Chapter 7

Later that week, the Bridgertons sent out invitations for a neighborhood-wide summer cookout.

The subdivision where they lived had over a dozen families in addition to the Sharmas, and the Bridgertons' expansive backyard had over an acre of beautiful green grass with evergreen trees and a small lake just beyond. Right behind their house, they had a large deck and pergola that was fitted out with a huge 12-person patio table set and built-in grill and an outdoor kitchen. The place was ideal for a summer cookout, and since the weather was supposed to be sunny and beautiful over the weekend, that was the best time to have one.

And Edwina, for one, was extremely excited.

"I've never bought a halter top before, but when Mae and I went to the shops, she said I could really pull it off," Edwina said with a grin, adjusting the strap of her pale green halter top with a cute floral pattern on the base. The shirt paired with a white floaty maxi skirt and bohemian sandals gave her a gorgeous, beachy vibe. "Does it look good, Kate? Be honest."

"You look very pretty, Edwina. Just as I told you half a dozen times back at home," Kate grinned and rolled her eyes at her little sister. The two of them and Mary were currently walking across their yard toward the Bridgerton's property, where they could see the cookout already underway. Dozens of their neighbors milled around, chatting and laughing with each other on the deck while all the children ran around together nearby on the grass.

"Maybe you should stop worrying about how you look and just focus on having fun today?" Kate suggested.

"Can't I do both?" Edwina smirked, hooking her arm through Kate's. "You look very cute today too, by the way."

Kate had just opted for cutoff jean shorts, a purple t-shirt, and high tops with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. It was very much a 'summer backyard barbeque' outfit – Kate sort of wished she had the confidence to style a cute summer outfit like her sister, but Edwina was always the more fashionable one. Kate had always been the more athletic one, especially when it came to horseback riding.

Kate had never particularly cared about how she looked to other people. At least, not before Anthony Bridgerton came into her life.

She was almost annoyed with herself at how much she was thinking about him. Since their conversation at Aubrey Farm a few days ago, the two of them hadn't talked at all, and her feelings toward him were more confused than ever. He had essentially told her that he wasn't interested in Edwina, and then proceeded to insinuate that there was someone else he may have been interested in… namely, herself.

Kate grimaced. A part of her wished he had been clearer, but another part of her – the part that was admittedly more nervous and insecure – didn't want him to be clearer. Why would someone like Anthony Bridgerton be into someone like her? Anthony was handsome, rich, kind, and charming: he could choose to be with whatever supermodel he wanted. Why would he even look twice at a girl like Kate?

We both like horse riding. That's something we have in common, I s'pose.

Having common interests didn't necessarily mean attraction, though. Maybe he wanted to be friends with her? Someone who could ride horses with him sometimes, perhaps? That certainly would have been more believable than him being attracted to her, though that thought didn't necessarily make Kate feel better. In fact, it kind of made her feel like a fool.

Kate quickly tried to shake off her confusing thoughts as she, Edwina, and Mary all walked into the Bridgertons backyard, where the party was underway. Mrs. Bridgerton and Mrs. Danbury were standing and chatting with each other on the deck nearby, both looking very summer-y in long flowy dresses and sun hats while holding daiquiris in their hands. They both looked up and smiled at the Sharmas as they approached.

"Hi! Thanks for coming," Mrs. Bridgerton said brightly, moving forward to kiss Mary on the cheek and smile down at Kate and Edwina. "Please, feel free to grab something to eat and mingle for a bit. I think the kids are going to take out the pall mall set for a little friendly match soon."

"Well that sounds like fun," Mrs. Danbury smiled. "I might have to watch that – the Bridgerton siblings are infamously competitive!"

"Oh, please Agatha. My children might be competitive, but they are not quite so bloodthirsty," Mrs. Bridgerton chuckled. "They're all around here somewhere… oh look, there's Anthony and Daphne over there."

Kate looked over, noticing Anthony and Daphne standing about twenty yards away and chatting with a handsome guy who was, quite possibly, even more good-looking than Anthony.

"Why don't you two go and say hello while I stay here with Violet and Agatha?" Mary suggested, smiling at her daughters. "Try to have some fun. But not too much fun – I don't want you drinking today, Edwina."

Edwina balked. "But Mum, I'm eighteen!"

"Absolutely not," Mary said firmly.

Before Edwina could protest anymore, Kate grasped her sister by the elbow and tugged her away, grinning.

"She's no fun," Edwina pouted as they walked away. "I'm of age, and she's here with us! Why can't she let me have one drink?"

"Because the last time you were day-drinking, you got sick all over your own shoes," Kate explained, smirking at her sister. "Mary and I remember it all too vividly."

"I didn't realize my tolerance was so low. I just need to learn how to pace myself, that's all," Edwina grimaced, embarrassed. "Not even a daiquiri then?"

Kate simply laughed. Before Edwina could say anything else, they were waved down by Anthony and Daphne.

"Hey guys! Glad you could make it," Daphne smiled at the two sisters as they approached. She looked very cute today in a light blue romper and flip-flops. "Anthony was wondering if you were going to show."

"I was? I seem to remember you were the one asking if the Sharmas were coming," Anthony smirked at his sister. Kate couldn't help but stare at him: he looked really good today in board shorts and a white t-shirt with an open blue cotton flannel rolled up to the elbows. He was nursing a beer, and when he glanced over at Kate from behind his shades, she couldn't help but meet his gaze with a blush.

"Kate, Edwina… I don't believe you've met my boyfriend yet," Daphne said, gesturing to the handsome stranger beside her. "Simon, these are our next-door neighbors, Kate and Edwina Sharma."

"Hi, nice to meet you," Simon smiled politely at the two of them, reaching over to shake their hands. "I've heard a lot about you two."

"He has, but mostly about Kate," Daphne amended with a grin, looking over at her boyfriend. "She's the one giving Eloise riding lessons over at Aubrey Farm."

"And making me feel inferior about my own riding abilities," Anthony noted before taking a swig of his beer. The others laughed.

"Well, who am I to contradict that assessment?" Kate asked, crossing her arms with a smirk.

"I dunno how Kate does it," Edwina said, grinning at her sister. "She's a complete natural when it comes to horse riding, but I can barely come within five feet of horses without them rearing up at me."

"Oh my God, me too!" Daphne laughed. "I never understood Anthony's affinity with them either. I guess you have to be born with the magic touch or something."

"So you're basically saying I'm just more naturally gifted than you, Daff?" Anthony smirked at his sister. "About time you admit to the truth."

"Oh please. Are you just conveniently forgetting the pall mall game from last year?" Daphne asked snidely, crossing her arms. "And the year before that?"

"What's pall mall?" Kate asked, remembering Mrs. Bridgerton and Mrs. Danbury mentioning something about it earlier.

"It's a lawn game, sort of like croquet," Anthony explained. "Each player gets a different color mallet and ball, and hits them through numbered wickets."

"Whoever gets their ball through all the wickets in the least amount of hits wins," Daphne said, and then she grinned. "And I am the unequivocal champion."

"It's true. She's really good," Simon smiled down at his girlfriend, and she practically preened.

"Oh, get a room, you two," Anthony rolled his eyes, and the others laughed.

"Anthony, your mum mentioned something about you guys starting up a game of pall mall today," Edwina piped up. "Kate and I would love to play. Wouldn't we Kate?"

"It does sound like fun," Kate agreed.

"Yes, let's play!" Daphne said excitedly, bouncing on her toes as she looked over at Simon. "I'll never pass up an opportunity to show up Anthony at pall mall."

"Did someone say we were showing up Anthony at pall mall?"

Eloise now approached them, grinning brightly, and she was followed by a neighbor girl Kate recognized as Penelope Featherington. "I'm definitely in!"

"Is this 'gang up on Anthony' day or something?" Anthony grumbled. However, Daphne wasn't listening as she had already turned and hurried toward a nearby shed where the pall mall set was clearly stored.

"C'mon!" she called to the others over her shoulder. Eloise and Penelope laughed before following her.

Edwina turned to Kate. "I guess we're playing pall mall," she said with a grin, and Kate grinned back, shaking her head.

"I guess so," she laughed, and they all ran after Daphne to pick out their mallets.

~/~

Nearly an hour of playing pall mall, and Kate couldn't remember the last time she had had more fun.

Granted, she was winning, which greatly added to her enjoyment. Her natural athletic ability came in handy and she was able to hit her ball through the wickets quite easily. Anthony and Daphne were both close behind her in points, whereas Edwina, after having fallen behind a bit, decided to just goof around with Eloise and Penelope. Simon was lagging behind Anthony and Daphne since he wasn't very competitive in the first place, and he clearly was just here for his girlfriend.

"Yes!" Kate cheered as she hit her ball through the fifth wicket from over ten feet away. She lifted her mallet in the air and jumped around. "I am so going to win!"

"Beginner's luck," Anthony sneered, moving over to his own ball to hit through the same wicket. "Or perhaps just from stealing my mallet."

Kate merely chuckled as she perched the black mallet on her shoulder. She hadn't realized it when she picked it, but this was apparently Anthony's favorite mallet, which he had affectionately nicknamed "the mallet of death" according to Eloise. Anthony had been passive-aggressively salty toward Kate about it, especially since he wound up with the baby pink one. But that only added to Kate's amusement.

"I don't know what you mean," Kate teased when Anthony hit his ball, also sending it through the wicket.

"Good job Anthony!" Edwina cheered from several yards behind them. Eloise and Penelope from beside her, pretending to nudge and push each other with their mallets while giggling.

"At least one of us has got a cheerleader," Daphne smirked, moving over to hit her own ball through the wicket. She was close, but the ball bounced off the edge of the wicket at the last second.

"Great effort, Daff! Whoo!" Simon called out enthusiastically, pumping his fist in the air. The others laughed.

"Oh shut up and take your shot," Daphne sneered at her boyfriend, grinning.

Simon lined up so he could hit his ball through the wicket, and Anthony moved over so he was standing beside Kate. "If we end up playing a round two, I'm preemptively calling the mallet of death."

"So you already know you're about to lose this round, then?" Kate asked, raising her eyebrows at him with a smirk. Anthony shot her a look.

"Just ensuring you don't win the next one," he countered, quirking an eyebrow at her. Kate simply smiled.

"Whose turn is it now?" Daphne asked once Simon made his shot, which he had missed.

"It's mine!" Edwina called from her spot near Penelope and Eloise, who were still goofing off together. Edwina lined up her shot, readying herself to hit the ball.

Eloise, who had been knocking her mallet against Penelope's, playfully pushed her friend back with the head of the mallet. Penelope laughed as she stumbled back slightly, clearly not realizing Edwina was right behind her.

Penelope fell into Edwina, causing Edwina to stumble forward and accidentally release the mallet mid-swing; it soared through the air while spinning around rapidly. Before anyone could properly react, the heavy wooden mallet head struck Kate in her right knee, causing her to buckle.

"OW!" Kate immediately collapsed to the ground, clutching her knee and squeezing her eyes shut. The pain immediately zinged through her kneecap and up toward her thigh.

"Kate!" Anthony fell down to her side while the others rushed over to her. "Oh my God, Kate! Are you alright!?"

"Kate, I'm so sorry!" Edwina cried earnestly, looking horrified as she came to a stop beside her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Kate said, gasping slightly in pain as she clutched her knee tighter.

"Kate… oh my God, I am so sorry," Eloise covered her mouth with her hand, looking devastated at her mistake. "Pen and I were just goofing around. It was an accident, I swear!"

"Maybe you should pay more attention next time," Anthony snapped tersely at Eloise. He looked tense and angry, and perhaps even a little pale, and Kate gave him a commiserating look.

"Don't be mean to her. I know it was just an accident," she said to him placatingly, but Anthony just looked at her, his jaw clenched.

"An accident that could've been prevented," he responded stiffly. "We should go inside to get your knee looked at."

"Yeah that's probably a good idea," Kate agreed, looking over at Daphne and Simon, who were standing nearby and watching in concern. "Can one of you help me up…?"

Before she could finish, however, Kate felt someone suddenly slide their arms underneath her body and lift her into their arms. Anthony was now carrying her, and Kate looked at him in surprise before quickly wrapping her arms around his shoulders so she wouldn't fall.

"Anthony, what're you –?" she sputtered, unsure of what to say. Anthony ignored her, however, as he began to carry her toward the house.

"You're not walking with a knee injury," he said to her firmly. "That's final. And can one of you put away the pall mall set? The game's over."


A/N: Of course I had to include the pall mall game :) What do you think's going to happen next?

Please review and comment! I love to hear your thoughts.