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“Thank you,” Zachary muttered under his breath.

“I think a footrace would have been exhilarating,” Lady Astrid put in, obviously overhearing the conversation. “But I suppose not everyone could have kept up.”

“If you want to show off what a good runner you are, you could do so after this,” Drake put in dryly. “We can all watch you run around the field. Perhaps it would burn off some of that excess temper you have.”

“Well, no matter how good a runner I am, I’ll never catch up to you,” Lady Astrid retorted. “All I would have to do is set up a wedding altar, and you would leave us all in the dust.”

They glared at each other.

“Alright,” Tiffany said brightly, clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention. “I do believe we are ready to begin the archery competition. As Gregory said, there will be prizes at the end. Our cook has made some very nice picnic baskets for the winners, and they shall have their pick of whom to share theirs with afterward. The rest of us will make do with a small tea in the garden and each other’s company.”

Ah.

Blast it.

Sebastian pressed his lips together. If he won, he would have to choose a lady to spend time with. One who was not Mei. He could not single her out in such a manner right now. On the other hand, if he lost, he risked Lady Darcy winning and choosing him… which he supposed was not the worst fate, but he would rather be with the group as a whole since that was where Mei would be.

On the other hand, he knew Lady Astrid would be determined to win. Drake was already eyeing her, and she was avoiding his gaze. Likely, she was planning to triumph and choose anyone but him to share a picnic with, just to get under his skin.

Which would work.

So, did he trust in Lady Astrid to win, or did he try to triumph so he could at least choose his partner?

36

Mei

The archery tournament was rather exciting. Mei had never watched one before. She thoroughly enjoyed cheering everyone on—the competition between the ladies was fierce, coming down to Lady Darcy and Astrid in the end. Somehow, Mei was unsurprised.

The two ladies stepped back before their final face-off to allow the group of gentlemen to whittle themselves down. There was a great show of the gentlemen shrugging off their jackets to give them more room to draw the bow, footmen coming forward to collect them. With the afternoon sun shining brightly, Mei was suddenly very aware that some of those shirts were perhaps a bit more translucent than she realized.

The fan she was waving lazily in front of her began to move a little faster as she looked at Sebastian… and then felt a wild spurt of jealousy as she realized everyone else could see him too. Lady Darcy was also looking at him. Mei could not blame her, but she did not like it.

It was good practice, she told herself, for when they returned to London, and Mei would have to let him go. She was going to see other ladies looking at him, and eventually, some lady would actually be courted by and then married to him. Sitting through this now would help her steel herself for that day.

Still, her stomach turned over unhappily at the necessity.

That was the reality of the situation, though.

Slowly, the gentlemen dropped off until it was down to Drake, and Sebastian. Mei bit the inside of her cheek. It was not as though Sebastian could claim her time if he won… and yet some impractical, wishful part of her wished that he could. That he would.

She reminded her heart that such a thing was not possible. She could already feel the disappointment gathering in her breast and welcomed it. Prepared for it. Took it deep within her and let out a long, slow breath as it sank into the pit of her stomach.

“Wonderful,” Tiffany said, clapping her hands. “Let’s have the ladies finish first, shall we?”

Both Astrid and Lady Darcy took their places, rolling their shoulders. They looked like goddesses of the hunt as they raised their bows. The sunlight made Astrid’s hair look like a flame, while Lady Darcy’s blonde locks were brighter than ever in the warm light.

The bows twanged, one after the other, then Astrid gave a shout, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Only once she’d had her momentary celebration did she pull herself together, turning to congratulate Lady Darcy on a job well done. The lady’s arrow was also very near the center.

Mei let out a long, slow breath. Lady Darcy would not be able to choose Sebastian, even if he lost. Not that it mattered. She knew he was not going to marry the lady. Probably. But if anyone could have twisted time alone with him to her advantage, it would be Lady Darcy. Not in any scandalous way but with her charm and attributes.

There was a reason Mei had chosen Lady Darcy as her favorite of the debutantes attending the house party. If anyone could convince Sebastian to marry her, after he’d decided against any of the attending debutantes, Mei would put her money on Lady Darcy again. Not that she would ever wager for or against any of her matches, but the thought was in her head.

The two dukes stepped up next, taking careful aim.

Sebastian released his arrow a few seconds behind Drake’s shot, hitting the circle on the target beyond the one Drake’s arrow had landed, losing the contest to his fellow duke. He looked far from disgruntled when he turned to shake Drake’s hand, appearing pleased with how things had turned out. So was Mei. Now she would not have to watch him choose one of the debutantes to share a picnic basket with.

Which… had he lost on purpose?