing a side? They were both part of him. He did not want to upset the delicate balance that he now enjoyed. Neither did he want her used as a pawn in that war. He could not stand to see Sophie hurt by either of them.
He could be married to Sophie and protect her from the taint of his past. It was possible.
‘Are you going to marry her, Richard, for real? She wants a sister.’ Hannah gave a small sigh. ‘I think we could be friends. It would be so romantic to have a double wedding.’
‘A double wedding is an impossibility. Stop this foolish behaviour and think of our mother. You know my father will insist on being at any marriage of mine.’
‘Then you mean to marry her. Mama was wrong. I knew you must love her.’
Richard watched Sophie face the first ball. Her blouse tightened, revealing her curves as she batted the ball away to safety.
She was secure now and should not have to face another ball if Armstrong did his job. Sophie seemed so eager to play her part in the match and he knew he didn’t want her to be the one to make the team lose.
‘Stop putting words in my mouth, Hannah! Simply because you are love-addled, it doesn’t mean you need to see romance with the rest of the world. I explained about Miss Ravel’s necessity. Nothing has altered my view.’
The last thing he needed was marriage advice from his baby sister. He wanted Sophie in his life. He wanted Sophie happy. Love made people unhappy and foolish.
‘Stop being foolish!’ Hannah whispered in a furious tone and put her hand on her hip. ‘You wrong me and Miss Ravel. I was curious. You have been spending an inordinate amount of time with her. Far more than Mama or I expected when you told us of the plan. Every day seems to bring something more that you must do. No wonder it took so long to negotiate my settlement with Ronald. Both he and I despaired of you.’
‘Allow me to conduct my relations with Miss
