She snapped her teeth together to stop from yelling at him. Ivy had many failings, but the main one, according to her family, was her need to best everyone in competition.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening them, she let the arrow fly and heard the satisfying thwack as it hit the target.
“As it is a trifle hard to see from this distance, I will shoot mine, then we will check who is the winner.”
She nodded.
Where was Thea?She hoped seeing Mr. Nightingale would not scare her off.
He focused and released his arrow. It thwacked into the target.
“Collect your shawl, Ivy. It is cold out here.”
“I am no concern of yours, Mr. Nightingale. Please call me Miss Birdwhistle.”
“No” was all he said as he started walking.
Ivy grabbed her shawl and followed. His long strides ate up the distance, and when she arrived, he was examining their arrows. Her heart dropped when she saw his was closest. Hers was about an inch away.
Drat.
“I can’t leave,” she rushed to say. “I am meeting someone. Therefore, I shall go over there to wait.” Ivy waved her hand to the left. “You will not know I am there.”
“I always know where you are.”
She didn’t know how to answer that. He was closer now. His arm brushed hers as he reached for their arrows.
“Perhaps we shall shoot again, and the loser will leave… after kissing the winner.” She found him closer now. His eyes locked on hers.
“You don’t want to kiss me.” Her voice sounded wobbly and weak, so she cleared her throat. “And I don’t want to kiss you.”
He made a tsking sound that annoyed her because she didn’t know what it meant.
“There is also the small matter of the last time I was used in a bet. There was kissing involved also!”
“Ivy—”
“I’m not sure what game you’re playing, Mr. Nightingale.” Her heart thumped so hard in her chest it hurt.
“I’m sorry. That was a cruel thing to say to you considering,” he said.
She knew he was different from Haldane. Knew he’d never deliberately hurt her, and yet she had no idea why he was here or behaving as he was.
“I will take your bet,” she said suddenly.
Their eyes met and held.
“Ladies first, then,” he said. “Two arrows this time.”
She could feel him watching her. Was aware of every move he took and breath he drew.
Focus, Ivy.Where was Thea?
“Shoot the arrow, Ivy.”
She did. He followed, then her again. When he’d shot his final arrow, they moved to the target. He had won.
“It seems I am owed a kiss.” He had lowered his bow and was approaching.
