Now it was time to put her self-obsessed brooding over why Bramstone Nightingale was angry with her aside and focus on her cousin.
The note that she’d found under her door said that Thea had a problem. It also said she desperately needed to discuss it with Ivy tonight. To ensure they had total privacy, Thea had begged Ivy to come to the archery targets. Her cousin was never on time anywhere, so Ivy had brought her quiver. She could practice while she waited.
Had someone hurt Thea? The thought had Ivy running down the steps that would take her outside.
Most of the guests would be in their beds by now, so they would have privacy.
“At least the moon is high,” she muttered, stomping to where the archery targets were. The air was crisp and cool, but she liked the bite to it. It cleared her head.
Worry that someone had hurt Thea had her picking up her skirts and hurrying. She would deal with them if that was the case. Thea was sweet, open, and honest, and she would not have her dreams for the season shattered as Ivy’s had been.
Her feet made crunching sounds on the shell path as she ran. Panic had her bursting through the opening at the end as thoughts tumbled through her head over the fate Thea was facing. She found only the targets awaiting her. She stopped to haul in a large breath. Her cousin had yet to arrive.
Lowering the quiver to the ground, Ivy decided to shoot a few arrows to calm herself. As she prepared to shoot, the thwack of an arrow hitting a target had her spinning.
Bram stood there.
“What are you doing here?”
“I thought to get in some practice. It seems you had the same thought.”
He didn’t approach her, and she couldn’t read anything in his expression, as he was too far away.
“I am to meet someone.”
“Why Miss Birdwhistle, how very forward of you.”
“N-Not like that! Not a man,” she added, realizing how her words had sounded.
“I am relieved.” He moved a few feet closer so he stood before the next target.
“Go away.” Ivy turned away from him.
“Whoever shoots closest to the center of that target stays.”
Was he meeting a woman here? The thought actually made her stomach roll. Which was foolish, as she had no right to feel anything for this man.
“If you are scared I will beat you—”
“I am not,” she interrupted him. “I will beat you, then you will leave.”
“Can you even see the target? It is still set up for women, but it is dark.”
Ivy nodded. Her eyes had adjusted. She raised her bow.
“But the moon is high, so perhaps you will be all right. Ladies first,” he added.
“Shut up,” she snapped. “I can’t focus with you speaking.”
His chuckle was low and ran up and down her spine. Even the man’s laugh disturbed her.Damn him.
Ivy’s shawl kept getting in the way.
“If I may suggest—”
“You may not!” She threw it off.
“When you lose, do not be too hard on yourself. I am, after all, a man.”
