Page 58 of Hearts of Briarwall

She paused, looking up at him with rounded eyes. “I’m holding you to that,” she said, before he could retract his words.

He looked away and muttered something she didn’t make out. Something Brummie, no doubt.

She tugged on his sleeve, and he turned, scowling down at her as she blinked up at him. “Please,” she whispered, “teach me to drive.”

“Is my sister bothering you, Spencer?” Andrew called from his chair.

Violet, not taking her eyes off the chessboard, answered. “No more than you’re bothering me. Oh, but look.Check.”

That drew Andrew’s attention back to the board.

Lydia swallowed and stepped away, a rush of embarrassment flooding through her. “AmI bothering you?”

Spencer huffed as he stared out the window, shaking his head. “You are not bothersome, Lydia. You are ...”

She peeked up at him, finding her courage. “Agitating?”

He stared down at her, his brow forward. “Yes.”

Her pulse flitted like a hummingbird among flowers. “But ... in a startlingly pleasant sort of way?”

His chest rose and fell as he searched her face. “You are the most pleasantly agitating woman I’ve ever met.”

A smile pulled at the corner of her mouth, and he matched it handsomely. “Do you wish me to stop agitating you?” she asked.

He dropped his gaze to her lips. “I—”

A whoop of victory sounded from the chess table, and Spencer jumped back, his eyes darting to Andrew. The man sat crumpled in his chair, watching dully as Violet held aloft his king.

“Well played, my good sir,” she proclaimed. “But not well enough. Would you care for a rematch? Perhaps this evening after dinner? We mustn’t allow so much time to pass between games. You’ve become rusty.”

“I have not become rusty. You are an excellent opponent, and you shall get your rematch. However, my wounded ego requires days for recovery after such a pounding, so this evening we shall listen to music. You shall play.”

“Indeed? And what willyoube doing to entertain us?” Violet asked.

Lydia pressed her lips together to stop her laugh. Nobody had ever asked Andrew to perform anything. But then, nobody was as competitive as Violet.

“I shall sit on my chair,” he said sternly, “fold my arms, and listen intently to your playing all the while reviewing my chess strategy so next time you won’t so much as lay a finger to my rook.”

Spencer chuckled as Lydia struggled to contain a giggle.

Violet merely cocked an eyebrow and leaned forward. “Challenge accepted.”

Spencer leaned into Lydia. “Those two are ... cozy.”

“Cozy like porcupines.” She watched Violet and Andrew trade a few more jabs, then she shook her head. “They’ve always been this way.”

“I noticed a similar relationship between your brother and Miss Janes, as well.”

“Florrie and Violet have been pseudo members of this household since we were small children. Andrew is like an older brother. A stuffy, pushy older brother whom they get to stand up to for my benefit. I suppose through the years they’ve lost their awe of him.”

Andrew was escorting Violet to join them at the window, and Lydia took a moment to consider. Theywouldmake a handsome couple. But she couldn’t see past the fact that Andrew had driven her friends to rolling their eyes, stomping their feet, and muttering curses in Lydia’s behalf.

“Come, Lydia,” Violet said. “Let’s leave these men to lick their wounds and ready ourselves for dinner.”

Spencer lifted his chin. “I’mnot wounded.”

“Oh,” she said, looking pointedly between Lydia and Spencer. “I’m happy to hear it. In that case, would you lend some of that chipper spirit to Andrew? He lost his at about the same time he lost his second knight.”

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