“Seems your fair lady is reluctant to come to your side, Colt. Your charms are clearly waning,” Stephen said.
Patrick whispered back, “And yours is looking as though she has swallowed something vile and would be more than happy to spit it up on your highly polished boots.” He turned to look at Stephen as he spoke. His friend’s cheeks were flush with color as he observed Miss Logan’s obvious reluctance to come to his side.Interesting.She was the exact opposite of the women Stephen usually flirted with. When had they spent time together, he wondered. Clearly, he had been too caught up in his countess to see what had been happening around him.
“Ladies, you will stand beside Lords Coulter and Sumner as they fire their last arrows. Your job is to distract them,” Lady Shubert said, leading Sophie and Miss Logan forward. Both looked like they would rather be anywhere but here and the center of attention.
“I thought you would relish the opportunity to irritate me, Countess,” he said when Sophie stopped beside him.
Before she could respond, Lady Shubert once again spoke.
“You will have one arrow each! Ladies, do your best,” Lady Shubert encouraged with an exaggerated wink. “Lord Sumner, you will go first.”
Miss Logan looked furious. She stood with her arms crossed, staring sightlessly behind Stephen, and then, when he took aim, she bent forward and whispered something into his ear. His arrow shot skyward, coming to rest well beyond the target.
“Shrew!” he hissed.
“Rake!” she retorted.
Patrick’s smile was smug as he lifted his bow and nocked the arrow. He would win because there was no way Sophie would make a scene in front of so many people.
Just as he was about to release the arrow, he felt her breath in his ear.
“Bloody hell!” Patrick yelled as his arrow shot over the target and nearly impaled one of Lady Shubert’s servants. Taking a deep breath to still the bolt of lust that nearly crossed his eyes, Patrick looked at Sophie. She wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Well done, ladies!” Lady Shubert cried. “It seems we have a tie today, so if you will come with me, my lords, I will give you both your prizes.”
He moved to where Lady Shubert stood with Stephen, who looked as annoyed as him. They were then given small statues of Roman gods, and once again, applause broke out. When he looked back to Sophie, she was walking toward the gardens.
Not this time.He followed minutes later after thrusting his figurine at Stephen.
CHAPTER 18
She wasn’t wandering in the first part that was full of colorful blooms separated by rows. The next held fruit trees.Where are you?She hadn’t been that far ahead of Patrick, so she must be close.
The plaque on the wall of the last garden he came to said it was called the Night Garden. Stepping through the gate, Patrick found himself in near darkness, even though the sun was high in the sky. Structures ran the length of paths, and across them had been trained vines and foliage. The air in here felt thick and damp with the scent of a forest.
A rustle to his left had him cutting through a row of plants, and it was then he found her. She was looking inside a gazebo. Moving closer, he touched her spine, and she shrieked.
“It is me,” he said into her ear as he nudged her inside and closed the door behind him. Thankfully, it had a lock.
“Lord Coulter, you startled me!”
“Just answer me one question, Sophie.”
“I am leaving, and you are a gentleman. Therefore, you will not stop me.” She lifted her chin.
“Not this time, Countess.” Patrick drew closer. “This time you will speak to me,” he added as he put a finger under her chin,ensuring their eyes met. “I am not letting you leave until I have answers to my questions.”
She slapped his hand aside. “I do not have to answer you. Why do you care anyway?” He watched anger darken her eyes. “My life is my business, not yours.”
“So you have said, but you are hiding something, and I want to know what.” He leaned in closer, until their faces were mere inches apart. His eyes found her lush lips, and Patrick felt something shift in the air between them. There was a thrum of need, and she felt it, too, because her eyes dipped to his mouth.
“I don’t understand this,” she whispered.
“You are not alone there,” he said just before he kissed her. Patrick untied the satin bow under her chin and then pushed the bonnet from her head. He wanted to devour her. Crush her to him and take, but he fought the need, telling himself to be gentle.
“I will never hurt you,” he whispered. “Open your mouth, Sophie.”
She did, and one of her hands flattened on his chest. Patrick had had many discreet affairs, but never, not once, had the touch of a woman’s hand made him ache. The subtle hint of her floral scent intoxicated him as he kissed his way down the pale length of her neck.
