Page 61 of Masquerading with the Duke
‘I am not thatgood a player, and I only offered to make up the numbers if necessary.’
The duchess appeared amused. ‘Oh, I think I can safely predict that it will be necessary.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Zach’s cousin Jon took so many wickets last year that he has wisely decided not to participate this time. The villagers know how to bear a grudge and he would become a target for their rather vicious bowlers when he himself takes to the crease.’
‘I am beginning to get the picture,’ Jared said, chuckling.
‘Ah, it looks as though we are about to sit down.’
Jared turned in the direction of the table set for the gentry, immediately below that which the family would occupy. ‘Then I shall…’
‘No, Mr Braden, please join us.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Perfectly.’
Two whirlwinds in blue skeletons suits careered into Jared’s legs, almost knocking him from his feet.
‘Boys!’ the duchess said sternly. ‘Remember your manners.’
‘Sorry, ma’am.’ A familiar voice had Jared turning in Martina’s direction with a sense of anticipation. She was holding Lord Amos’s daughter by the hand. ‘They are a little overexcited and I lost control of them.’
‘So I see,’ the duchess said, smiling. ‘Well, they didn’t manage to knock Mr Braden over, so there’s no harm done. Although I would have been pleased if you had managed to remain clean for just a little longer, Leo.’
‘An impossible requirement of small boys,’ Jared said, winking at Leo, who responded with a toothy grin.
The duchess sighed. ‘Yes, I expect you’re right about that,’ she said, before ushering them towards the main table. Jared took a seat at the far end of it, which quite coincidentally happened to be beside Martina and her sister. The children had been taken in hand by their parents and were sitting with them in the centre of the table, waving regally to the crowd, who responded with good-natured cheering.
‘How have you been?’ Jared asked Martina as he helped them both to helpings of jugged hare.
She flexed a brow, looking amused. ‘Since we met two days ago?’
‘A lot can happen in two days.’
‘Everything has been in a state of muted uproar here, with all the preparations and the arrival of the family. Not that any of the mayhem is permitted to permeate the principal rooms. Heaven forbid!’ She gave a theatrical shudder that made Jared smile. ‘Faraday runs a tight boat—’
‘Ship,’ he said, smiling.
‘There you go again, correcting me. What would I do without your guidance?’
‘Get into all sorts of trouble, I shouldn’t wonder.’ Jared glanced down a table that seated over thirty. ‘There do seem to be rather a lot of immediate family members here today, but there’s no mistaking the resemblance between the Sheridan men.’
‘Indeed there is not. They are not all staying here at the Park, though. Lord and Lady Romsey are. So is Lady Portia. That’s her,’ she said, indicating a lady seated across from the duke, laughing at something he’d just said to her. ‘That’s her husband, Adam Pengelly. He’s an expert falconer and I think he is going to fly the duke’s birds later. That will be worth seeing.’
‘I fully intend not to miss it.’
‘That’s Lord Nate, the youngest of the brothers. You are acquainted with Max Sheridan. That’s the eldest cousin, Jon, next to him. He lives locally. So does Alfie and their sister Cora. Ellie and her husband live in Liverpool. He is heavily involved with steamships. The duke is one of his sponsors, I think.’
‘You are a mine of information,’ Jared said, thinking he would never be able to commit all the names and faces to memory.
‘Not really. I still muddle them when they are all together.’
He sensed that he had lost Martina’s attention when she visibly stiffened.
‘What is it?’
‘Redrow’s here, and he is watching us,’ she said. ‘No, don’t look. He will know we’re talking about him and I would prefer not to give him that satisfaction.’
‘Remember what we discussed, and oblige me by not wandering about alone.’
