The Unlikely Lady(6)

Daphne sighed. “I’m afraid I can’t tell. But suffice it to say, I have good reasons for wanting to shoot him.”

“A lady of mystery? I like that.” Lucy nodded slowly.

“Him?” Jane arched a brow. “That’s the part I like.”

Daphne gave her a small smile and a shrug.

Jane watched the girl. Daphne was a tiny little blond thing with a plethora of energy. She’d made her come-out last year and suffered a horrible bout of sadness after her elder brother died the following autumn. It was impossible not to like Daphne. “Pretending to shoot at men or not, I’m pleased you’re out today, Daphne. The fresh air is good for you,” Jane said.

“I must thank you both for making me smile, and laugh. It’s been so long,” Daphne replied, a faraway look in her sparkling gray eyes.

Lucy crossed over the lawn and gave her a quick hug. “My dear Daphne. We’re happy to make you laugh. In fact, it’s our specialty. Besides, we’re practically sisters. You’re one of us. Jane and I love Cass as dearly as if she were our sister.”

“Thank you, Jane and Lucy.” Daphne’s mouth quirked up in a shy smile. “I couldn’t be happier to have Cass joining our family. Mother and I adore her.”

“Julian too,” Lucy replied with a wink.

“Of course,” Daphne agreed. “Julian too.”

Jane faced the bull’s-eye again, pulled back the bow, closed one eye, and let it fly. Another direct hit. It nearly split the previous arrow in two. “Take that, Lord Bartholomew.”

“Well done,” Lucy said.

Daphne clapped her hands. “Why, the only other person I’ve seen shoot an arrow so precisely is Captain Cavendish.”

Jane and Lucy exchanged a glance over Daphne’s head. Daphne had mentioned Captain Rafferty Cavendish, her brothers’ friend who had been with Donald when he died, on several occasions of late.

“How is Captain Cavendish doing, dear?” Lucy strolled to where Daphne stood near Jane.

“All better, or so he says. He’s recovered from his wounds in such short order, the doctors are amazed.”

“Will he be able to attend the wedding?” Lucy prodded while Jane readied another arrow.

“I do hope—I mean, I think so.” Daphne tugged at her gown.

“You’re not peeved at him, are you, dear?” Lucy ventured.

Jane took a quick look at Daphne. The poor girl was blushing.

“No, wait. Don’t answer,” Lucy continued. “I’d hate to deprive you of your mystery.”

Daphne’s shoulders relaxed. “Thank you.”

“One more and then you can try, Daphne,” Jane said. She lined up the arrow and let go. Again, the missile whipped through the air and hit the bull’s-eye in the center.

“Imagining anyone’s head? Not mine, I hope,” came a sarcastic male voice.

Jane lowered the bow and swung around to watch the man heading across the lawn toward them. She narrowed her eyes as he approached. “If you care to stand in as my target, Upton, that can easily be arranged.”

Lucy pulled up her skirts, and rushed to greet her cousin. “Garrett, I’m so glad you’re here. I worried you wouldn’t get away in time for the house party.”

Garrett greeted Daphne before he replied to his cousin. “I rearranged some things on my schedule.”

“Ah, a wonder. Who knew drinking and gambling were so easily rearranged?” Jane gave him a tight smile. She caught Daphne’s gaze and rolled her eyes. Daphne giggled.

“It’s nice to see you, too, Miss Lowndes,” Garrett replied. “I’ll forgo standing in as your target, as tempting as that offer is. I see you have your ever-present book.”

Jane squinted at the spot on the grass where she’d placed her book. “I’m surprised you recognized it, Upton, you not being a reader.”

Daphne stepped closer to Jane and took the bow from her hands while Jane made her way over and scooped up her book.

“Reading is quite overrated if you ask me, Miss Lowndes. Besides, you do enough reading for both of us,” Upton replied. “What is it you’re reading this time?”

Jane gripped the book. “It’s Montague’s Treatise on the History of Handwriting and Graphology, if you must know.”

“Good God, that sounds every bit as dull as I expected,” Upton shot back.

Hands on her hips, Lucy glanced between the two of them. “You two, don’t start. We’re here for Cass and Julian’s wedding, I’ll have you remember, and we have a sennight to get along and enjoy ourselves before the festivities. Let’s start off on a good foot, shall we?”