Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

T he following day, the gentlemen of the English ton and their families descended upon Greyhall Estate for the cricket match that Percy had agreed to host. All of the able-bodied men gathered together on the field of play that had been set up before their arrival. The field was arranged in an oval shape with the requisite two wickets consisting of three stumps and two bails each, along with the needed bats and balls. Each captain picked their teams. As the host, Percy captained one team while the Marquess of Newburgh captained the other.

Percy chose Cecil, Charles, and the Earl of Stonefield to be on his team, among others that he knew and trusted in their abilities on the field. Newburgh did the same, choosing men of his own acquaintance, Herbert Mowbray being one of them. Percy withdrew a coin from his pocket. “Call it,” he instructed the Marquess.

“Heads,” Newburgh stated his choice.

Percy flipped the coin up into the air and let it fall to the ground at their feet. “Tails,” Percy read the coin face. “My team is first up to bat.” The Marquess of Newburgh nodded in agreement. Each man took up their positions, eleven men on each team consisting of wicketkeepers, batters, bowlers, and all-rounders for each team. Percy and Cecil were the first batsmen to take their places in front of the two wickets.

The ladies, children, and older gentlemen of the ton had lined the field of play, setting up chairs or blankets on the grass. Excited chatter filled the air as the teams faced each other. Calls of encouragement to their favorite team members could be heard above the general noise. Percy and Cecil exchanged a nod of determination then faced off against the bowling team.

The bowling team wore matching looks of determination on their faces. While Percy and Cecil would run between the wickets as long as the ball was in play, the bowling team would be doing everything in their power to either catch the ball, hit the wicket, or run them out. The inning would not end until the bowling team finished their bowls or the batting team had ten men out. Whoever had the most points at the end would win.

The bowler stepped up and bowled the ball to Percy with a straight arm. The bowler had good form. It was clear that he had done this many times before. The ball bounced off of the ground, but Percy did not allow that to deter him. He hit the ball and took off running. Cecil also took off running, and they grinned at one another as they passed each other on the way to the opposite wicket. Their friends and family cheered them on with every step.

Percy caught sight of Madeleine out of the corner of his eye, cheering her brother on. He loved it when she smiled. It completely transformed her face with the radiance of the sun. Turning his attention back to the game, he poured all of his energy into running. He had no intention of losing this game in front of her.

When the game came to an end, Percy’s team had won by a rather large margin, but all took it with good humor as was expected of any respectable sportsman. Percy, Cecil, Charles, and the Earl all came over to join the Countess, Emily, and Madeleine on their blanket. The ladies had set out a picnic luncheon which their respective menfolk greatly appreciated. The men gulped down water and gobbled up the food as if they had been starving in the desert.

“You did well,” the Countess praised them, giving each a smile of familial pride.

The Earl nodded, grunting with pleasure. “We did the family proud, I must admit. We had a good team captain.”

Percy shook his head. “We had a good team.”

“You were all extraordinary,” the Countess reiterated.

“It was very exciting,” Emily admitted, giving her husband a flirtatious look that he returned with a smile and a covert kiss.

Madeleine could barely keep her eyes from Percy. The men had removed their coats in the heat of play, but those who had run were glistening with sweat in spite of the cool day. Percy’s white shirt had grown damp with perspiration and was clinging to the muscles of his chest, shoulders, and arms. The dampness of his shirt and the coolness of the air caused his muscles to project through the fabric. She imagined her hands stroking the musculature of his body as her fingers played along his chest.

When Percy caught her looking at him, she swallowed hard and quickly looked away. She busied herself with the food on her plate so that she would not be tempted to stare at him. “Did you enjoy the match?” Percy asked her, drawing her attention back to him.

“I did,” she admitted, nodding. His eyes caught hers, and he gave her a knowing look. She blushed and averted her eyes once more. She found his gaze to be unnerving. It is as if he knows what I am thinking. I hope that he does not know what I am thinking. She could feel her blush deepening.

“Are you well, Madeleine? You are flushed,” the Countess asked in concern.

“It is probably the sun,” the Earl replied on her behalf, oblivious to the undercurrents between Percy and Madeleine. “You should seek shelter under your parasol.”

“Indeed,” the Countess murmured, clearly not convinced. The day was not warm enough to be flushed from heat unless one had been undergoing great exertion such as the runners on the cricket field. She eyed Madeleine carefully, causing her blush to deepen even further.

“Perhaps a stroll in the shade would do her some good,” Percy suggested, standing, and offering her his hand. “I shall accompany her to ensure her wellbeing.”

“Very well,” the Earl waved his permission, and Madeleine accepted Percy’s hand.

Rising from the ground, she allowed Percy to lead her away from the gathered assemblage of families to the edge of the woods. They could still be seen by the rest of the ton, but they were far enough away not to be overheard. “What were you thinking about back there? Were you thinking about our time together in the garden?”

Madeleine’s blush returned, just as it had begun to fade. “No,” she protested.

“I was,” he admitted, giving her a lust-filled look.

Something hotter than the sun burned in her lower belly as she caught it. It caused an aching pleasure between her legs, and much like the night they were in garden, she felt wetness begin to form little rivers to run down her inner thighs.

She licked her lips. It was something that in her right senses she knew she would never do, but the motion was so primal, so basic in terms of instinct, that she did not even know she did it. That was, until she saw his eyes drop down to her lips and watched with yearning as his pupils dilated, eating away that forest green until they were nearly black.

His bottom lip then dropped away slightly, as if his jaw had suddenly become unhinged just slightly. It revealed his white lower teeth… and his reddened tongue. Her breath hitched as she then watched a bead of saliva slowly slide down his tongue from base to tip. When it reached its destination, Percy’s tongue slowly narrowed into a small tip, and then his lips unhurriedly closed before she saw his Adam’s bob as he leisurely swallowed.

Madeleine blinked quickly, her head shaking left to right as she finally remembered to draw air into her lungs. She drew in several deep breaths in a row, causing her to feel dizzy. With shaking hands, she snapped her fan open, desperate for its aid.

When had they stopped walking? Where were they? How long had they stood there? She took a look around, desperate for her bearings, and realized with both excitement and dread that they were somehow away from the others enough to not see them.

“You should not be thinking of such things,” she said in a whispered rush, fluttering her fan faster. “ We should not be discussing such things. What we did was wrong and could ruin us both.”

Percy’s left brow slowly rose upward. Without a word, he reached out and clasped his hand around the one working her fan. Madeleine gasped at the touch, but before she could think of what to do about it, his hand was drawing away and taking her fan with it.

Madeleine was taken aback by the sincerity of the gesture as she began to feel strong, powerful gusts fan over face. It much more refreshing than the weak, fluttering ones she was capable of currently, and she closed her eyes briefly to the comfort of it.

“Do you truly believe that?” Percy asked, his tone low, deep.

Her eyes snapped open again, and she met his intense, contemplative stare.

“Do you truly believe that what we did was wrong? Did it feel wrong to you? Be honest with yourself, even if not with me. Do you regret it?”

Madeleine studied his face. Despite the sensitive nature of the subject, he was intense in his inquisition. Setting aside his lust for genuine curiosity. He had an unnerving way about him that made her question everything that she thought she knew.

“No,” she breathed, shaking her head.

And she meant it.

“I do not regret it.”

Percy nodded, an annoyingly charming smile spreading across his lips. “Then that is all that matters.”

He then snapped her fan shut, handed it back to her, and turned back and continued to lead her along the edge of the woods. He went on walking as if nothing had happened.

At his side, she could not help but stare at him in wonder. Madeleine did not know how he could do that. She had been confused ever since their encounter at the ball. She did not know what to say to him or how to be with him without thinking about his mouth on her nether parts.

“You are thinking about it now are you not?” he asked with an amused tone to his voice.

Madeleine laughed, no longer able to try to determine which feelings or expressions to control.

“Well, of course, I am thinking about it now.”

He smiled in satisfaction. “As you should.”

Madeleine laughed again at his hubris. “You think well of yourself.”

“Should I not?” He raised his brow in inquiry at her. “You were more than adequately pleased… unless, my assessment was incorrect?” He smiled a knowing smile.

Madeleine could not answer the question without blushing again, but their traded honesty had felt so refreshing that she replied in a whisper, “Not incorrect.”

She then raised her own brow sassily as it was now Percy that looked taken aback by her bluntness.

“Not that that is an invitation, Your Grace,” she said teasingly as her smile drew into a smirk. “Our kisses have come to an end. It is now time to move on to our purpose. Fooling the ton.”

Madeleine suddenly blushed deeply again but for an entirely different reason. When had she become so bold in her speech? So able to speak so confidently to a man? The answers snapped into her mind as Percy gave her a look of pride. It was him. He brought this out in her. And he seemed to enjoy it.

“Yes, I suppose we should continue with that,” he mused. “Come, I hear people in the east garden. There will be plenty of eyes to watch our show.”

Nodding, Madeleine allowed him to continue to lead her along the shadowed edge of the woods. Within moments, they were back among the other members of the ton, and as they were noticed, they could both hear the whispers begin. Eyes darted toward them as finely dressed socialites leaned toward one another. Some smiled knowingly, as if happy for them. Others, mostly other ladies, turned their nose up at her before giving Percy a pitying look.

Madeleine felt her cheeks grow warm again. She was no fool. She knew exactly what they were thinking. How could he choose her?

“Ignore them. It is impossible to please everyone,” Percy murmured, as if reading her thoughts. “Should you try, it would surely drive you mad.”

“Is that why you are mad?” Madeleine retorted.

“If I am mad, it is because of what you and I did the other evening,” he replied in a low voice.

As Madeleine let out a sound of frustration and smacked her hand to his shoulder, Percy huffed out a laugh. He then paused at a nearby bed of dahlias, putting her a step back. He reached down, and to her surprise, he picked her a bright yellow one.

“Yellow is the color friendship, Your Grace,” she teased as he brought it to her, his smile wide. “Red is more romantic.”

“We are friends,” he replied, tucking the flower delicately behind her ear, “but that is not why I picked it.”

Madeleine took another look around and noticed three things: that the whispers had stopped, the stares had only intensified, and they had all slowly made their way closer. They were listening.

“Pray tell then, Your Grace,” she said breathily, batting her lashes as she gave him an overly bashful smile. Percy gave her a subtle wink of approval.

“I picked it,” Percy stated, his tone louder now for all to hear, “because just like you, it is as warm and bright and and wonderful as the sun. And you, my dear Madeleine, should never forget that.”

Madeleine told herself they were just words to feed their rumor, but the look in Percy’s eyes almost dared her not to believe him. The normal retorts to such compliments all died on her tongue, and it was not because she was aware of those around them.

“Thank you,” she whispered, bringing her fingers up to to caress the delicate petals.

Percy gave her an extravagant bow.

“It is I that owe you the gratitude, My Lady,” he replied, “for your beauty and your company.”

Unable to take such talk without retorting any longer, Madeleine curtsied back at him and then stepped to his side. As if noting that she was ready for the show to be over, Percy offered his arm to her, and they once more continued their stroll out of the garden.

Silence passed between them as they put the other lords and ladies to their backs, their whispers quickly resuming as the couple left. Needing something else to focus on, Madeleine turned her focus to the scenery of their path. The trees were bursting with leaves; most were still green, but some had already shifted to a brilliant shade of red that would beckon the autumnal temperatures. Lush green ferns, large and almost magical in appearance, covered the forest floor, and scattered among them were small patches of bright pink bleeding hearts and white, yellow, and purple crocuses.

“I forgot how truly beautiful it is out here,” she murmured to herself. How long had it been since she had ventured just a beyond the gardens closest to the house?

“I remember your mother out here with her basket selecting the wild blooms over the groomed ones when we were children. She was so… magical, almost, and stunningly beautiful.”

“Indeed, she was,” Percy murmured in agreement. “As was her mother before her.”

“I wish that I had met your grandmother. The stories that I have heard make her sound extraordinary.”

“She was quite extraordinary,” Percy agreed, another small, proud smile briefly touching his lips. “They both were. I miss them both every day.”

Madeleine squeezed his arm in reassurance. There were no words that could be said to someone who had lost both their parents and grandparents at the young age that Percy had. Madeleine simply did her best to provide him with the comfort of her presence. She felt responsible that her words had made him remember his sadness. “I am sorry,” she whispered. “I did not mean for my words to cause you pain.”

Percy shook his head. “There is no need to be sorry. It is good to remember my family with you. They should not be forgotten.”

“Those we have loved are not truly gone if they live on in our hearts.” Madeleine gave his arm another squeeze. “That is what your mother used to say.”

“She was right,” Percy smiled down at her. “Thank you for reminding me. It is not a simple task to step outside of one’s own pain and remember the good that remains.”

Their conversation had turned to deeper things that went beyond the usual banter. It made Madeleine feel things in her chest and in the pit of her stomach. She could feel herself changing towards him with every moment, and she could not let that happen. Things had turned personal, too personal for comfort. She had to pull away.

“Perhaps we should rejoin the others,” she suggested, choosing to take her own advice literally.

As she pulled away away from his arm, she stooped down, picked a small clump of buttercups growing by the path, and began to organize them in her hands. She needed them full to distract herself, both mentally and physically, as she forced her thoughts to reprioritize.

Percy did not stop their walk, but she could feel his inquisitive stare burning into her for long moments. When he realized that she was not going to look back at him. Percy nodded and turned them back towards the cricket field where her family awaited them. “As you wish. My apologies if I made you uncomfortable.”

Madeleine shook her head. “No, of course not.”

“You will no doubt have me replaced in due course with the myriad of suitors that have been shadowing your door. Then, you will no longer be forced to keep my company with such regularity. I know you deem it to be such a hardship,” he teased her.

“Truly unbearable,” she jested back. She was shocked by how easily he brought out her flirtatious side.

“You do not always find me to be so unbearable,” his voice turned low and sultry, holding the promise of lust filled passion.

Madeleine cleared her throat, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe. “Percy,” she chastised, her cheeks growing warm.

As they approached Madeleine’s family, just before they reached earshot, Percy leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I may not have had my wicked way with you this time, but I enjoyed your company nevertheless.”

Madeleine could feel herself blushing once more. Before she could reply, they had come to stand in from of her parents. “I see that the stroll did not help to cool you,” the Countess observed as they rejoined her family referring to her flushed cheeks.

Madeleine fought the urge to make a retort but kept her thoughts to herself. You have no idea…