Foundation of Love: The Gypsy Blessing 2 (22 page)

Elizabeth shrugged one shoulder. “As well as could be expected, I guess.”

“Good. I don’t think you realize how long you’ve been gone, though. The game is almost over. We’re playing softball next.”

“Softball!” The photo from her phone popped into Elizabeth’s mind. She glanced significantly at Jane before turning back to Richard. “Will isn’t going to play, is he?”

Richard tilted his head. “Actually, I’m sure he
is
. Once Will said he wasn’t going to play softball, Dan started taunting him, trying to get Will to captain the opposing team. Dan finally succeeded a minute or so ago.”

Elizabeth straightened her back. “Well, let’s get going then, Jane.” She said to Richard, “We’ll meet you at the field in a few minutes. Tell Will I want to be on
his
team, though. Okay, Richie? Please don’t forget.”

Richard raised both eyebrows in surprise. “Sure.”

Elizabeth started walking away, but Richard held Jane back. “I’m sure Will is going to be very happy to hear that!”

Jane whispered, “Try to keep Dan and Will away from each other.”

“Tom, Charles, and I have been trying our best, but that’s not as easy as it sounds. Will and Dan are competing with each other as if we’re living in the caveman days, I swear. Each is trying to prove he’s faster, stronger, and better than the other at everything. Pity
she’s
not around to witness the display.” He gestured toward Elizabeth’s retreating form. “I keep expecting one of them to pull out a club and hit the other over the head. I can’t imagine what’s going to happen once she’s there to see it.”

~%~

Elizabeth splashed her face with cool water to wash the tears away and reached out to take some paper towels from Jane. Patting her face dry, she looked around to confirm that they were alone in the restroom. “After knowing about the gypsy’s photo, I was really hoping Will wouldn’t play softball at all. I don’t know how much more I can take today, Jane.”

“It will all work out, Lizzy, I’m sure.”

“I hope you’re right.” Elizabeth turned to her sister. “Do I look okay?”

“You’re always beautiful, Lizzy, even when you’re at your worst.”

“Are you saying I looking my worst
now
?” Elizabeth teased.

“Of course not.” Jane laughed. “I knew you’d feel better after a walk. You always do.”

Chapter
15

Richard passed the ball to William, and William ran. Seemingly out of nowhere, he was hit hard, sending him sprawling. Once recovered, William pushed off the ground. He didn’t have to look at his assailant to know it was Dan—again. This
friendly
game of touch football was going to leave him even sorer than if he’d played tackle.

Glancing at where Elizabeth had disappeared into the woods, William sighed. Worried, his heart had followed her. His mind had urged his body to do the same, but he had stayed put. Although he felt an urgent need to learn what Elizabeth’s answer to Dan would be, if he pursued Elizabeth, they’d be alone in the woods. Hot on the heels of her receiving a proposal of marriage from one of Meryton’s favorites, it was guaranteed to initiate the exact type of gossip that he was trying to avoid.

Seeing Jane trail after her was a relief, to some degree. Her sister would make sure Elizabeth was well.

In a way, it was good that Dan proceeded to make the football game difficult for him, for it left little time to brood about Dan’s sudden proposal. After Dan finally pushed him too far, William started playing just as hard. Before long, Dan began to badger him into playing softball. Eventually, he couldn’t take it any longer—he had to live in this community. He just hadn’t been able to allow Dan to make him seem like a coward, no matter what the gypsy’s picture had predicted. Dan had manipulated him so well that, before he realized what he’d done, he had already agreed to captain a softball team opposite Dan.

That guy must be deadly in a courtroom.

As the football game ended, Richard approached William. “Lizzy’s all right. She and Jane passed on the other side of the bushes while I was looking for my watch.” He pointed to the other side of the field. “They’re returning to play softball.”

As William nodded, apprehension replaced his worry for Elizabeth’s wellbeing. Would she accept Dan’s offer right here in front of everyone, the same way Dan had proposed? Bile rose in his throat. How was he supposed to get through the remainder of the day, let alone the Lambton project, if the woman he loved was engaged and then married to another man?

Lambton Village was such a huge project, William had passed on all other prospective jobs without thinking twice. He couldn’t deny that living here, where Elizabeth was, and the promise of seeing her almost every day, was a major contributor to this decision.

William pulled off his baseball cap and ran a hand through his hair.

If he was about to be tortured with seeing Elizabeth with
Dan
instead, maybe he’d put Richard and Charles in charge here in Meryton and leave. Perhaps it was time to start the bidding process on other projects, after all, but only if they were located far, far away from Meryton, making certain he’d be too busy to return for the wedding.

He shuddered at the thought of Elizabeth marrying someone else.

William was distracted from his musings by the movement of players beginning to trickle onto the baseball field. He braced himself, knowing he could soon expect Elizabeth to join them. Busying himself with the equipment, he scanned the surrounding area, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. If she was with Dan, he needed a little advance notice.

When Richard and Anne arrived, Richard pulled him aside. “I forgot to tell you earlier—Elizabeth asked that you fix it so she is on your team.”

“
My
team?” William was sure his heart had stopped. He forced himself to take a breath. “Are you sure, Rich?”

Richard nodded. “Absolutely sure.” He lowered his voice. “She made it one hundred percent clear that she does
not
want to be on Dan’s team.”

William couldn’t stop himself from smiling. He clapped Richard on the back. “Thanks. I’m sure I can manage it.”

As Richard walked away, he wondered whether
this
was the issue that he and Dan were angry about in the picture. But Elizabeth had been wearing an umpire’s helmet in the photo. If she were on his team, that wasn’t going to happen. Maybe they could prevent a fight after all.

His eyes wandered over the picnic area, and he froze. There was Elizabeth—with Dan.

~

As the girls returned from the restroom, Elizabeth noticed Dan was standing in the midst of the picnic tables. He began to walk in their direction.

Elizabeth felt Jane’s eyes on her. She turned to her sister. “I’d better do this without witnesses this time. I’ll meet you at the field.”

Dan stopped in front of Elizabeth without saying a word, but his expression was confident, and his usual cocky attitude was firmly in place.

Elizabeth met his gaze and just shook her head. “I’m sorry, Dan.”

Surprise, then disappointment spread over his expression. He swallowed hard and looked away. “Oh.”

She hesitated until he met her gaze again. “I wish you would have talked to me
alone
about this instead of making it public.”

He huffed and took in a deep breath. “I guess that wasn’t the brightest thing I’ve ever done, was it?”

“No, it wasn’t.” She started to mention the gossip, and that they both had to live in this town, but she knew he was going to have a difficult enough time with all this as it was. Rubbing it in his face wasn’t going to help anyone.

Dan looked toward the field and stiffened. Elizabeth followed his line of sight to William on the baseball field.

When she returned her gaze to Dan, he was staring at her. “We’re playing softball next.”

“Yes, I know. I don’t want you to be surprised, so I’ll tell you now. After that...” Without thinking, she gestured toward the field where they had played football. “Well, I need to make a clear statement to everyone in town. I’ve requested to be on the other team.”

Dan’s eyes snapped to hers, and she watched a number of emotions pass through his eyes. His nostrils flared. “Darcy.”

Internally, Elizabeth cringed, but she tried to keep her expression neutral. Dan had somehow guessed her feelings for William! She had always been honest with Dan, and she wasn’t going to stop now, even after hearing that Dan had branded her as
his
without her permission. Panic welled up within her... No, she refused to think about that right now.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, closed it, and simply nodded.

“If you had never met him...” his voice trailed off.

Her answer came without delay. She shook her head. “I really
am
sorry, Dan. I never meant to hurt you.” Elizabeth paused. “Are we still friends?”

He looked down at the can of soda he had been rolling between his hands throughout their conversation. Dan’s smile was forced. “We always have been friends. See you over there.” He walked away.

Elizabeth just couldn’t watch him go. As she turned around, she saw that Mrs. Lucas and Mrs. Reynolds were sitting within hearing range. Elizabeth groaned softly.
I really have to pay closer attention to who’s around when I talk!

Mrs. Lucas shook her head and rushed over to another table, where Meryton’s best gossips had all gathered—discussing
her
, no doubt. Mrs. Reynolds rose from the table and approached, taking Elizabeth’s hand.

Elizabeth looked into the eyes of the kindly woman. “I guess you couldn’t avoid hearing about what happened earlier... and just now, too.”

Mrs. Reynolds’s look of compassion was answer enough.

Elizabeth sighed deeply.

Mrs. Reynolds nodded toward where Dan had been standing a few moments ago. “I’m sorry, dear. That must have been difficult.” She squeezed Elizabeth’s hand lightly.

Although she fought against it, Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “We’ve been friends since we were little kids, but I never guessed at his feelings. Now I can see what Jane tried to warn me about the other day. I guess I just didn’t want to believe it.” She took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

Mrs. Reynolds opened her arms, and Elizabeth stepped into her embrace.

“You did a wonderful job just now, Lizzy. Truly, you did.”

A few moments later, Elizabeth released the older lady and wiped a tear off her cheek with the back of her hand. “Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. You have no idea how much I needed to hear that.” Elizabeth glanced over at the group of gossips, who were now all staring at her. She waved and loudly huffed out a long breath. “Enough of that. Off I go! They say we should get directly back onto that horse, right, Mrs. Reynolds? I’ve got to face the townspeople sometime, and it might as well be now.”

“You go, girl!”

Elizabeth giggled at hearing those words come out of the mouth of a lady who was old enough to be her grandmother.

“Can I walk with you, dear? I’m meeting Georgiana on the benches along the field to watch the game.”

Elizabeth smiled and winked. “If there isn’t an empty seat, I’ll kick someone off for you.” Elizabeth held up a finger, indicating Mrs. Reynolds should wait, and she walked over to the Bennetts’ tables to grab her baseball cap. While she was there, she took her mother’s seat cushion, which Mrs. Bennett had left for anyone who might want to use it. Returning to Mrs. Reynolds, Elizabeth hooked her arm through the older lady’s, and they walked toward the baseball field.

~

Judging by the glare Darcy was receiving from Dan King as Dan walked away from Elizabeth and toward himself, William had no doubt he’d be staying in Meryton for a while, after all. A twinge of compassion for the man passed through him. Even though he was very glad that Elizabeth wasn’t going to end up with Dan, how could he blame anyone for loving such an amazing woman?

Dan approached, and, although it sounded forced, he could tell Dan was trying to speak as casually as possible. “We have two late additions to the lineups. Jane Bennett is on my team.”

William kept his stoic mask in place as he simply nodded in acknowledgement. Dan moved off immediately, clapping loudly and calling for his team to gather on the other side of the backdrop.

Relief flooded William’s senses when he noticed Elizabeth leading Mrs. Reynolds to a bench to sit with Georgiana and watch the game. She then headed directly toward him. As she came nearer, he could see that she had been crying and a wave of guilt hit him. He’d been so worried that she’d accept and then so happy that she hadn’t, he had forgotten all she must have been through this afternoon. “Everything okay?”

“Fine. Everything’s fine.” She hesitated. “I like second base best, but I do all right in any position.”

William raised both eyebrows.

Elizabeth blushed deeply and looked away, then looked back. “You know,
softball?
”

William nodded. “Of course—softball.”

All the tension of the day seemed to escape from Elizabeth through a fit of giggles, and William had a difficult time keeping it from becoming contagious. Elizabeth clamped her hand over her mouth and tried to regain control. Imagining she wouldn’t want Dan to see her mirth only a minute or two after she had refused him, William stepped to the right to block the other team’s view of her with his body.

Once she calmed down, William asked, “Can I see your phone for a minute, please?”

Her eyes widened. “Oh! That’s a good idea.” Although William couldn’t understand how she could manage to fit the phone into those tight-fitting shorts she wore, she pulled it from her back pocket, pressed a few icons, and then rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m not wearing an umpire’s helmet anymore, but the rest is the same as the last time I looked.” She frowned. “Only Dan looks even angrier now than he did before. I’m sure my saying ‘no’ didn’t help his mood... maybe I should just bow out of the game altogether?”

“I don’t think that would make a difference.” William shook his head. “Whatever happens, it’s not your fault, Elizabeth. I tried to get out of playing softball earlier, but—”

She interrupted. “I know; Richie told me, only he didn’t know
why
you were trying to avoid Dan. There’s only so much we can do to prevent it, I guess. It’s not like you’re both bloody in the photo—maybe I’m just over-reacting to the whole thing.” She sighed. “I usually look forward to this picnic, and I’m sad when it’s over, but today, I can’t wait to leave here.”

“Do you still want to stop by to look at those plans afterward? We could wait ‘til tomorrow—”

“No, I’ll go straight to your house from here. I’d rather keep busy tonight.”

I can think of a few ways to keep you busy.
He was glad that she had looked away when she paused, because he wasn’t sure he’d kept his thoughts from his expression that time.

~

By the bottom of the second inning, Elizabeth was very sorry that she had admitted to Dan that she felt something for William. She was sure it was no accident that William had suddenly become a softball magnet.

When Dan had played baseball in high school and college, he had been a star, famous for his crowd-pleasing ability to point to the spot where he planned to hit the ball before it had even been pitched. So, whenever Dan got up to bat during today’s game, Elizabeth knew quite well that it was no coincidence that the ball almost hit William every time. Everyone else knew it, too.