After breakfast, Daphne helped put the wickets out for the game while explaining the game to Kate, Edwina, and Evelina. While Benedict and Colin tried to explain it to James since Elijah opted out of playing.
"This will teach Colin. Last time, he put a wicket behind the goat barn." Daphne said, looking up at the three ladies.
"What exactly are the rules of this game?" Kate asked the duchess.
"Pall Mall is less about the rules, more about the goal, which is, of course, to hit your ball through each wicket. The first player to send their ball through the last wicket wins. Simple enough. Though, if you are feeling devilish, you can use your turn to knock an opponent's ball as far away from their next wicket as you would like." Daphne smiled, glancing back at Kate and Edwina while Evelina walked with her.
"Why waste a turn if the point is to get one's own ball through the wicket?" Edwina asked softly.
"To infuriate your opponent, I gather?" Kate asked as Daphne stopped to look at them.
"Precisely. It is a poor player who plays the game and a wise one who plays their opponent." Daphne told the three of them.
"I believe I shall rather enjoy this game," Kate told the duchess with a smile.
"Right. Oh. Now, Benedict is a solid shot, but he avoids conflict." Daphne continued, walking again to explain how her siblings played. "Colin is crafty. He will strike when he thinks you are least suspecting it, so always be suspecting it. Eloise concentrates entirely on defeating her older brothers. The hope is that she gets so absorbed by them that she forgets about you." Daphne smiled while the four looked over to Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Eloise, and James, who were around the small canopy for Lady Mary, Violet, Lady Florence, and Lady Danbury to sit under during the game. Francesca would be sitting off to the side with Elijah. Gregory and Hyacinth were off to the side, playing with Newton. "I, of course, am a complete enigma who will divulge none of my secrets. And, well, then there is Anthony." Daphne said, smiling, while she glanced at Evelina.
"Let me guess. A most ruthless, cutthroat player..." Kate asked, causing Daphne to chuckle at her comment.
"Why, you have made his acquaintance." Daphne chuckled before looking at her sister-in-law, who was just as quiet as Edwina. "That is not to say he has no honor. He's usually the most genteel sportsman—except as far as this field is concerned." Daphne smiled at Evelina, who glanced over to her husband.
"I'm sure the viscount is an excellent player." Evelina gave her sister-in-law a smile.
"Yes. We will all pass a very pleasant afternoon." Edwina smiled, looking at her sister, who nodded.
"Let us toss a coin," Colin suggested, placing his hand on the pall mall mallets in their holders as the players gathered around.
"Last year, we promised to let the youngest pick first." Eloise spat at her older siblings since she was the youngest sibling to play.
"We pick based on alphabetical order," Anthony said as Evelina, Kate, Edwina, and James watched the siblings bicker.
"That's the precedent." Eloise spat at her brother.
"It's meant to be a game, is it not?" Edwina whispered to Kate, who was smiling and enjoying the Bridgertons' unsportsmanlike bickering.
"Everyone... please, now." Daphne scoffed, speaking up. "The only fair thing to do is to let our invited guests choose their mallets and strike first." She continued as the other siblings nodded, halting their bickering.
YOU ARE READING
Midnight Rain:
FanfictionHe was the ninth Viscount Bridgerton and also a former "capital R rake." She was the thirteenth surviving child of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland and Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She also happened to be a shelter princess...
