“If you are sure…” Lily took a deep breath, seeming anything but certain as she chewed the inside of her cheek.
“Here, allow me to show you just how easy it is.” He handed her the bat before stepping behind her and positioning her in front of the wickets. He carefully placed his arms around her and pulled her closer to his chest. “Now, remember that your bat is your main line of defense, not only for your wickets, but for yourself.”
Lily nodded, causing her hair to brush against his cheek.
The soft scent of lavender made him pause for a moment as he inhaled quietly and shut his eyes. She smelled like a garden in spring after the rain had come to wash away the old and usher in the new. It felt so right to have her in his arms, almost as if he never wanted to let her go ever again.
“Like this?” she asked, forcing his eyes open.
Clearing his throat, Julian came back to his senses and focused on the task at hand. “Yes, exactly like that. You want to angle your body away from the wickets like this.” He placed his hands on her hips, recalling the day he had helped her from her horse. She had distracted him then as well.
Lily did as she was told and held the bat at an angle, arching her back slightly as she pressed into his chest.
“Perfect…” He almost stuttered, loving the feel of her in his arms. Her skin was as soft as silk and almost as pale as the petals of a peach rose. “What you want to do is keep your eyes on the ball. Never mind what anyone else is saying or doing. Just watch the ball coming toward you and swing when the moment is right.”
He flexed his arms, guiding her swing toward Eleanor at the other end of the field.
“May we start now?” Eleanor called impatiently, still tossing the ball in the air.
“Just a moment!” Julian yelled back before letting go of Lily and turning to face her. “In the event of hitting the ball, you must run as quickly as you can to your opponent's wickets and tap the tip of your bat at the base. Doing this multiple times will give us more points, but you must be certain that your opponent is not able to bowl you out.”
Lily’s face suddenly fell again. “This sounds like a lot. Julian, I am sure that someone else can…”
He shook his head and touched her cheek with the tips of his fingers. “You will do just fine. The most important part is to have fun. None of the rest really matters at the end of the day. I do not care if we win or lose. I simply want you to be yourself.”
Her lips curved into a sweet smile as she pushed her cheek into his palm. An almost familiar gesture that made his heart race.
“Best of luck.” He removed his hand and walked off to the side, where Arabella and the rest of the party stood waiting. “We shall have a few practice runs at first while the rest of us stand back!” he yelled to Eleanor and Lily.
“Are you certain that Eleanor should be bowling against Lily?” Benedict asked as he leaned in closer.
Julian nodded. “She will hold her own.” Doubt began to set in when Eleanor smirked and narrowed her eyes from across the field.
The first pitch was made, and Lily missed it by a mile.
“A swing and a miss!” Eleanor shouted triumphantly, eliciting a chuckle from Benedict, who shouted back.
“As noble as your efforts are, Miss Everet, I hesitate to remind you that you did not manage to hit the wickets!”
Eleanor’s face fell as she glared at Benedict.
Juliette began to clap as she steered the game back in the right direction. “It was a good start, ladies. Let us try again!” She nodded to Lily, who picked up the ball and threw it back.
It took Eleanor a moment to retrieve the ball, but when she did, Julian could see the determined look in her eyes as she shot Lily a cold look.
Perhaps I am imagining things.
He chewed the inside of his cheek thoughtfully as he paid close attention to every move that Miss Everet made.
Her stance was hostile and determined as she aimed low and bowled.
Julian’s heart began to pound as he suddenly realized that she was aiming for Lily’s legs. He wanted to shout, but to everyone’s great surprise, Lily swung her bat, hitting the ball with a loud crack as it went sailing through the air. Eleanor ducked just in time before turning and glaring at Lily.
A stunned silence filled the air until Juliette suddenly found her voice. “Run, Lily! Run!” She cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled.
Suddenly recalling what Julian had said, Lily and Eleanor both set off at the same time amidst the cheering. Lily in the direction of the opposite wickets, and Eleanor toward the ball.
“Run, Lily! I knew you could do it!” Julian laughed as he watched her go.