Pretty short chapter but I'll put up the next one too. This is mainly just preparing for the game of rounders.

Hope you all enjoy it and please, please, please vote and comment!

I really just want to know what you all think of it.

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Lavinia's excitement for her brother's planned game of rounders increased gradually as the day went on. Many people accepted their invitation and it was the latest ton gossip at the Farthington's dinner the next evening. Lavinia and her brothers had arrived with their aunt in plenty of time to meet their friends before the dinner began. Lavinia spotted Judith almost instantly, her glittering blue gown almost bold between other pastel coloured dresses. To compensate for her garish green dress at her last dinner, Lavinia had opted to wear a simple pink dress with only small flourishes of lace around the bodice and sleeves.

"My dear Judith," she greeted her friend. "It has been far too long since we have spoken."

"It certainly has," Judith replied. "I heard you had a cold, I am sorry."

"It was nothing really," was Lavinia's reply. "Charles obviously made it into more than it was, he is rather over-protective of me."

Judith chuckled a little at that before she noticed the tall man with the jade green eyes enter. His eyes fixed on her's with recognition before turning to Lavinia beside her and smiling. Judith's insides boiled with rage. How could any man like the little prick beside her? Lavinia's hair was a dull colour and her features were rather disproportionate to her face. She was also neither intelligent nor flirtatious so how had she managed to catch the attention of Lord Caleb Alder?

"Lady Judith, Lady Lavinia," he greeted as he approached them. "It is a pleasure to see you both again." His eyes betrayed him, fixing themselves on Lavinia for far longer than necessary. The ladies curtsied as he bowed before them.

"I trust you are attending our little game of rounders?" he asked Judith.

"Certainly, Caleb," she replied. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. I also know how fond you are of the sport." She tried to subtly remind him of a conversation they had had last year on one of their outings on the subject of sports.

"It has always been a favourite pastime of mine," he agreed. "I trust you are well Lady Lavinia?"

"Yes," she smiled up at him. 'How sickening,' Judith thought. 'Where was Mr Black at this point?' She needed him to distract Lavinia so she could talk to Caleb alone and apologise for her lack of understanding during their last meeting. How was she to know that Lavinia had been in danger while walking home? But instead, Mr Black was nowhere to be seen and Caleb and Lavinia had begun a conversation without her about rounders that Judith did not understand, having never played herself. It was with relief that Judith heard Lady Farthington call everyone into the dining room for dinner.

"Lady Judith, would you allow me to escort you in?" came a voice behind her. Turning she saw Jonathan Evesdale's arm, much to her irritation. Could he not see that Caleb was going to... but Caleb was already halfway across the room with Lavinia on his arm.

"Alright," Judith unwillingly complied and he led her through. This was as much Lavinia's fault as Caleb's, they would not be getting away with it. Caleb was Judith's.

***

"Did you manage to read the books I sent you?" Caleb asked Lavinia as he escorted her to her place. He was glad to find that they had been seated together with Judith seated next to the hostess and Mr Black further down the table.

"Yes, but I could not care much for the other two after reading Sense and Sensibility," she admitted.

"It certainly is a remarkable novel that truly captures the reader's attention from the start," he agreed.

"It is also rather comical," Lavinia added. She found that she didn't feel like she needed to be the polished finishing school graduate around Caleb. She could be herself and speak her mind and he would never judge her for it.

They were interrupted by Lady Farthington who addressed Lavinia. "I believe this game of rounders was, in part, your idea?" she said, silencing most conversation around the table as everyone waited hungrily for more gossip to spread.

"I cannot take credit for it at all, Lady Farthington," she replied politely. "It was all Mr Jackson's suggestion, I simply issued the invitations on their behalf."

"And do you not play?" she asked inquisitively.

"A little, ma'am," she admitted. "With two older brothers one cannot help but learn a few sports during childhood."

"Indeed," Lady Farthington took a sip of her wine as she thought of what to say next. A glint of mischievousness then flashed in her eyes as she set her glass back down. "You must play then, Lady Lavinia, it is unfair that you are inviting others to do something you are not willing to do yourself."

Lavinia was taken aback and looking around the table she could see similar expressions of shock on many of the debutante's and bachelor's faces. She glanced at Charles and Edward but knew that they could not help her. She could either agree with the danger of ruining her reputation if she played badly, or she could refuse and certainly ruin her reputation by disagreeing with one of the most influential ladies of the ton.

"I shall play then at your insistence, Lady Farthington," Lavinia conceded. Her stomach was full of butterflies at the thought of playing in front of the ton, but she knew she had no other option. Lady Farthington, satisfied, turned back to Judith who was sitting by her side and continued their own conversation as everyone else began to talk of this new change.

"Lady Lavinia," Caleb addressed her, concern in his voice. "Are you sure about this?"

"I have no other option, if I refuse I will look like a coward and my reputation will be ruined," she explained to him. "I at least have a chance of keeping my reputation in tact if I play well."

Caleb instantly felt sorry for her, how could Lady Farthington do something like that? Risk a lady's reputation on her skills in a sport it is frowned upon women to play? He looked over at the older woman and then realisation dawned on him. Lady Farthington was Judith's aunt and Judith must have been the one to encourage this. Judith, for some reason unknown to Caleb, did not like Lavinia and she had managed to already cause her to be hurt, however accidental it was, and now she was planning on hurting Lavinia's reputation instead. Why?

***

Charles and Edward were just as angry as Caleb. After the dinner at the Farthington's they met in their aunt's parlour with drinks of whiskey.

"How is mother?" Charles began. "Is she well?"

"Yes, her latest event was a success and she has been asked to plan another of course. I told her what happened to Lavinia and she was extremely upset, she begged me to come and look after her," Edward explained.

"It's for the best," Charles conceded. "I am sorry Edward for scaring you like that. I should have looked after her better."

"You did what you could," Edward laid a hand on his brother's shoulder to let him know that he did not blame him. "I believe it to be Judith's fault from what I have heard."

"I would not have imagined her to be capable of such cruelty before this evening," he said. "She was always a friend to Lavinia but now I don't believe she is."

"It was clearly her idea to include Lavinia in our game of rounders," Edward agreed. "At least we know Lavinia was trained by two of the best players around."

Charles chuckled. "We should have Caleb, Thomas, Henry and Mr Black on our team," Charles organised. "Then we know that we all have Lavinia's best interests at heart and that she won't be in any danger. We can intervene in any bad throws."

"I agree," Edward said. "About Mr Black, I am glad you took my advice and accepted the fact that Lavinia may have suitors and that you cannot avoid them all."

"She had more than just Mr Black, I can assure you," Charles admitted. "I chose him as the lesser of several evils."

"He seems a sensible man," Edward said. He had seen his sister's attempt at modesty when he had mentioned Mr Black to her but he knew that men did not simply go on outings with women they were vaguely interested in.

"We should get some sleep," Charles yawned as he set down his finished glass. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

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So Lavinia's playing rounders in front of the ladies of the ton? How terrifying would that be!

So I'm trying to finish this book for Wednesday so it's ready in time for the Watty Awards so I would really appreciate people's votes and comments.

Thank you!