Lissa tried to fit that in with the mess of correspondence she’d seen on his desk. The two behaviors didn’t match. Then again, perhaps in his most private sanctuary he relaxed such strict tendencies. Maybe it was a need to control the situation when around others.
The white tent was large enough for all to sit and have a meal in, except no chairs or tables were present. It had obviously been set up simply to keep the elements at bay, specifically the morning frost. Her choice of boots for the day was much more appropriate than some of the footwear the other ladies sported, and her pelisse did provide some warmth. Though she wished she had her trousers instead of the deep purple dress with the scooped neck that she wore now. Unfortunately, she hadn’t brought any, not wishing someone to recognize her in the future when she may have a need for wearing them out of necessity.
“My dear guests. For those chosen as prey, please step forward.”
Anthony leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek before moving forward. The action was not lost on the few nearby, particularly Violet.
“Oh, he is a sweet one. I hope you get to keep him a long time.”
Lissa clasped her hands to her chest. “He says he will never leave me.”
“Yes, well, that is a lovely sentiment, but it’s important to plan for those between times. We must always have the ability to be happy alone, so we are never too desperate.”
There was a wealth of knowledge in the woman’s eyes, and Lissa did not doubt she spoke from experience. “I will take that advice to heart.”
“Good.” Violet turned her attention back to those lined up before Leighhall.
Anthony, Buswick, and another gentleman stood with the women from the rest of the pairs. Even as she watched, she noted how much broader Anthony was. No wonder he passed for middle class so easily, yet he held himself as an aristocrat, which he was. Her anger at him over that had dissipated because he acted no different with her because of it, and he was becomingmore comfortable with seeing her in a dress. She might just have to see tonight how comfortable he could be.
Even as the thought of undressing for him filled her head, Leighhall’s voice caused it to vanish.
“Our prey will have twenty minutes to find a place to hide. I must now ask all my hunters to face the other way. I would not want you to have an idea of where the rabbit entered the wood.”
As they turned around, Pemberton complained, “You too, Leighhall.”
Leighhall strode around them and stood before all the hunters, his back to their prey. Lifting his watch, he waited a moment then called out, “You may leave, now!”
Lissa listened intently to the sounds behind her. The women’s light tread was quick as they ran for the wood. The men seemed more purposeful, as if they knew where they would go. If she wasn’t mistaken, two men headed straight, but one headed to the other end of the wood. That would be Anthony. How fun to use her tracking skills and her knowledge of her baron to find him.
Leighhall backed up into their line between Violet and Pemberton. As the others conversed to wile away the minutes, she thought about all she knew of Anthony’s abilities in the woods. They were many, and if he wished to remain hidden a long time he could, but she was quite positive he would wish to be found relatively early. He’d always been protective of her, even while in France, so he wouldn’t want her to have to track for too long. Her concern was finding himtooquickly. If Leighhall was not one of the first, if notthefirst, to find his prey, she was quite sure they would all know it.
“Really, Leighhall. Is it not time yet? My arse is cold and I need a willing woman to warm it.”
“Control yourself, Pemberton. You still have three minutes.”
She glanced past Violet to see Leighhall quite pleased that Pemberton was anxious. What was it that motivated such a man?
Finally, Leighhall held his arm up as he looked at his watch and brought it down. “Time to go hunting.” The man spun and sprinted directly into the wood, as did many others.
She strolled forward, moving at a diagonal, following the matted footprints of one path crossing all others. As she entered the wood, it felt colder despite the fact very few leaves held to the trees to block any sunlight. Keeping her gaze on the ground, she followed the male footprints. She could be wrong and they might belong to Buswick, but she’d follow them anyway.
When the steps seemed to disappear, she grinned. Only Anthony would backtrack to throw her off his scent. Confident she had the right set, she returned the way she came until she could see where he continued. It was so much easier than tracking a hare or a fox.
When she came to a very small area covered in pine needles, she paused. It was impossible to see the tracks. With no help for it, she walked around the perimeter to see where he’d left the area.
A squeal rang out, and she halted. Then loud laughter followed. It sounded like Alice. If so, Pemberton either got lucky or the woman cheated.
She shivered. Hopefully, Leighhall had already found Alberta, or it would not be pleasant.
Resuming her trek about the needle circle, she found a broken twig just as raindrops started to sprinkle. Happy for her fur-lined bonnet, she continued into the wood. It took a few strides before she found his footsteps again, but then she heard a rustling behind her. Looking back, she watched as Delilah moved stealthily in the opposite direction.
Keeping silent, she watched until the woman was out of sight, then turned back to her track. The rain was beginning to affect the footprints, so she quickened her pursuit. Then, suddenly, the tracks stopped. She turned back to see if he’d backtracked again, but it didn’t appear so. Coming back to where the footsteps ended, she reviewed the area. Nothing was disturbed, no twig broken.
Smiling, she looked up to see a rather low branch. If she had her trousers, she’d climb the tree, too. Instead, she stepped back, thankful for the slight cover of her bonnet as she looked up into the tree to find Anthony sitting on a branch a few above her. “Is it colder up there?”
He shook his head as he bent over to look at her. “I should have known you’d find me so quickly.” He jumped down to another branch before sitting on the last one.
She stepped closer. “Has anyone beside Alice been found yet? Could you see from up there?”
