“But have you ever shot at anything other than a target? A grouse or a pheasant, perhaps?” Lottie asked, eyeing the decorative little bow.
“Of course not! Whatever for? We have groundskeepers and huntsmen to do that.”
“For the adventure of it.”
Sophie looked more horrified by the idea of adventure than she’d been at the thought of shooting something. “Adventure? Why, you bold creature—what on earth has gotten into you, Lottie?” She nodded to where William was walking ahead of them with Caroline. “Just what would your fiancé say tothat?”
Lottie sniffed. “William doesn’t care for adventure, or for excitement of any kind. He doesn’t even like to dance. Nor does he engage in manly sports like boxing or curricle racing.”
Sophie’s eyes popped. “Curricles!”
“I had an admirer once who let me take the reins of his—it was quite thrilling. I lost my bonnet.”
“I hope it wasn’t an expensive one,” Sophie said. “Thank heaven your William is the sensible sort. You’ll be entirely safe from harm with him.”
“Yes, I suppose so,” Lottie murmured. “Oh, I wish I was as brave as Caroline. I would love to have an adventure, even a teeny one, before I spend the rest of my days being entirely safe.”
Sophie laughed acidly. “Don’t be silly. Charlotte says she’s quite ruined.”
Lottie watched her aunt, chatting with William as they walked. “She doesn’t look ruined. She looks ... oh, I don’t know. Happier, prettier—alive.”
Sophie tossed her chin. “No decent gentleman of title and fortune will even look at her now, at least not as a wife.”
Lottie’s eyes widened as she considered what that meant. “Poor Caro!”
Sophie’s smirk was tight and malicious. “So you see now what wishing for adventures will get you?”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Lottie murmured, staring at her aunt. Caroline threw back her head and laughed at something William said, her russet hair glowing against the mist, her cheeks flushed becomingly. Lottie frowned. She had never known her fiancé to be the least bit amusing.
Sophie caught her arm. “Of course I am—I am never wrong.” She waved for a servant who carried folding chairs monogrammed with the Bray crest. “Let’s sit here for a while and rest,” she said, though they’d hardly been out a half hour. Lottie slipped into the seat beside her friend and watched Caroline and the rest of the party disappear through the mist.
“Imust say, Caroline, you’re looking well this morning,” William said as they walked behind the ghillies. “Very well, in fact.”
Caroline looked at him. “Don’t tell me Somerson told you I was at death’s door as well.”
“No, of course not. I’m family—almost. They told me you had retired to Somerson Park to consider your matrimonial choices.” He was staring at her with the kind of interest she had once longed for. He should be looking at Lottie that way, not her, but Lottie was sitting on the hillside with Sophie, with Brodie lounging by their feet like a big dog.
“I have,” she said, turning her attention to watch Alec walking with Megan.
“Oh,” he murmured, and looked almost downcast.
“I mean I have decided not to marry at all,” Caroline clarified.
“Oh!” William brightened. He licked his lips, and drew a step closer to her side.
“Lottie will make a beautiful bride.”
“Who?” William said like a distracted owl. Caroline raised one eyebrow and sent him a quelling look. “Oh—Lottie! Yes, of course. Lottie ...” He said her name as if he were trying to remember if he knew a lady by that name.
“I am quite looking forward to thewedding,” Caroline said, emphasizing the word. “My dear niece and my childhoodfriend.”
He winced and bit his lip, his eyes round and sad as a puppy’s. “Fr-friend?” he asked.
“Friend,” she said firmly.
“Oh.” This time his voice dropped an octave, heading for the depths of disappointment. “Caroline, if you’re not going to marry, what will you do? Will you take a—” He turned pink to the tips of his ears. “A protector?”
Caroline blinked at him for a moment. Was he honestly suggesting that if she wasn’t good enough to marry, she might consider becoming the mistress of her niece’s husband? She threw back her head and laughed. “I am perfectly capable of protecting myself.” She cast a glance at Lottie. “Oh, look—Lord Mandeville is showing Lottie how to shoot.”
