Page 31 of A Foreign Crown
“Yes, quite.” Princess Mary raised her racket as though ready to whack them all.
Princess Elizabeth threw the shuttlecock up into the air and sent it soaring over the net, straight at Lady Aribella.
“Oh! Oh my.” She swung. Layton suspected her eyes were closed. She made contact with the small feathered object, returning it straight back to Princess Elizabeth.
Princess Elizabeth, her eyes narrowed, returned it to Lady Aribella, who returned it again.
“I wonder when I shall have a go with my battledore,” Layton exaggerated. “I believe Princess Mary and I shall fall asleep.”
“Yes, we shall; come on, then.” Princess Mary hopped on her toes.
The next shuttlecock came flying back over the net.
Princess Mary shouted, “It’s yours, Prince Layton!”
“Is it? All right!” He shifted his weight, focusing on the small object descending from the sky toward them. “You know, I’ve never done this before.” He stepped forward, reached back, and swung.
He heard the connection with his racket and then watched the feathers take flight, possibly to the clouds. The shuttlecock soared ever higher, at last starting its descent.
Lady Smithing swayed. “Oh dear. I believe this one will be mine.”
“Oh dear? Why do you say, ‘Oh dear’?” Princess Elizabeth was quite the most competitive of the bunch. Layton and Lady Aribella shared an amused glance.
“Never you mind, Princess. I’ll manage.”
At last the shuttlecock was close enough to hit. Lady Smithing swung
and spun in one full circle. The shuttlecock lay at her feet. “Oh, hornswoggle.” She gasped and put a hand to her mouth. “I mean, how dreadful.”
Lady Aribella looked away, her mouth twitching, and Layton found himself overly pleased she had a sense of the amusing.
Princess Elizabeth snatched the offending shuttlecock off the lawn and tossed it into the air to serve once again to Lady Aribella.
They played back and forth for another hour at least. Just when the servants arrived with refreshments, they were all quite ready to do something else.
Princess Elizabeth moved to stand at Layton’s side. “Shall we have some lemonade?”
“I’d love some, certainly. Might I get a cup for all of you ladies?”
He made himself busy, getting cups from the servants and handing them to each of the ladies. At the very last, he brought a cup to Lady Aribella and remained at her side.
But her eyes filled with concern, and her gaze flitted from one princess to the other.
“Hmm.” He nodded and bowed to her, then made his way back to Princess Elizabeth’s side, where he did not miss the look of triumph.Ah.And would he not be wise to pursue such an interest when it could lead to a greater alliance between their countries?
The thought made good sense to his brain, but his heart commanded another gaze toward Lady Aribella, who, as he had suspected, was watching him. But she looked away immediately when she saw his attention on her.
A group approaching from the house drew his attention. When they passed through the trees, Layton saw that the King himself led the group.
Layton nodded to Princess Elizabeth. “Might we... ?” He indicated her father.
With a nervous flick, she glanced at her mother, then her sister, then studied her father. After a moment, she smiled. “I believe we might.”
He held up his elbow for her to take, and the two made their way over to His Majesty.
Chapter Twelve
Aribella watched Prince Layton beled away by Princess Elizabeth, with a heavy hope. She wanted him to achieve his aims in coming to England, desired all the success in the world for him, perhaps even a marriage into this royal family if he so desired it, but she couldn’t feel happy about it—not really.
