“You get that look on your face every time you see her,” Preston said, amusement lacing his words. “You poor bastard.”
“Fuck off,” Harrison muttered—and the stranger next to him gasped before edging away, horrified.
“Nice fucking manners, Archer,” Preston murmured.
“It’s your fucking fault,” Harrison shot back, a smile tugging at his lips while his gaze remained locked on Maddie. He and his friends hadn’t ever played by the rules of polite society, so no use pretending now.
Maddie and Valentine Livingston descended the stairs, followed by another woman holding a racket and an older man. Maddie’s expression was calm and resolute as she listened to whatever her coach was telling her. Last-minute advice of some kind, no doubt. Farther behind lingered two men, the guards Harrison had hired, following Maddie discreetly, keeping her safe.
“I told you they were good,” Preston said, tilting his chin toward the guards. “She’ll have no idea they’re even here.”
Excellent. Harrison was having his brother watched, as well, and he’d been informed that Thomas was still in New York. Hiring guards for Maddie might prove unnecessary, but Harrison wouldn’t relax until the tournament ended.
He watched her stride smoothly toward the court and soaked in every bit of her appearance, from the cap to keep the sun out of her eyes, to her white shirtwaist and skirt. There was purpose and confidence in her gait. She was here to win, no doubt about it.
The players readied themselves and the judge climbed into the high chair. The two guards edged to the front of the opposite side of the court, well within reach of Maddie. Vallie walked over to their side, so Harrison lowered the netting for him to climb over.
Vallie straightened and shook Harrison’s hand. “Good to see you, Archer. Fine day for tennis, isn’t it?”
“Indeed, it is.” He introduced Preston, then asked Vallie, “Think she’ll win?”
The other man smirked. “Of course I do.”
“How are you so calm?”
“Because I am her coach, not her husband. Don’t worry, Archer. Your wife plays better than any woman I’ve encountered. She’s aggressive and hits hard. You’ll see.”
The judge announced the players, and the crowd applauded. Hearing the words “Madeline Webster Archer” made Harrison grin, despite his morose mood. She’s mine. No matter what else happens, she’s mine.
After a quick warm-up, the match started. Soon, Harrison understood what Vallie meant about Maddie’s style of play. The other woman lobbed the ball, hitting mostly up, like badminton, instead of forward, which slowed the game down. Maddie hit only forward, with spin and accuracy, the way she always did, her feet moving quickly. Her opponent couldn’t keep pace.
The crowd clapped and cheered as she continued to dominate. If Maddie heard the surrounding noise, she gave no indication of it. Her focus was entirely on the game and her opponent. She hadn’t even looked in Harrison’s direction.
In the end, Maddie won it handily in two sets, 6–1 and 6–2. Harrison clapped loudly while Preston put his fingers in his mouth and whistled.
Vallie nudged him on the shoulder. “See what I mean?”
“I never noticed it before.”
“Because you’re used to the way she plays.”
True. “Do the other women here play the same way?”
“One or two. She’ll meet them in the later rounds.”
Maddie came rushing over and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Oh, my goodness. I won!”
He buried his face in her hair, relieved to be holding her again. “Of course you did, sweetheart. Congratulations.”
She stepped over to speak to Vallie, and Preston quickly congratulated her as well. Harrison had never seen her look happier. “I can’t believe it. That was so easy,” she said.
“They won’t all be that easy,” Vallie said. “But enjoy your victory tonight. You were outstanding.”
“We’ll go to dinner to celebrate,” Harrison said. “All of us.”
“I already have plans,” Vallie said. “But thank you for the offer. Just make certain she’s in bed at a reasonable hour, Archer.”
“Valentine!” Maddie’s cheeks grew more flushed than when she was playing.
“I will,” Harrison said and kissed her hand. “Don’t worry.”
Vallie hopped over the netting once more and onto the court. “I’ll take her back to the clubhouse, and then go observe some of the other matches. I want to see the competition.”
Harrison nodded and told Maddie, “I’ll wait for you by the door.”
Maddie and her coach departed for the clubhouse, where Maddie would change and store her equipment. The guards followed at a reasonable distance and Harrison exhaled in relief.
The crowd had now dispersed, and Maddie’s mother and father soon found them.
“Hello, Mrs. Webster, Mr. Webster,” Harrison said, pumping the older man’s hand. “She was outstanding today, wasn’t she?”
“Best she has ever played,” her father said, a broad smile overtaking his face.
Even Maddie’s mother looked pleased from under the shade of her parasol. “I cannot understand the appeal of the sport, but she certainly seemed in command of the game.”
“Match, dear,” Mr. Webster said, patting his wife’s hand. “Game, set, match.”
“We’re taking her out tonight to celebrate,” Harrison said to the Websters as they started for the clubhouse. “I hope you’ll both join us.”
“We’d like that,” Mr. Webster said. “It’ll be nice to see how you and our daughter are settling into marriage.”
The undercurrent was not lost on Harrison. They were still unhappy over the circumstances of their daughter’s marriage, not that Harrison could blame them. Compromising her and forcing a marriage hadn’t been his intention, either. However, once they saw him and Maddie together, he knew they would come around.
They all strolled toward the clubhouse. A large crowd was gathered out front, so their group waited in the back, off to the side. He relaxed, knowing he would spot her as soon as she came outside.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Maddie’s heart continued to race long after she changed out of her tennis clothes and into an afternoon dress. Playing in a tournament was exhilarating—and winning was even better.
After her maid, Siobhan, helped her dress, she chatted a few minutes with Vallie. Then a reporter asked for a few moments of her time to comment on the match, so Vallie left to watch the other players. When the interview ended, Maddie and Siobhan went outside.
A crowd of people loitered in the shade directly in the front of the clubhouse. She twisted and turned, sliding between bodies to get through, accepting congratulations on her win as she went. She didn’t stop to chat, however. Harrison, Preston and her parents were here somewhere, and hopefully they hadn’t gone far.
She’d loved having Harrison at the match. He’d cheered the loudest, his whistles deafening. She had played hard, wanting to make him proud. A fluttering began in her chest, the burning need to tell him of her feelings.