Chapter 12 #2
“Although where you’ve placed it gets better light in the morning,” she explained, “by the time the sun has moved over the apex of the sky, that part of the room gets shaded by the old oak. If the desk is near the window, not only do you get more light, but you also get to see out into the gardens as you work. You would not believe how good it is for the soul to look up and see greenery as opposed to a wall.”
“I… had not considered that,” he admitted.
“I can tell.” She hesitated, then gestured for him to come forward. “Come, take a look at what I have done.”
“Thank you,” he said, moving into the room.
The duchess reached for an extra chair for him to sit on.
As she moved the chair into place, her leg caught on the stool and she stumbled forward.
Instinctively, Roderick reached forward, grabbing her waist. Before he could think better of it, he pulled her against him.
She leaned into him, looking into his eyes, her hands resting on his chest. Her brown eyes were wide, and he could see the golden flecks them.
His heart stuttered as the scent of lavender wafted from her hair.
For one brief moment, the world fell away.
All he could focus on was the woman in his arms.
The pair burst away from each other as a knock on the door sounded.
“Mr. Vale,” Mr. Pike said, seemingly unaware of the moment he had interrupted. “The carriage is ready for you.”
“Carriage?” Roderick asked, his eyes wide, his mind still lost in the lavender haze he had been in.
“Yes,” Mr. Pike said, raising an eyebrow. “The one you requested to meet your friend. For archery.”
“Right!” Roderick suddenly remembered his conversation with Mr. Bell. “Archery! I had forgotten!”
He ran a hand through his hair, trying desperately to ground himself. Glancing at the duchess, he noticed her ears had gone pink, and she was unable to look at him.
“I…” he started, then cleared his throat. “Thank you for showing me your artwork today. I must be off now.”
Roderick all but raced out of the room, his heart pounding against his chest.
***
The archery grounds were wide and spacious, situated at the edge of town, far away from where any pedestrian could wander by accident.
Even as Roderick stepped out of the carriage, his heart had still not steadied itself.
It did not help that he could still smell heron the collar of his coat, reminding him of how he held the duchess in his arms.
“Mr. Vale!” Mr. Bell called out warmly. Roderick did his best to smile as he walked over toward his friend.
“Mr. Bell,” he greeted. “Are you ready to admit defeat?”
“Oh, I am not sure that I am the one who will be defeated!” Mr. Bell laughed. “Come, I have already situated myself at the end row. We will not be disturbed there.”
“Thank you,” Roderick nodded and followed as Mr. Bell led him to their place.
The men strung their bows and began warming up.
The first two practice rounds were relatively decisive.
Mr. Bell hit two red rings and then a blue one.
Roderick had nodded calmly, knowing his shaking hands would not allow him to be as precise as he ought, though he hit a blue, and two black rings.
Mr. Bell gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before going to collect the arrows.
“That was quite good, for a beginner,” Mr. Bell smirked.
“I do not like to over stretch myself in the first round,” Roderick chuckled.
“Ah, if you are sure!”
“I am certain. Might you have a shilling on your person?”
“A shilling?”
“Oh yes,” Roderick said as he drew the arrow back. “I am aiming to hit three golds.”
The arrow released from his bow and went straight into the gold ring. Mr. Bell’s eyes widened, then he burst out laughing.
“Good sir! I did not believe that you were being honest. Now I know I should not hold back.”
“I did not believe you were holding back before,” Roderick teased as Mr. Bell notched his arrow.
“Do not be so certain, Mr. Vale,” Mr. Bell said, aiming his arrow. “I am an excellent sportsman.”
The arrow flew through the air, soaring toward the target, lodging itself into the gold ring, next to Roderick’s.
“Well!” Roderick barked out a laugh. “It would appear I have some decent competition for once,” he said as he notched his next arrow.
His heart rate began to calm as his body fell into the rhythm of the sport.
His next arrow flew fast, almost splitting his first but still landing in the gold. Mr. Bell let out a hearty laugh.
“Good shot, good sir!” Mr. Bell shouted. “You are excellent!”
“I do try,” Roderick chuckled as Mr. Bell prepared his arrow. The arrow flew, landing in the gold ring. “We might just be exchanging shillings at this point.”
“We may well be,” Roderick smirked. He prepared his next arrow, carefully lining up his shot. As he moved, something out the corner of his eye reminded him of the duchess.
His heart raced as his mind went back to the painting room, to her brown eyes; to the sound of her humming. Before he could regain himself, the arrow loosened and soared, arching high overhead. The arrow missed spectacularly, sailing over the target and landing several feet behind it in the grass.
“Hey!” Mr. Bell cried out jubilantly, clapping Roderick on the shoulder. “We all miss on occasion.”
“I am sure,” Roderick said gently.
“Well, all but me!” Mr. Bell laughed, firing his next arrow.
Three golds.
Roderick sighed and opened his billfold, removing a shilling for Mr. Bell. The man took it with a wide grin.
“And that is how it is done,” Mr. Bell said as he polished the coin on his sleeve.
“Yes, yes,” Roderick smirked. “I shall be winning that coin back.”
“That is the spirit!” Mr. Bell grinned.
Roderick took out his next arrow.
The pair continued their game, trading mild barbs. Roderick smiled and laughed, but his mind occasionally drifted to the smell on his coat. His heart raced every time he noticed it, but his mind tried to combat the reaction by bringing back thoughts of his mother’s journal.
“Your mind is distant,” Mr. Bell observed as he released another arrow.
“I apologize," Roderick replied. “I do not mean to be.”
“I am aware,” Mr. Bell said gently. “I thought that either you are a terrible shot or surely something, or someone, has you completely distracted.”
Roderick notched another arrow and let it sail through the sky, landing on the blue ring. Mr. Bell grinned and followed up with another arrow into the gold. As he went to gather the arrows again, Mr. Bell’s expression had moved to a slightly more contemplative expression.
“Something must be wrong,” Roderick said.
“Hmm?” Mr. Bell said.
“You are thinking. It is unusual,” Roderick replied. Mr. Bell snorted and nodded.
“I apologize, I was thinking of something that may be pertinent to you, but I am unsure how to word it,” he explained.
“Well, word it poorly, and then we can work out how to word it properly,” Roderick mused.
Mr. Bell nodded. He looked to the side, his eyes distant.
“I overheard something from Lord Casterleigh,” Mr. Bell said gently.
“I am not sure of all the context of the conversation, but I know he was speaking about the duchess’ questionable past. Apparently he believes some women invite scandal.
I do not understand his intentions, but he is intrigued by the rumors around Her Grace. ”
Roderick nodded slowly.
“Lord Casterleigh… Aside from what you have heard, is he a reasonable man?” Roderick asked.
“He can be,” Mr. Bell nodded nervously. “He can be respectable, charming, and he has a reasonably sized estate.”
“I see.”
“I believe the duchess has already made her thoughts on the man clear,” Mr. Bell continued.
“She has,” Roderick nodded. Even so, his mind was beginning to piece things together, making his stomach clench. “Anyway, enough about him,” he said, before releasing an arrow at the target.
“Haha!” Mr. Bell grinned as it struck the gold ring. “You are trying to win back your shilling!”
“I am not trying,” Roderick grinned. “I shall be succeeding.”
Mr. Bell laughed and released an arrow that landed in the blue. Roderick smirked, landing another arrow into the gold. His mind worked on the plan as his hands worked on the arrows.
Mr. Bell let out a groan when Roderick’s arrow struck gold again and reluctantly handed the shilling back to him.
“Thank you,” Roderick grinned.
“I will be winning it back,” Mr. Bell teased, before releasing another arrow. Roderick laughed.
“We shall see.”
The two men released arrow after arrow. Even so, Roderick’s mind was not on the game.
I need to see Lord Casterleigh around other people…