“Lady Sophia, the rules are quite simple,” Daniel replied politely. “You merely pick up your log and make sure you don’t drop it at the wrong angle. You toss it as far and as straight ahead of you as possible. However, I must be off to give it a try. After all, my brother-in-law organized these games. I would like to celebrate his culture.”
He gave the lady a small bow before turning and stepping away. Lady Sophia looked utterly disappointed, but was quick to recover as she started cheering for everyone.
Lucy could have sworn Daniel glanced at her before engaging in the game. It could be her imagination, or wishful thinking after she felt a prickly heat spread through her body at the sight of another lady openly flirting with Daniel.
Then, the games began.
Dominic Carlyle, the Duke of Oakmere, might be one of the older ones to compete, but he showed skill in the caber toss. Alasdair demonstrated how to do it and did exceedingly well, but he saidhis score should not be taken into account because it was his idea to get everyone to play the Highland Games in the first place. Several other lords struggled to tame the twelve-foot logs in front of them.
Even young lords, like the Earl of Pomphrey, who was about Lucy’s age, barely managed to lift the caber. Unfortunately for him, it fell backward. It sent him diving back into a patch of mud. Shrieks of decidedly unladylike laughter erupted from the crowd.
Tug-of-war followed.
“If ye’re still wearin’ yer coats, it’s high time to shed ‘em!” Alasdair bellowed.
Most had already shed their coats, but a few more obeyed the call.
Daniel did more than that. He unfastened his cravat, stuffing the silk into the coat he had discarded on a bench.
Lucy wondered at the way he moved with such ease and confidence. When he undid the top buttons of his linen shirt, she could not breathe. She did not expect to catch a glimpse of his throat and the top of what seemed to be a very broad, muscular chest.
Even as she tried, she could not look away. She suspected some of the other ladies were just as entranced.
When the game began, his muscles strained against the thin fabric. He anchored for his side, digging his boots into the ground as hard as he could. Sweat glistened on his tanned skin from the effort. The perspiration made his shirt cling to his broad torso. It made her see just how strong and attractive he was, not quite the restrained duke in polite events.
She chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully.
On the opposite side, her brother was pulling with undeniable effort. He looked like he was scrambling for the last bit of his dignity. Even though it looked like he was doing well, a stroke of bad luck put him and his team at a further disadvantage. His foot slipped on wet grass, and he ended up slamming his knee into the muddy ground. His face was flushed red and sweaty.
On Daniel’s side, the men seemed to be seeing the beginnings of victory. They gave the rope another strong pull, causing the other team to stumble forward. They collapsed into a pitiful heap of tired bodies, with their limbs tangled and their clothes splattered with mud.
Triumph shone in Daniel’s eyes as he straightened up, a grin spreading across his face. He turned around, and as if he knew Lucy was there, he caught her eye. At that moment, she felt like she was one of the competitors—hot, sweaty, and bothered.
That afternoon, Lucy was relieved to have some quiet time reading a book. She found a particularly engrossing travel journal, entitledA Lady’s Journey through the Tropics. Sheprepared herself for a relaxing read, settling into a leather armchair strategically placed near a window.
She was so absorbed in the descriptions of palm trees and sandy beaches that she did not hear footsteps approaching.
“That’s a good book. However, it somehow does not capture the true essence of the people. Travelers should also appreciate the culture of the people beyond its exoticism, as some might describe it.”
Lucy almost leaped from her seat, the book nearly falling to the floor. She turned to see Daniel standing in the doorway, looking utterly composed. Different from how he looked during the Highland Games.
“I—I did not hear you come in, Your Grace,” she said, scrambling to her feet.
“Please do sit down, Lady Lucy. You don’t need to rise for me. So, are you planning to travel soon?”
Something flickered in his eyes, as if he realized his mistake. Lucy could never travel unless she was allowed by a male relative or chaperoned by an older female relative. She had no support from Joshua and did not have a chaperone who could follow her everywhere.
“Only in my mind, Your Grace,” she sighed. “I can only read about travels. I was not born to make them a reality.”
Daniel sat across from her, leaning slightly forward. “I’ve only experienced the tropics for a short period, but as you know, I traveled the Continent for years as a youth. The Greek Isles were like heaven on earth, with deep blue waters and pale skies.”
All Lucy could think about was how deep blue his eyes were, and how she could certainly drown in them.
“One time, we spent a whole week on a fishing boat. It was uncomfortable, but part of the adventure. We breathed and tasted the sea, felt the breeze on our faces. There was one time I thought I would never reach home again. A storm broke. The waves were wild. Somehow, we managed to make it back to shore.”
“Weren’t you afraid at all?” she asked, completely in awe.
She watched him intently, trying to gauge the truth in his story, and all she could see was an honest man trying to comfort her.
