“Perhaps.” She looked out over the fields toward the folly. “Parents deserve our understanding, I think… At the very least, our kindest interpretation of their faults.”
The unmistakable whirr of an arrow in flight interrupted Giles’s response. Rayne’s arrow landed with athud.
“Right through the center,” Farring said loudly. “May I compliment you on the position you chose?”
“See?” Rayne looked down at Julia. “Clearly, I chose the better spot.”
Julia gasped. “You had luck. That was all.”
“Your turn, Lady Katherine.” Farring cleared his throat. “Might I suggest a pliant bow?”
Markham snorted.
“That one,” Katherine nodded toward Farring as she spoke under her breath, “likes to stir up trouble.”
“Like a cook’s favorite spoon,” Giles replied. “I think I’ll aid his efforts.” He led Katherine back toward the basket of bows. As they passed Julia and Rayne, he called, “You’re very good, Rayne. Perhaps we should call you Circles instead of Diamonds.”
“Diamonds?” Julia asked. “Why do they call you Diamonds?”
Giles spoke in Katherine’s ear. “Let him explain that.”
Katherine ignored the rush caused by Bromton’s baritone whisper. “Why,exactly, is he called Diamonds?”
“His wealth, of course,” Giles replied.
“Yes, but Markham implied the names refer to—” Katherine stopped abruptly and blushed.
“And so they do.” Giles lowered his voice. “Rayne lavishes expensive gifts on his lovers.”
She glanced at Julia. “If I’d known, I never would have allowed her to be on his team.”
“You needn’t worry,” Giles replied. “He’s always chosen paramours of experience. Julia’s behavior bears all the telltale signs of harmless, youthful adoration.”
“Adoration?” Katherine scrunched up her nose. “Julia loathes him.”
Giles shrugged, unconvinced. “No matter how she feels, I can assure you Rayne will not expose her to anything improper. If he did, he would have me to answer to.” Giles straightened his waistcoat. “I will not allow any harm to come to Julia. That, my dear, is a promise.”
Katherine raised her brows. “You’ve honestly come to care for Julia?”
“Of course,” Giles replied. “I’ve never had a sister before. I find I quite like the idea.”
“What of Lord Rayne’s sister?” Katherine asked carefully.
Giles held his breath for a moment, looking into her eyes. “There is esteem between Lady Clarissa and me, nothing more. And there never has been anything more.”
Katherine exhaled, and nodded.
“Julia…” Giles called, while still holding Katherine’s gaze, “I’ve just been informing your sister how much I’m going to enjoy being part of this family.”
“Best of luck.” Markham snorted. “This family is a grave responsibility.”
Farring pushed up his glasses. “As my father says, an honorable man is beholden to his family, as a tenant to a lord, and a lord to a tenant.”
“Would you agree with that statement?” Rayne directed his question to Bromton.
A subtle tension tightened Giles’s features. “Anyone who recklessly pursues self-interest would lose my respect, of course. To deny fealty to the social order is the very definition of decay.”
“The very definition ofdecay?” Katherine blinked.
