Page 52 (1/2)

"Well done!" Mr Berbrooke exclaietting the hang of this"

"By the end of the ga us all," he pronounced

Lady Alexandra was already in place near the purple ball She took nearly a ave it a careful tap The ball rolled forward, stopping directly in front of the wicket

Billie made a noise deep in her throat Lady Alexandra was actually quite skilled

"Did you just growl?" George asked

She nearly ju alht behind her, and she could not see him unless she turned her head away fro her, but he was so close… Her skin tingled, and she could feel her heart beating, low and insistent in her chest

"I have to ask," he said, his voice intoxicatingly close to her ear, "how exactly are we meant to work as a team?"

"I’ Andrew take his turn "I expect that it will beco"

"Your turn, Billie!" Andrew yelled

"Excuse er to put soht-headed when he was standing so close

"What are you going to do, Billie?" Georgiana asked as she approached the ball

Billie frowned She wasn’t far from the wicket, but Lady Alexandra’s purple ball was squarely in her way

"A difficult shot," Andrew said

"Shut up"

"You could use blunt force" He looked up at the crowd "Her usual modus operandi" His voice dropped to a confidential undertone "In Pall Mall and in life"

Billie briefly considered giving up the ga the ball toward his feet

"Wouldn’t that put Lady Alexandra through the wicket?" Georgiana asked

Andrew shrugged as if to say – c’est la vie

Billie focused on her ball

"Or she could be patient," Andrew continued, "and queue up for the wicket after Lady Alexandra But we all know that’s not like her"

Billie rowl

"A third option --"

"Andrew!" she ground out

He grinned

Billie lined up her h the wicket without knocking Lady Alexandra through, but if she edged it on the side…

She let fly