“For which we are all grateful,” Edmund quipped without missing a beat.

Dough cuffed his nephew with a laugh. “Rascal.”

John Winthrop looked in the direction of the laughter with a speculative expression. “Do all the ladies skate, Asheley?”

“Most of them,” Edmund informed him, shouldering his rifle with a grin. “The more proper of my female relations remain indoors, but all of my sisters do. And as for my cousins, Barbara, in particular, enjoys the activity.”

John’s expression remained the same, but he nodded firmly. “I rather enjoy it, as well. If I will not be missed, might I proceed there now that I have done shooting?”

“Of course.” Edmund nodded, gesturing towards the obvious path. “Take Davis with you, if you will. There are plenty of ladies that will require the arm of steady gentlemen while on the ice.”

John ignored this comment, but did take Davis, as well as his brother, Lord Winthrop, down the path.

Hugh watched them go, then turned to Edmund with a grin. “You knew how to spur him on, didn’t you?”

Edmund lifted a shoulder in a careless shrug. “It was a guess, to be sure, but I had some idea. Barbara is my favorite cousin, and it seems Mr. John Winthrop doesn’t consider a bluestocking to be such a poor candidate for his affections. I’ll leave the speculating to the ladies, but…”

“Well done, lad,” Dough praised with a laugh. “Well done, indeed.”

There was another burst of female laughter, and it made Hugh smile all the more broadly.

Edmund groaned, shaking his head. “That would be Elinor. No doubt Elizabeth or Ellen have fallen on the ice, and she finds entertainment in their injury.”

“Too harsh,” Dough reprimanded. “You laugh when they fall, too.”

“But I’m a brother,” Edmund pointed out. “It’s different.”

Hugh let the two men debate the topic while his ears strained for another peal of that laughter, whatever caused it.

As if he had willed it into existence, the laughter came again, this time joined by others. But he only heard hers, just as it had been with their singing that first night.

He only heard Elinor, and it made him smile all the more.

Chapter Seven

One may find a friend in the oddest of places, and at the most convenient times. It is advised that you cling to such friends and keep them close.

-The Spinster Chronicles, 25 February 1817

The ladies were all rosy-cheeked for some time after their traditional ice-skating excursion, but no one’s cheeks held more color than Barbara, who also had not stopped smiling since Mr. John Winthrop joined them on the ice.

Even looking at her cousin now, Elinor herself was quite simply full of smiles.

She had never seen Barbara looking like this, but no man had ever paid Barbara the sort of attention that Mr. John was, and everyone was beginning to notice.

Especially Letitia.

Glares had never been so potent in this family.