Page 76 of Beauty and the Rake
She quickly turned around to face him, only he wasn’t alone. Arthur was standing just behind him. She felt like a child who had finally been caught doing something she had been told not to.
“I… I got turned around leaving the kitchen.”
Surely, he wouldn’t reprimand her in front of Arthur. “I’m sure you did, considering all the closed doors.”
“Exactly,”
“This is quite ingenious,” Arthur said. He kneeled beside one of the wickets. “Where did you get the idea to use drawers?”
“I was in the attic, hunting for a way to either anchor down the wickets normally used or something entirely new.”
Roxanne turned and quickly looked at Graham. “Would you like to play, Arthur? Unless you have somewhere else you need to be.”
“Yes, you must. Anything that important can wait a few hours,” Graham added.
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not, brother. Your presence will deter my husband from any unsavory cheating.” Roxanne knew Graham would be on his best behavior with a third person playing.
“I beg your pardon,” Graham said. “You’re accusing me of cheating?”
“Not really. You simply get overenthusiastic, which is perfectly acceptable.”
“Let’s play! Anything needing my attention can wait,” Arthur said.
“Yes, let’s. I’m dying to try these wickets.”
Graham nodded. “Yes, let’s. I’ll bring the mallets so we can choose which one we want.”
“You can explain any rule changes that might need to be made as far as the course size and wicket change,” Roxanne said.
“Good idea. I’m sure most of them can still be used,” he replied.
Arthur and Roxanne watched as Graham strode over to the far wall. He stopped by a table draped in a Holland cover. Pushing the cover up, he bent over and pulled three mallets and balls out from under the table. He then placed the balls on the table and took two of the mallets to the pair.
“Decide which you want. Balls are on the table,” he said.
“Why do you get the red mallet?” Roxanne asked her husband.
“My game, my choice.”
She looked at her brother, ignoring her aggravating husband. “We’re left with green and orange. Do you have a preference?”
Arthur picked up each mallet and tested its weight and feel in his hands. “I know you like green, so I’ll take the orange.”
“That’s fine. I’m happy we got all this sorted out so easily.” She turned to Graham who had the three balls and the red mallet with him. “Do you wish to explain the changes, if any, before we begin?”
“Yes, please do,” Arthur said.
“There aren’t many. Obviously because we’re indoors, we cannot hit the ball as hard as we might otherwise. After playing the course, I have decided that it will take going through the course twice.”
“How will we know where the start and finish are?” Arthur inquired.
“The one which has been decorated with apples will be our first and last wicket. A complete game is not possible, but I believe two turns will be enough.”
“Who will start? You, Graham?” Roxanne asked.
“You flatter me, my dear. I thought you could start. Ladies first and all.”
