Gregory threw his arms up in disgust. “I forfeit. I’m getting something to eat.”
“Get something for me, too,” Colin called out.
“Of course,” Gregory muttered.
Eloise turned to Anthony. “Is it your turn now?”
He took the gun from her hands and set it on the table to be reloaded. “As if it matters.”
“We have to do all five rounds,” she said officiously. “You were the one who made the rules.”
“I know,” he said glumly. He lifted his arm and fired off a shot, but his heart clearly was not into it, and he was off by five inches.
“You’re not even trying!” Eloise accused.
Anthony just turned to Benedict and said, “I hate shooting with her.”
“Your turn,” Eloise said to Benedict.
He took his turn, as did Colin, both men putting in a bit more effort than Anthony had, but still coming up off the mark.
Phillip stepped up to the chalk line, pausing only to listen as Eloise said, “Don’t you decide to give up.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he murmured.
“Good. It’s no fun to play withbad sports.” She directed the last two words quite vehemently toward her brothers.
“That’s the point,” Benedict said.
“They do this every time,” Eloise said to Phillip. “They shoot badly until I decide the match isn’t worth it, andthenthey all have fun.”
“Be quiet,” Phillip told her, lips twitching. “I’m aiming.”
“Oh.” She shut her mouth with alacrity, watching with interest as he focused on the target.
Phillip took his shot, allowing himself a slow, satisfied smile as the target was brought forward.
“Perfect!” Eloise exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Oh, Phillip, that was wonderful!”
Anthony muttered something under his breath that he probably ought not to have said in his sister’s presence, then added, directing his words to Phillip, “You are going to marry her, aren’t you? Because frankly, if you get her off of our hands and allow her to shoot with you so that she doesn’t pester us, I’ll gladly double her dowry.”
Phillip was quite certain at that point that he’d wed her for nothing, but he just grinned and said, “It’s a deal.”
Chapter 13
... and as I’m sure you can imagine, they were all possessed of a most foul temper. Is it my fault I am so superior? I think not. No more, I suppose, than it is their fault they were born men and thus without the barest hint of common sense or innate good manners.
—from Eloise Bridgerton
to Penelope Featherington,
after trouncing six men (three not
related to her) in a shooting match
The following day Eloise traveled to Romney Hall for lunch, along with Anthony, Benedict, and Sophie. Colin and Gregory had declared that the rest of the family had the situation well enough in hand and decided to return to London, Colin back to his new wife, and Gregory back to whatever it was the young unmarried men of thetondid to fill their daily lives.
Eloise was happy to see them go; she loved her brothers, but truly, the four of them at once was more than any woman ought to be expected to bear.
