A Lady Never Tells(101)

“Yes, but I aimed for his back, which was a broad enough target.”

“He was running, and it was at some distance. You got his cap the first time.”

Camellia picked up the hat in question, turning it over in her hands and examining it. “Went clean through it,” she commented, sticking her finger in first one hole, then the other. “Hope it put a crease in his skull as well.”

Mary began to laugh. “Did you see the look on his face?”

Lily joined in. “I know! I bet he never thought a bunch of girls was going to pepper him with shot.”

“What about when you tried to crown him with the water jug?”

Soon all four were hooting with laughter, holding their sides and rocking, letting out another howl whenever they recalled some other moment. But their heads snapped up at the sound of something crashing through the shrubbery, and they turned toward the narrow path leading from the gardens to the tarn. In another instant, Royce hurtled into sight on the path. He was jacketless and hatless, and he carried a large stick in his hand as he bore down on them at full speed. Gradually he slowed, then stopped as he took in the picture of the four girls lounging on the blanket before him.

“What the devil is going on? I heard shots.” His words came out in pants.

Mary looked at the broken branch in his hand. “So you were going to fight him with a stick?”

He grimaced and tossed the branch aside. “It was the only thing at hand. I’d already left the house when I heard the shots. I was coming because they’d told me you had taken it into your heads to go picnicking at the tarn.” He scowled blackly.

“I was the one who fired,” Camellia said, hauling out a pistol to show him. “He didn’t have a gun. At least, I didn’t see one. I hit him once, but he got away.”

“So you were attacked!” His expression grew even more thunderous.

“Yes. I think it was the man from the inn,” Mary told him. “He was quite large, and he grabbed Rose, but we fought him off. Then Cam shot him. Twice.”

Her voice trailed off as Royce’s face turned to stone. The girls glanced at one another. Finally Camellia stepped forward, holding out the cap in mute offering to Royce. At that moment a gardener and one of Royce’s grooms came running into view. When they saw the group before them, they stopped, holding their sides and bending over to catch their breath.#p#分页标题#e#

Royce took the cap from Camellia without a word, but his eyes never left Mary’s face. Mary squared her shoulders. “Don’t blame them. It was my fault.”

“I have no doubt of that,” Royce retorted.

“That’s not true. We all wanted to come,” Rose protested, and Lily and Camellia echoed her words.

Royce shot the others a single flashing glance. “Get your things and go back to the house.” He turned. “Jarrett. Giddings. Take these girls straight home. Do not let them out of your sight.”

“Yessir.” The two men approached the sisters and waited. When the girls did not move, they cast an anxious glance at Royce, then at the sisters.

“Miss …” The gardener tugged at his cap and stepped back.

“We’re not leaving Mary.” Camellia folded her arms pugnaciously.

Before Royce could speak, Mary told her, “No, go. I’ll be fine.”

“But—”

“Trust me. It will be much better if Sir Royce and I have our discussion in private.”

All three of her sisters looked from Mary to Royce.

“The devil take it!” Royce burst out. “I’m not going to hurt her!”

Mary nodded encouragingly. “Go on.”

With a few last reluctant looks, the three young women trailed off, followed anxiously by the groom and the gardener. Mary watched them go, then turned back to Royce.

“Shooting at kidnappers,” he said almost conversationally, bending over to pick up the blanket. His gaze fell on the food basket, its side bashed in. He gave it a nudge with his foot. “Cracked this over his head, I imagine.”

“I tried. He was too tall.”

Royce let out a strange dry laugh. “Of course you did.” Savagely he kicked the basket, sending it flying. “Bloody hell, Mary! Have you no sense?”

Mary flinched at the sudden movement, but quickly regained her composure. “I assume that is a rhetorical question.”

“I told you to stay in the house!” He whirled to glare at her.

“No, actually, you did not; you said to tell you before we left on a jaunt,” Mary corrected him. She knew that she was goading him, but something in her wanted to continue doing it, to send his seething temper soaring. She was ready, almost eager, for the explosion. “But that is neither here nor there. We aren’t children to be ordered around. You cannot tell us what to do and expect us to blindly follow your commands.”