Nothing but a Rakehell by Deb Marlowe

Author:Deb Marlowe
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-01-19T18:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

The next day, tables and chairs had been set up in the shade of the house for the afternoon, right near the croquet course and the netting that Glory had helped set up days earlier. Pretty canopies provided shade and groupings for an afternoon outdoors.

She’d come upon the party after her ride, and joined them, still in her riding habit. She sat with Hope and Miss Myland as the guests enjoyed a light nuncheon, finished off with a wonderful confection of blackberries and syllabub. The elderly lady finished off two helpings of the sweet, slightly alcoholic dessert, then promptly began to doze. Hope was called away—and that left Glory alone.

A game of croquet was currently in play. Glory got up and went to fetch a mallet. She returned with it to her chair and turned her seat to face the field. Croquet was a game she enjoyed and could easily participate in. She could maneuver through the course at her own pace and the entire field here was level. Past the last stake, an incline began. It grew steeper and dropped down over a hill. There was a staircase there, and the netting for battledore had been set up in the pretty, green spot at the bottom, but there should be no need for her to go so far.

Just a few feet away, Mr. Lycett stood with Miss Ruddock. They watched the play, talking low together. Both held mallets as well, and they were clearly waiting for their turn to play.

“Those two saw you take a mallet. They know you wish to play, but they’ll leave you out of it, if they can.”

Glory stiffened. Turning, she found Miss Myland still slumped back in her chair with her hands folded in front of her, but her eyes were narrowly open and watching Glory. “Don’t let them push you out,” she admonished.

“Oh, surely they will not—”

“They will.” The elderly lady’s tone held utter certainty. “The girl’s mother slipped back to the house for something. The pair of them will be trying to get alone out there on the course. Don’t let them exclude you, girl. It will start to become a habit. You need to nip it in the bud, right from the start.”

“I cannot be rude,” she objected. “They are my sister’s guests—”

“That’s right! They are your sister’s guests, and not yours, so you’ve no responsibility and no need to coddle them.” Miss Myland pushed herself up straight and leaned toward Glory, speaking in earnest. “I’ve been watching you, girl, and I speak to you now with the voice of experience. You need to step out more, stop letting them turn away from you, stop fading willingly into the background. Get out there into the light and claim your due.”

Glory couldn’t ever recall seeing the older woman quite so . . . awake. She was intrigued, and a little embarrassed. “How do I know what is my due?” she whispered.

“Bah!” Miss Myland scoffed. “If you see it, and you want it, step out and chase it.

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