pointed to where a crowd had gathered around to watch men playing a bat and ball game.
“Yes, it is. A popular game for men.”
“I saw it played once in England I think, but it was some distance away.”
“Shall we watch it for a while?” She headed to the boundary of the field. “My father very much enjoyed playing cricket. He was considered rather good at it too as a young man. He would often allow me to take part when he had a game with his pupils. Naturally, my mother was appalled by the idea, but Father said girls had just as much energy as boys.”
They weaved through the crowd to get close to the action. One of the batsmen hit the ball high, sailing it over the fielders’ heads. The throng cheered.
“Why Nicola, look who the batsmen are.” Meg laughed, coming up alongside. “It’s Mr West and his friend Mr Lombard.”
Nicola peered. The middle of the pitch, where the two men stood talking, was a good distance away, but as one of the men raised his head to grin at something the other said, Nicola instantly knew it was Nathaniel. She watched avidly as the men took their positions again and the bowler ran and sent his delivery down the pitch. Nathaniel hit it comfortably, the pleasant sounding crack of leather on willow echoed to them. The ball raced away for the boundary once more and he and Lombard ran between the wickets.
“He’s awfully good,” Warner murmured.
Nicola nodded, not trusting herself to speak. There was something about watching Nathaniel being so physical that stirred a primal need deep within her. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.
From out in the middle of the field, the umpire signalled a halt to the proceedings and all the men came off to have a cool drink and sit in the shade of nearby trees. Nathaniel stood only ten yards away, drinking out of a tankard and laughing with a group of friends. She’d never seen him like this. Before he’d always been immaculately dressed, but today his billowy white shirt gaped out from his pale moleskin trousers, his dark sweat-dampened hair clung to his forehead and his knee high boots had mud stains on them.
As if some unseen force made him aware of her presence, he turned his head and stared straight at her. Nicola forgot to breathe.
“Miss Douglas?”
Nicola blinked as Warner lightly touched her arm. “Um…pardon?”
“I said, I hoped you do not mind my interference, Miss Douglas?”
“Interference?” Her numbed mind didn’t understand a word he was saying.
“About the charity ball.”
“Oh. Oh, I see. Sorry.” She forced herself to look away from Nathaniel and at Mr Warner. “No, I don’t mind. Not at all.”
“It is my desire to help.”
“Yes, and it is most welcome.”
“Shall we continue walking?” As they stepped away from the gathering, he took her hand and gently placed it over his arm. “I felt setting the Home up as a charity complete with a board and patrons would lessen your work and responsibilities, but I apologise that so far it has done none of that.”
Nicola looked back over her shoulder at Nathaniel and found his attentions were focused on two young women within his group. The pain of that was unexpected, but soon overcome as Warner smiled down at her. “You are kind to think of me, Mr Warner. However, the responsibilities were never a concern to me. I enjoy my role and am thankful everyday for Mr Belfroy’s trust and employment.”
“Do you wish to do this forever?”
She shrugged one shoulder and adjusted the hold of her parasol. “Forever is a long time.”
“Do you think of having a husband and family?” His fingers softly caressed hers.
She removed her hand from his arm, alarmed that she liked his caress. What was wrong with her? First Nathaniel and now Warner. Was there some hidden wanton inside her just waiting to escape? Had the years of spinsterhood now made her man crazy? Perhaps she needed to steer clear of them both? She stopped to admire the view, her thoughts churning.
“You are uncomfortable with this subject?” He stood very close.
“There are some moments when I think of those things, but usually I am too busy to consider my own private future.” Nicola sighed and stared down at her pale green and white striped skirt, bought only last week at Meg’s horrified insistence because apparently, Mr Warner had seen all of Nicola’s clothes at least twice over. “The day is too beautiful to talk