Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Mia stared out the rain-streaked window and watched as several footmen loaded the tables and targets onto a waiting wagon. The bows and quivers were barely visible at the front. The weather had made it necessary to move the archery activity to the old chapel at Tweed. It was not what she’d wanted, but she was glad they did not have to cancel it. It was just an inconvenience.
The carriages would leave soon, transporting all the guests to the castle. Normally she enjoyed the sport. But that was when it was Ben and her shooting together. They often had silly competitions with each other, which more times than not left them laughing more than shooting.
Ben had not asked to be her partner. Considering how often Lord Montcort had beaten him to the punch, it made Mia wonder if perhaps he wasn’t asking on purpose. She stopped twisting the curl at the side of her cheek. Could it have been part of his plan all along? Was he trying to play the part of matchmaker between Montcort and her?
Mia’s face heated at the thought. Did he think her so daft as to not figure it out? She frowned when she realized they were six days into the party, and she only now realized what he was doing. Perhaps she was as daft as he thought.
She fisted her hands at her side. How dare he think to manipulate her? Was her father a part of this scheme too? She would find a time to ask him, but it would have to wait. At least until the archery was over.
The door opened and Katie walked in. “Lord Berwick asked me to find you. The guests are assembling in the hall and preparing to move on to Tweed. He asked that you make haste.”
Mia bet he wanted her to hurry. How else would he move his machination schemes forward? She shook her head. She would simply push those thoughts from her mind and enjoy the day’s activity. She could certainly enjoy archery without Ben. Perhaps she would ask Mr. Bancroft or Lord Ponsonby to be her partner. That would surely put a kink in his plans for her.
She patted her pocket, ensuring her surprise was still tucked safely inside. Although, considering what she had just discovered, maybe she should leave that particular trinket behind. She shook her head.
“I was just leaving,” Mia’s voice sounded tired to her own ears. She had a mind to tell Ben how she felt about his interference. She threw open her bedroom door and stepped out into the corridor, running headlong into someone. “Ooof.”
Strong hands wrapped around her upper arms and kept her on her feet. “Mia, are you hurt?”
She looked up into Ben’s face, and for a moment her anger melted away. She had run into him more in the last month than in the last ten years combined.
What was he doing up here? Did Katie not say he was in the entry hall with all the guests?
She smiled at him, but it only lasted a moment. He did not deserve her smiles. At least not then. Not when he was trying to foist his friend upon her. Match her even though he knew she wished not to marry. “Ben? What are you doing here?” There was a sternness in her voice.
Ben dropped his hands away when he saw she was steady. “I wished to speak with you before anyone else.”
She paused. “Oh? What did you need to speak with me about?”
He gave her a lopsided grin—the one he’d given her when they were younger and he was up to mischief. “I wanted to ask you to be my partner for archery before Cort had the chance to claim you.” His brow creased. “He has not already asked, has he?” He growled low in his throat. “I would not put it past him to have asked you at breakfast.”
Mia smiled and her spine relaxed. She had been wrong. He would not seek her out in the corridor outside her chambers if he were trying to match her with another man, surely. He was her same old Ben. “He has not asked me.”
Ben’s shoulders relaxed. “Then will you be my partner?”
She tilted her head to the side. “You did promise to entertain me.”
He grinned. “Capital. Lud, Mia. I feel as if I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
She wrapped her hands around his arm and walked to the staircase. “I have thought the same thing. How is it possible when we do the same activities, in the same place, every day?”
He shook his head. “I have no notion. But I intend to enjoy our time this morning. Once Cort discovers my tactics, he will surely undermine me at every turn.” There was an edge to Ben’s voice that Mia rarely heard.
They descended the stairs and walked to the entryway, chatting amiably. It was as if there was no house party going on and they were the only two people there.
Mia took in a contented sigh but blew it out in frustration when they stepped into the crowded entry. Lawks, that feeling had not lasted long.
Lord Montcort stepped up and bowed to her. “My lady, are you ready for archery? I believe we will make splendid partners.”
Mia frowned. “Partners? When did we decide to be partners?”
“Do you not remember?” Lond Montcort frowned. “We discussed it before—” He paused and grimaced. “Before Ben rammed our skiff, and you jumped into the pond.”
“I did not jump,” Mia shouted at the same time as Ben growled. “I did not ram you.”
Cort waved them away. “It does not matter when it happened, only that we already have an agreement.” He rubbed his hands together. “This will be a delight.” He cupped her elbow and led her toward the cloakroom.
Mia blew out a breath. Gads, she knew she should not have allowed her mind to wander while they were in the boat. If she’d watched Ben and Franny a little less, perhaps she would have realized Lord Montcort had asked for them to be partners…again.
“Did you hear the shags squawking last night?” She said loudly over her shoulder. Ben’s hands clenched at his side, nearly as tightly as his jaw. He looked helplessly at her.
“I didn’t,” Lord Montcort’s brow furrowed. “Perhaps I’m on the wrong side of the house.”
Mia nodded. “Yes, that must be it.” A footman helped her into her pelisse, and within minutes, they were in the carriages and heading toward Tweed.
“How is your shot, my lady?” Lord Montcort asked.
“There are others with more proficiency, I’m certain. But I do well enough.”
“Capital,” he beamed, although why it made him so happy, Mia could not know. Lord Montcort was an odd gentleman, to say the least.
“I hope you will not feel the need to wager on this activity, my lord,” she gave him a side-eyed look. She didn’t dislike him, per se. He was gentlemanly and made her laugh a fair amount. But she did not completely understand him. So much of his personality seemed feigned. It was almost as if he were an actor on a stage, pretending to be someone he was not. Indeed, she did not feel as though she knew him any better than the first day they met. He shared relatively little personal information. She knew he was a good shot with a pistol or at least that was his assertion. She had not seen him shoot more than a few times. And while they were good, she could not say it had not simply been luck. Had not Miss Bancock shot nearly as well, and without even opening her eyes?
She knew nothing of his family. Was he an only child, or did he have siblings? Should she not know those sorts of things? And what did he know of her? He’d never asked after her family. He did not ask about her dreams or her desires—for the present or the future. They had been together for hours and hours over the last five days. Should they not know something about each other?
She looked over at him. Perhaps it was time to remedy that situation.
“Do you have any sisters, my lord?”
Lord Montcort looked up from his hands. “Sisters?”
She nodded. It was a simple enough question.
He nodded. “Yes. I have three sisters.”
“What about brothers?”
He shook his head. “No. I had a brother, but he died in infancy.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry for you. Although, I do not believe brothers to be so desirable. Perhaps you are better off.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished them back. She had not meant to sound so callous or unfeeling. She snapped her mouth shut.
His brow creased, but then he dropped his head back and laughed. “Am I to assume you have a brother? Only one with a brother could speak so candidly about them.” He smiled. “And what has this boy done to earn your disdain?”
Mia sighed. Perhaps that was not the information she wished for Lord Montcort to know about her. Why had she not held her tongue? “Yes, I have a younger brother. His name is Lawrence.” She sighed and without realizing it, more information spilled out. “He seems only to spend father’s money as he drinks and gambles his way through the continent.” She pulled her lips between her teeth. Had she not posed the questions to give her insight into Lord Montcort? Not to give him insight into her.
He nodded. “As boys are wont to do. When is he expected home?”
She shook her head. “He would need to write home for us to know that information.” She sucked in a breath. Why could she not stop herself from speaking on the subject? “How old are your sisters?” She blurted out. Perhaps now they could speak of his family.
He smiled softly. It was a handsome look on him. “Fredericka is seventeen, Georgiana is fifteen, and Fi is twelve.”
Mia smiled. “Fi? That is not a name you hear often.”
“My grandmother, Fiona, whom she is named after, was Irish.” He released a contented sigh. “She has red hair, not so unlike yours, my lady.”
“My grandmother was Irish also.” She grinned. “And does her personality match her hair, my lord?”
He laughed again. “Indeed, it does. Miss Fiona is a power not to be dismissed.”
Mia smiled. “I should like to meet Miss Fi. I believe we would be friends nearly from the moment we meet.”
He nodded. “I have little doubt of that.”
The carriage stopped, and Lord Montcort jumped out. Mia was a little disappointed. This had been the only genuine conversation they’d had, and it had ended almost before it began.
She allowed him to hand her down, and they hurried the short distance to the shelter of the chapel.