Page 27 of The Marquess’s Masked Archer

Unable to help himself, he took a long stride to stand right in front of her again. Secrets be hanged, he refused to allow this amazing woman to dislike who God had created her to be. He grasped her chin with his thumb and index finger and tilted her head back up to meet his gaze. The uncertainty there made him long to kiss away her insecurity, but words would have to do. “You are more than capable. I’ve never known a woman who could make so many things happen the way she wanted. Except for my mother, and she’s a force to be reckoned with, so that’s a high compliment.”

The doubt in her eyes melted into curiosity. “You don’t speak about your family or England much.”

What was there to say when what happened in his homeland nearly took his life from him? An urge to tell her everything sprang up out of nowhere, catching Miles by surprise. He’d hoped to know she returned his growing feelings before revealing the sordid details of the past. As much as he wanted to deviate from that plan now, he had to remain cautious. “No, I don’t, and for good reason. I didn’t leave under the best of circumstances.”

She regarded him with a tilt of her head that made him feel she heard more than just his words. “You can tell me about it, you know. I understand a little about things that seem better kept to yourself.”

If only he could respond with a knowing smile to let her see that he understood what she was referencing. But Miles only dropped his hand from her chin and put a bit of distance between them, realizing anew how intimate the scene would look if anyone came around the corner of the cabin. “The details are hardly fit for a lady. Suffice it to say that I’ve had a much easier time here. The opportunity to reinvent myself has been more appreciated than anyone could know.”

Turning to gaze over the water, Sylvie bit her lower lip for a moment. “Reinvention could be a blessing in some cases, but what if it only turns out to bring more complications?”

Was she doubting her lady archer persona? What could Miles say that would reassure her but wouldn’t reveal everything he knew? “The complication might be temporary. When my father and brother died, I felt I was being reinvented against my will. And then when…other things went awry, I was forced to do so once again. But it all brought me here, to the place where I can do what I wanted to all along.”

Her gaze sharpened as she looked back at him. “Do you think God plays a part in that? In forcing us to reinvent ourselves?”

Miles’s breath caught as her question brought the issue into focus in his mind. Was that what the Bible meant when it said God would work all things out for good? Not that every moment would be smooth and easy, but that God would use the terrible, tragic circumstances that were all too common in life to mold people into what He intended all along? Miles nodded. “I believe that might be it exactly. Do you agree?”

She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I’m not sure. Why would He make it so difficult? I’ve been nothing but an obedient daughter my entire life. What more could He want from me?”

“The Bible encourages us to continually grow in faith, correct? But we tend to fight against growth. Would you have made the effort to change if it wasn’t pushed on you? I wouldn’t have.”

A light dawned in her eyes, filling Miles to the brim with warm feelings he refused to examine. “I don’t want to admit it, but you might be right.”

The teasing lilt had returned to her voice, the one she often used when they were deep in conversation. He adored it. Unfortunately, they couldn’t remain hidden for much longer. Every second they did so increased their chances of being caught. “Do you think we ought to return to the party? I wouldn’t want you to be forced into anything else, such as an unwanted marriage to protect your reputation. Plus, we have a task to accomplish tonight.”

Unreadable emotions flitted across her face as he spoke. She hid them, but Miles was left with the distinct idea that she hated his practical reminders about the reality of their situation. If pressed, he would have to admit he hated them too. But he refused to be the reason her choice of a husband was taken away from her. No matter how much he wished she would come to care for him, for now, he must follow through on his promise to help her investigate the other men. For Sylvie’s sake, he could wait for the right time to reveal himself.

CHAPTER 14

Sylvie had to force her jaw to unclench at the reminder that they weren’t in the little alcove to enjoy each other’s company. But she had no one to blame except herself. It had been her idea to enlist his help in finding her secret admirer.

If only she didn’t harbor so much guilt over the way her heart was stretched thin between the admirer and Miles.

Instead of wallowing in that frustration, Sylvie returned to the task Miles had mentioned, with significant reluctance. “Would you mind speaking with Mr. Nolan to see if you can uncover any clues? I’ll try to start a conversation with Mr. Dockerty. Mr. Kinsey is at social functions more often than they are, so I’m sure I can arrange a conversation with him later if there isn’t time tonight.”

A bitter taste filled Sylvie’s mouth as she said the words. Finding out the identity of the letter writer didn’t seem important at all anymore. What she’d rather do was spend the rest of the evening in that secluded corner, learning all sorts of things about Miles.

But her plans depended on leaving him to Lucy. Trying to balance her desires with her dreams was becoming more complicated than Sylvie ever could have imagined. The mess of her own making grew more upsetting all the time.

Sylvie looked up to find Miles staring at her with an odd expression, his eyebrows drawn together with a slight lift of one corner of his mouth. Almost as if he was both amused and confounded by her. But somehow, it didn’t bother her. Maybe because he was still helping her, even if she confused him. After a moment, he answered with a curt nod, turned on the ball of one foot, and disappeared around the corner of the cabin.

It took Sylvie a long time to follow. She stood frozen in disappointment at first, wishing she could take back the request. But she had to follow through on her investigation into the secret admirer. He might be the solution to her dilemma, the man who could be both her choice and her desire.

So she spurred herself into action and swept across the deck to a table laden with refreshments. Platters of rectangular finger sandwiches, cold meats, and sliced tomatoes and cucumbers covered one end of the table. Sweeter offerings of fresh berries, tarts, jelly rolls, and ice cream adorned the other. As she nibbled a tiny cake coated in delicate white frosting with a single strawberry on top, Sylvie kept Mr. Dockerty in view from the corner of her eye. He was handsome enough, no older than thirty, and had a solid reputation as a kind, generous, intelligent man. Sylvie hadn’t loathed the time or two she’d had reason to converse with him. And he was a wonderful dancer.

However, it was impossible to ignore the way her heart leaped in her chest when she caught a glimpse of Miles across the deck, compared to its steady pace when observing Mr. Dockerty. Sylvie shook off the swirl of countless feelings that threatened to keep her from her mission. She could analyze them later. Right now, she had a task to accomplish.

Sylvie made her way closer to where Mr. Dockerty was entertaining Adelle Moreau with what sounded like a tale from his childhood. Sylvie drew on the acting skills she’d cultivated as the lady archer to appear casual, watching everyone except him. Adelle was an unintentional ally, exclaiming when she caught sight of Sylvie, “Oh, Sylvie, there you are. Do come join us for a bit.”

Adelle moved over to allow Sylvie to form a small circle with them, which placed the other woman all but pressed against Mr. Dockerty’s arm. And if Sylvie wasn’t mistaken, that was a fond glance he shot in her friend’s direction.

Still, she ought to give it her best effort, just in case. The gentleman in her letters had most recently quoted Mr. Darcy’s line, “‘My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever,’” so Sylvie would start there. “Mr. Dockerty, it’s a pleasure to have you join us tonight. ‘The distance is nothing when one has a motive,’ wouldn’t you agree?”

Frowning, Mr. Dockerty appeared lost. “I suppose. Although it wasn’t a very long distance at all to reach the dock on the island. The boat hasn’t traveled far across the lake to where we’re anchored either.”

Thwarted by his obvious lack of knowledge about the quote from Pride and Prejudice, Sylvie put forward several more references. Mr. Dockerty was known to tend toward obliviousness, so perhaps he’d forgotten some of the phrases penned by Miss Austen. After twenty minutes of slipping odd quotations into the conversation, though, Sylvie had to admit it was unlikely Mr. Dockerty was her admirer. Between the warm looks he kept sending Adelle’s way and his ignorance of literature, Sylvie seemed to have misfired on her first try.

Sylvie spent another ten minutes or so in conversation with the two, joined by Leila. Any other night, she would have been content to remain with her friends. Tonight, however, Sylvie found an opening to extricate herself from the conversation, then ducked behind another group of chatting guests to look for her next target, Mr. Kinsey.