Ethelwyn is stuck in the middle

“That is amazing, Wyn,” Sophie said. “Simply fascinating. Tell me more.”

“Well, you see,” Ethelwyn said, “one has to measure everything beforehand. For every nine score acres—that is to say, sixty of wheat, sixty of spring seed, and sixty fallow—one needs one plough. And if one knows precisely—”

“But, Wyn,” Lili interrupted. “Sophie doesn’t care a fig about managing an estate. She’s only pretending to care so that she can flirt with you.”

“I am not!” Sophie gasped. “It’s truly quite fascinating.”

“Now, my lady,” Ethelwyn said, giving Lili’s hand a gentle pat, “I know flirting, and asking a man about keeping peasants honest is not flirting. It’s good business.”

Sophie scowled at Lili as soon as Ethelwyn’s head was turned. She knew that Lili meant to get Ethelwyn out talking to Ana, and Sophie was just as determined to keep him beside her on this couch. She wanted to keep the way clear for Stein, but there was the additional complication of Eadwyn, and Sophie was very sorry that she did not have a twin to occupy the latter.

“If you know flirting,” Lili grumbled, “I wish you would demonstrate it. We don’t get invited to parties to sit around and talk business.”

“Very well, then,” Ethelwyn said. “I shall flirt with Sophie instead.”

“No!” Lili cried. “Sophie is already married, and so am I, and so is Hetty,” she said with a wave of her hand towards her sister, who sat smiling at them on the opposite couch. “You must find an unmarried woman for your flirting.”

“Do you have one in mind?” Ethelwyn chuckled. “There are only two here: Her Highness the Princess and the Baron’s niece. I do not think I can presume to flirt with either of those ladies.”

“Nonsense!” Lili cried. “Perhaps not Her Highness, but you may certainly speak to Ana. Your grandfather was a lord, and her grandfather was a baron, so you’re practically equals.”

“Practically,” Ethelwyn sniffed.

“Near enough that you can flirt with her. I wish you would go. You are boring me with your business.”

Sophie could see Eadwyn standing beyond the pillars. His back was to her, but he was apparently not speaking to Ana just then. She could not see Ana from where she sat, but she thought the odds were good that Stein was with her. She had to keep Ethelwyn occupied.

“I don’t mind flirting with you, my dear,” Sophie said to him. “Married or not. My husband isn’t here, and you’re much prettier than he is.”

“Why, thank you, Sophie,” Ethelwyn said.

“What about the mistletoe, Wyn?” Lili interrupted. “Anyone may kiss anyone beneath mistletoe.”

“Does kissing count as flirting now?” he asked. “Decidedly the young ladies of today have some very interesting ideas.”

“You’re not so old yourself,” Lili scoffed. She rolled over onto her hip and tried to pull him to his feet by yanking on his sleeve. “Get up with you and go stand there a while. See what you catch. You may entertain your lady in that manner, rather than by talking wheat and seed with Sophie.”

Ethelwyn laughed and stood. “As my lady wishes.”

“And you stay here!” Lili threatened Sophie. “You and I shall sit here and talk about how nice he looks when he’s going.”

“So nice it makes me want to get up and go after him,” Sophie purred.

“Sophie!” Lili hissed, but Sophie was already on the move.