Season's Feather

Chapter Twenty-Two

Delilah refused to speak to Williamson, and he had given up. So instead he retired to his quarters to mope over whatever it is men decided to mope over. Delilah joined the Bridgerton family in a lovely game of Pall-mall.

"This will teach Colin." Daphne spoke, "Last time, he put the wicket behind the goat barn."

Kate nodded in confusion, "What exactly are the rules of this game?"

"Kate, Pall-mall is less about the rules and 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." Delilah explained.

Kate smiled, "Simple enough."

"Though," Daphne began, "if you are feeling devilish, you can use your turn to knock the opponents ball as far away from their next wicket if you would like."

"Why waste a turn if the point is to get one's own ball through the wicket?" Edwina asked.

Kate shrugged, "To infuriate your opponent, I gather?"

"Precisely." Delilah smiled, "It is a poor player who plays the game, and a wise player who plays their opponent."

Kate smiled looking around at the expansion of the Bridgerton grounds with a smile, "I believe I shall rather enjoy this game."

Delilah smiled at her before suddenly giving a big "o" with her mouth, "Now, Benedict is a solid shot, but he always avoids conflict. Colin is crafty. He will strike when you are least suspecting. Eloise concentrates entirely on defeating her older brothers. You want to hope she becomes so enraged, she forgets about us. Daphne is sweet until you turn a blind eye, I will not reveal my own tactic. And, Anthony..."

Kate looked at her as she paused, "What about Anthony?"

"A most ruthless, calculated, and furiously good player. I myself would enjoy beating him. I feel today will be a battle between the two of us. We have always competed since we were young." Delilah explained.

"You love him." Kate stated.

"Yes." Delilah smiled, "I do."

Kate looked at her for a moment, "How ever did you find a man in him?"

"Because of this game, I realized for the fact that he is not afraid to lose to me no matter how mad he gets."

"Let us toss a coin." Colin said as they gathered around the bucket of mallets.

"Last year," Eloise said, "We promised to let the youngest pick first."

Anthony rolled his eyes, "We pick based on alphabetical order."

Delilah scoffed at the argument but felt a smile picking at her face. The traditional game of wicket between all the children. The event contained some of the most enjoyable memories Delilah had. But, the arguing needed to end, "Everyone, please, now. The only fair thing to do is to let our invited guests choose their mallets and strike first."

Daphne nodded her head in agreement and stepped back slightly along with the other begrudging Bridgerton siblings.

"Please," Anthony nodded, "Take your pick, Miss Edwina."

Delilah watched patiently as the diamond walked up and looked around at all the mallets. She seemed to be deliberating each one carefully. She looked at each of them before choosing a pretty blue.

Delilah smiled at her, "Excellent choice. Kate?"

The eldest Sharma chose the silver one. Delilah felt her smile drop slightly. That was her mallet.

"The mallet of mischief," Eloise commented.

"Goodness, love," Anthony shook his head, "Which one will you use now?"

Delilah smiled mischievously before picking the only black-wooded mallet in the box. When she saw Anthony no longer had a smile on his face, she laughed and clutched the mallet tighter.

"The mallet of death," Eloise added.

Delilah turned to her fiancee, "Would you look at that, darling?"

"It is nothing, dear. You're welcome to it."

Colin looked at his brother with an unbelieving face, "You threatened to beat me last time I touched-"

"You exaggerate." Anthony scoffed.

Kate looked at the viscount, "Are you the superstitious sort?"

"You should know that some men cannot perform without their familiar tools," Delilah answered, "Like a child with a blanket."

Everyone let out quiet laughs and amused breaths. Anthony felt the competition stir in his blood. It made the idea of victory sweeter. He looked over at the eldest Sharma sister, "I can play perfectly well with any mallet," His eyes glanced at Lady Silvester, "I wish you the best of luck."

"Are we to stand around deliberating all day, or shall we play?" Eloise cried.

Then just like that, everyone snatched up a mallet until there was one left. One that's always left behind because it was - in Delilah's opinion - for a child. She smiled at her fiancee and turned around to the field.

Daphne raised her mallet above her head, "To the field of combat!"