BECAUSE MISS "BRIDGERTON"
chapter 14
TEN MINUTES LATER George, Andrew, and Billie were standing in the courtyard, watching as a waitress walked hard towards them, dragging the Pall Mall set.
“I love Pall Mall,” Billie announced, rubbing both hands in the cold afternoon air. “It's a brilliant idea.”
“This was your idea,” George reminded.
“Of course,” is jovial. “Oh, look, there it is Georgiana.”
George shaded his eyes while looking across the courtyard. Sure enough, Georgiana was leading Lady Alexandra towards them. And, if he's not mistaken, one of the Berbrooke brothers.
“Thank you, William,” said Billie as the waiter put down the set of playground equipment.
The waiter nodded. “Milady.”
“Wait a minute,” says Andrew. “Don't we break one of his hammer-hacks last year?”
“Dad bought me a new set,” Billie told.
“Same color?”
Billie shakes. “We didn't order red this time.”
George turned. “Why not?”
“Well,” Billie tries to dodge, looks a little timid, “we have bad luck with red. The ball keeps ending at lake.”
“And you think different colors might fix that problem?”
“No, but I hope the yellow color will be easier to find from the surface,” replied Billie.
Moments later, Georgiana and a small group of players arrived on the spot. George takes an instinctive step towards Billie, but he is late. Lady Alexandra was already holding her suit arm.
“Lord Kennard,” said. “How fun it is to play Pall Mall. Thank you for inviting me.”
“It was actually an invitation from Miss Georgiana,” she replied.
The woman smiled understandingly. “At your command, I'm sure.”
Billie looks like she's gonna puke.
“And Lieutenant Rokesby,” Lady Alexandra continued, her hands were like little claws that held tightly to George's arms even as she turned to Andrew. “We barely got a chance to talk last night.”
Andrew bowed with all his politeness.
“Do you know Lord Northwick?” ask the woman.
George tried to catch his brother's eye. This was not the path of conversation they wanted to pursue.
Fortunately for all of them, the waiter had just pulled the cover of the Pall Mall set, and Billie took over efficiently.
“This is it,” said, pulling one of the hammers from his position. “Andrew has promised a green color for Georgiana, so let's see, Mr. Berbrooke will wear blue, Lady Alexandra can wear pink, I am yellow, Lieutenant Rokesby purple, and Lord Kennard black.”
“Can I get purple color?” ask Lady Alexandra.
Billie looked at Lady Alexandra as if she had asked for the Magna Carta to be revised.
“I like purple color,” said Lady Alexandra quietly.
Billie's back is stiffening. “Talk with Lieutenant Rokesby. It makes no difference to me.”
Andrew gave Billie a curious look, then offered her hammer to Lady Alexandra while bowing politely. “As per the lady's wish..”
Lady Alexandra nodded gracefully.
“Alright,” said Billie while grunting, “Georgiana green color, Mr. Berbrooke in blue, Lieutenant Rokesby pink, I am yellow, Lord Kennard black, and Lady Alexandra”—dia gave the woman a sharp glance—” color purple.”
George begins to realize Billie really doesn't like Lady Alexandra.
“I've never played this,” said Mr. Brooke. He swung his hammer several times, almost grabbing George's leg. “It looks fun.”
“True,” sahut Short Billie. “The rules are very simple. The first person to hit his ball over all the wickets in the correct order wins.”
Lady Alexandra looked into the group of goalposts that were currently attached on set. “How can we know the correct order?”
“Just ask me,” said Billie. “Or Lieutenant Rokesby. We've played this a million times.”
“Who of you usually wins.” asked Mr. Brooke.
“I,” they both replied.
“None,” says George firmly. “They rarely manage to finish a game. You'd better be careful with your feet. This game will probably turn deadly.”
“I'm impatient,” said Georgiana, barely buzzing with excitement. He looked at Lady Alexandra. “You should also hit the pole at the end. Billie didn't mention it.”
“He likes to skip some rules,” Andrew cetus. “So he can give you a penalty when you win.”
“That's not true!” billie protest. “At least in the half times I beat you I did it without cheating.”
“If you're going to play Pall Mall again, I'll have the rules of the game read again everything,” George gave advice to Lady Alexandra. “None of the things you learned here can be applied.”
“Originally you know, I've played,” said Lady Alexandra. “Lord Northwick has one set.”
Georgiana turned towards him with a confused face. “Kukira Lord Northwick is engaged to your brother.”
“Indeed,” Lady Alexandra replied.
“Oh. I thought..” Georgiana paused for a moment, her mouth opened for a second or two before finally saying, “You talk about it a lot.”
“She has no sister,” says Lady Alexandra flat. “Of course, we became very close.”
“I have a sister,” Mr. Cetus. Brooke.
It was greeted with a moment of silence, then Georgiana said, “It was fun.”
“Nellie,” the man confirmed. “Short for Eleanor. He's very high.”
No one seems to know what to say after that.
“Well, then,” Andrew breaks the moment that now feels clunky. “It's time to install wicket-gawang.”
“Can't the waiter do it?” ask Lady Alexandra.
Billie and Andrew looked at her as if the woman had gone mad.
George could not bear to see it, and stepped forward to mutter, “They are very picky in goal laying.”
Lady Alexandra's chin was raised slightly. “Lord Northwick always says its goal should be mounted in the shape of a cross.”
“Lord Northwick is not here,” said Billie ketus.
Lady Alexandra gasps.
“Well, indeed not,” protests Billie, while looking to the other players for affirmation.
George squinted, a visual translation over the elbowed ribs, and Billie must have realized he was breaking ludicrous boundaries, but it remained the limit. He's the host, and he has to behave like that.
But it's still awesome to see. Billie was born to compete, and she was never known to be patient. And she obviously didn't want to follow Lady Alexandra's advice. Still, he straightened his shoulders and put on a smile that almost looked friendly on his face as he turned to face his guest.
“I think you'll like it like this,” he said politely. “And if not, you can tell Lord Northwick about it, then you will know for sure that the version arrangement is better.”
George grunting.
Billie ignored.
“His employees,” Andrew reminds everyone.
“George and I will do it,” Billie said as she snatched it from Andrew's hand.
George looked at her with a little satisfaction. “Oh, we will do it, yes?”
“Lord Kennard,” said Billie with gnashed teeth, “would you be kind enough to help me put these wickets on?”
George glanced at his injured ankle. “You mean because you can't walk?”
Billie gave him a smile that was too sweet. “Because I really like your presence.”
George almost chuckled.
“Andrew couldn't do it, and no one knew where to install,” he continued.
“If we play with the shape of a cross,” Lady Alexandra told Mr. Berbrooke, “we can all install the net.”
Mr. Berbrooke.
“We will start from the middle,” Lady Alexandra gave instructions, “then move to her branches then to the altar section.”
Mr. Berbrooke looked down at his hammer and frowned confusedly. “It doesn't look like a game that reeks of church.”
“Can be,” replied Lady Alexandra.
“But we don't want to,” said Billie Sharp.
George grabbed Billie's arm. “His employees,” he said, pulled Billie away before the two women had a fight.
“I really don't like the woman,” Billie grumbled as soon as they got out of hearing range.
“Really?” mumbling George. “I would never have thought.”
“Just help me with the goal,” Billie turned towards the big oak tree on the edge of the yard. “Follow me.”
George watched the girl walk a few steps. Billie is still hobbling, but somehow looks different. More clumsy. “Did you hurt yourself again?”
“Hmm? Oh, that.” Billie let out an annoyed snort. “That's because the saddle is sideways.”
“What?”
Billie puts her shoulders down. “I can't raise my sprained leg to the stirrup. So I have to ride a horse with the saddle sideways.”
“And you must ride because..”.
Billie looked at him like George was an idiot. And George was pretty sure it wasn't true.
“Billie, what's so important that you have to ride with an injured ankle?” he grabbed the girl's wrist so that the movement of the two of them stopped.
“Because of barley,” replied Billie short.
George must have heard wrong. “What?”
“One must make sure the plant is planted correctly,” said Billie, deftly releasing her hand from George's grasp.
Billie frowning. “I don't know what you think I do all day when I'm not flying to and fro at parties at home, but I'm a very busy man.” Something changed in the expression on Billie's face; something George couldn't recognize, then the girl said, “I'm a useful person.”
“I can't imagine anyone thinking otherwise,” said George, although he felt before he thought that way, and not too long ago.
“What are you two doing there?” shouted Andrew.
“I'll kill him,” Billie said in a boiling tone.
“His employees,” says George. “Just tell me where you want to install it.”
Billie separated one wicket from the other and stretched it out. “There. Under the tree. But above the roots. Make sure you put it on the root. Otherwise it would be too easy.”
George almost raised his hand in salute.
By the time he returned from his duties, Billie was halfway across the meadow, thrusting the wicket into place. The girl left the rest in the pile, so George leaned over and brought it all.
Billie looked up while sticking a strong wicket. “What's your problem with Sir Reginald?”
George gritted his teeth. He should have known he wouldn't be able to escape so easily. “Nothing,” he lied. “I just thought he wouldn't enjoy this game.”
Billie stand. “You don't know it.”
“She spends time during archery competition sitting in a chair in the yard and complaining of overheating.”
“You also sit around.”
“I enjoy the sun.” It was a sunny day, but George wouldn't tell Billie the real reason he was stuck in his chair.
“Alright,” Billie agrees, “Sir Reggie may not be the best candidate for Pall Mall. But I still think we can choose better than Lady Alexandra.”
“I agree.”
“Dia—” Billie gnashing. “You agree?”
“Of course. Yesterday I had to spend the whole night talking to him, as you eloquently said.”
Billie looked like she was going to throw both hands up in frustration. “Then why didn't you say anything when Georgiana proposed him?”
“He is not evil, just annoying.”
Billie grumbled softly.
George could not help the amused smile that was widening on his face. “You really don't like it, huh?”
“Ya.”
George laughed a little.
“Stop that.”
“Laughter, you mean?”
Billie thrust the wicket into the ground. “You're as bad as me. People will think Sir Reggie betrayed you when you saw the way you handled it.”
Handled it? George has a waist. “It's completely different.”
Billie is out of her job. “How can it be different?”
“He's stupid.”
Billie's laughter was short. Her voice did not sound feminine, yet when the laughter was thrown by her, it sounded mesmerizing. Billie leaned closer to George, her expression defiant. “I think you're jealous.”
George's stomach is churning. Of course Billie didn't realize. The thoughts he had about the girl. It is caused by closeness. Must be because of that. He has spent more time with Billie in the past week than he has in years. “Don't be crazy,” he scoffs.
“Come,” god Billie. “All the women gathered by his side. You yourself said he had a handsome smile.”
“Oh, I said yes?” george said before he realized he didn't remember exactly what he said. Luckily, Billie cut it.
“The only woman who has not fallen into her magic is the illustrious Lady Alexandra.” Billie looked back. “Maybe because he was too busy trying to get your attention.”
“Are you jealous?” reply George.
“That's right,” taunts Billie, move to the following point.
George followed, one step behind. “You didn't say no...”
“No,” replied Billie with emphasis. “Of course I'm not jealous. To be honest I think the woman's mind was a little disturbed.”
“Because he tried to get my attention?” George could not bear to ask.
Billie reached out with one more wicket. “Of course not. Maybe that's the most reasonable thing he's ever done.”
George stopped for a moment. “Why does it sound like an insult?”
“Not,” Billie reassured. “I will never be so ambiguous.”
“No, that's right,” murmured George. “You insult clearly.”
Billie turned the eyeball before returning to the topic
Lady Alexandra's. “What I mean is his obsession with Lord Northwick. The man was engaged to his brother, for God's sake.”
“Ah, the.”
“Ah, that,” imitate Billie, while thrusting another wicket into the ground. “What is the problem of women?”
George is saved from having to answer by Andrew, who shouts their name again, along with a fiery warning to hurry.
Billie grunting. “I can't believe he thought he could beat me with a broken arm.”
“You must have realized that you won—”
“When I win.”
“If you win, you will seem like the worst champion, taking advantage of the weaknesses of others.”
Billie looked at George with wide, plain eyes. “I myself can barely walk.”
“You, Miss Bridgerton, have a favorable understanding of reality.”
Billie grinning. “Favorable for me, right.”
George shook his head, smiling despite not intending to do so.
“Well, now,” Billie humbled her voice even though no one was within earshot, “you're on my team, right?”
George squinted. “Since when is there a team?”
“Since today.” Billie approaching. “We must destroy Andrew.”
“You're starting to scare me, Billie.”
“Don't be stupid, you're just as competitive as me.”
“You know, I don't think.”
“Of course so. You just show it differently.”
George thought maybe the girl would explain, but of course not.
“You don't want Andrew to win, do you?” ask Billie.
“I'm not sure how much I care.”
Billie.
George laughed, he could not help it. Billie looked so humiliated. “No, of course I don't want him to win,” he said. “She's my sister. But at the same time, I'm not sure I feel the need to run espionage to ensure the results.”
Billie looked at him with heavy and disappointed eyes.
“Oh, okay,” George gives up. “Who is Andrew's team member, then?”
Billie's face immediately turned bright. “Nothing. Thats good. He doesn't know we've been allied.”
“It is unlikely to end well,” George said it to the world.
He was pretty sure the world wasn't listening.
Billie put the last wicket into place. “I put down this one wicket viciously,” he told. “If you hit too far you will go into the rose bush.”
“I'll consider it.”
“Please.” Billie smiled, and George's breathing choked. No one smiles like Billie. There aren't. He's known it for years but…
He cursed himself in his heart. This must be the most troublesome attraction in human history. Billie Bridgerton, for God's sake. Billie was everything George wanted in a woman. He's stubborn, reckless, and if he ever had a mysterious, feminine moment in his life, George's never seen him.
Despite that…
He swallowed.
He wants Billie. He wanted it like he never wanted anything else in his life. He wants Billie's smile, and he wants it exclusively. She wants Billie in her arms, under her body, because somehow she knows in her bed, Billie will be everything mysterious and feminine.
George also knew any of these exciting activities could be done on the condition that he marry Billie, and this was so laughable that it was a—
“Oh, for God's sake,” muttered Billie.
George flinched from his mind.
“Andrew headed here,” said. “Hold!” his yell. “I swear,” said to George, “dia very impatient.”
“Si—” words
“Don't say I'm the same.” Billie started walking back to the beginning of the goal series. As much as possible; he really looked ridiculous with his lashed path in two halves.
George waited for a moment, smiling at the girl's back. “Are you sure you won't use a black hammer?”
“I hate you!” exclaim that girl.
George could not help his smile. It was the most hateful statement he had ever heard.
“I hate you too,” murmured.
But he didn't mean it either
DON'T FORGET THE USUAL RICH!!
