“Ah,” Rob said with a nod. “An intriguing puzzle but not a prospect for marriage.”
Aubrey grinned. “I have no intention of marrying someone who will do nothing but cast me withering looks. Should there not be a glimmer of affection even if there is no love match?”
“Well, you both share a love of birds. Perhaps she will warm up to you because of that.”
“I’m not sure what she’s doing,” Aubrey said, frowning, “but she isn’t watching birds.”
The remark surprised Rob. “Seriously? What do you think she is up to, then?”
“I have no idea. Spying on someone, perhaps. Bird watching is just a ruse to allow her to march around with binoculars in hand and not raise any suspicions.”
“Truly?”
Aubrey nodded.
Rob scratched his head. “She had me fooled. She claims to be chairwoman of some fancy ornithological society in Lower Bramble.”
“And who’s to question her?” Aubrey snorted. “Who knows if the society or the village even exist?”
“Truly? Do you think something clandestine is going on with her? Should I say something to Bromleigh? This is his home and his party, after all.”
Aubrey shook his head. “No, I don’t think she is going to cause trouble. In all likelihood, she concocted this bird-watching ruse to give herself an excuse to march off into the woods whenever convenient to avoid unwanted attention from the eligible bachelors. That she walks around with her binoculars could just mean she wants a wider view of her surroundings so she can see us coming from a distance and run off before we find her.”
“I see.” Yes, that was the most likely reason.
“Quite clever of her, really,” Aubrey mused.
Rob agreed.
“Ah, look,” Aubrey said, pointing toward the lawn where the contestants had been playing archery a short while ago. “Pershing is awake and now wandering off in the wrong direction. Perhaps I had better go after him before he stumbles into the pond and drowns.”
But Gawain must have been thinking the same thing, for he sent one of his footmen after the wastrel to escort him back onto the terrace, where others had now gathered for cakes, tea, and lemonade.
Fiona was among that crowd, smiling and chatting away as though she were having a grand time.
Aubrey smacked his hands to his thighs and rose. “We had better join them before our hosts come after us with hatchets. There’s an open seat by Lady Eloise Barclay. I think I’ll start there. What about you, Durham?”
A gentle breeze blew off the water and rustled through the trees that provided them a most comfortable shade where they were seated. But Rob rose, too. “I’ll start with Lady Millicent Randall.”
“Why? Because she is seated closest to Lady Shoreham?”
Actually, he had not been thinking of that at all.
Or perhaps he had been doing so unconsciously.
“All right, scrap Lady Millicent. I’ll start with Lady Anne Hastings.” Gad, she looked to be not at all promising. Yes, she had lovely golden hair that shone a rich hue under the sun, and very pretty blue eyes that appeared to have a small depth of intelligence, but there was a smugness about her that put him off. She knew she was beautiful and expected this to be enough for any man.
Or perhaps he was merely being peevish because Fiona was forcing him to look at other women when he only had eyes for her.
“Did you enjoy this morning’s lawn games, Lady Anne?” he asked a little later, trying not to look reluctant as he settled beside her.
“Yes, quite. But you did not join in, Your Grace.”
“I preferred to stand back and watch you lovely ladies.”
Was this not the tritest line? He really needed to put more thought into his conversation.
But the young lady seemed to preen under the compliment. “Then you are forgiven,” she said, flashing him a flirtatious smile.
