Page 54 of A Perfect Engagement
Lucius went to drink and found his glass empty. Setting it down on the table with a thump, he picked up the bottle of whiskey and raised it straight to his lips. “Here, here!”
Daniel laughed and crossed one ankle onto his knee. “So, did you have a good time with your lady friend the other night?” He waggled his eyebrows. Lucius frowned.Shit.Daniel immediately realized his mistake.Shit.
“How do you know about my dinner with Mrs. Tattinger?” Lucius’s eyes narrowed.
Daniel sighed and drained his glass. He looked up at Lucius. “Can you keep a secret?” He told him about his brother’s idea. How Charlotte had figured out the ruse the first day, and how he promised to keep pretending to save her from embarrassment.
“So you have been here all week, and the real Hawksridge has just arrived?”
“Yup.” Daniel eyed Lucius, trying to judge his reaction. Damn, maybe he shouldn’t have confessed. He didn’t want to get Charlotte in trouble with her family.
Lucius burst out laughing. “What a naughty minx Charlotte is. I’m surprised. She’s never done anything deceitful her whole life.”
He relaxed, glad Lucius was not angry. “I guessed that much. She was soooo worried all week that we would be caught. You should know Charlotte misses you too. Even though she feels as though she’s been left behind, she doesn’t blame you for escaping.”
“How do you know that?”
“She told me.” Daniel stared down into the amber liquid in his glass. “You know her. Charlotte is a rule follower, even if it means putting her own needs and wants aside. She’s so practical and clever, but she has a secret penchant for romantic notions. She’s no idea how beautiful she is…” He smiled. “She’s just…wonderful.”
Lucius sat staring at him, his drink halfway to his mouth.
Daniel felt a flush creep up his neck. Had he said all of that out loud? “I mean…well, I hope Miles realizes how lucky he is.”
He threw back his fifth glass of brandy, or was it his sixth? He leaned back and closed his eyes, but the whole world began to spin madly. He popped his eyelids open and tried to focus on Charlotte’s brother. Why were there two of him? Daniel blinked until the two men became one again. Then he raised his empty glass into the air. “To your sister, may she be happy with her choices.”
Lucius shook his head, and one corner of his mouth quirked up. “To my sister.” He took a swig from his bottle. “Come on, mate, let’s get you up to your room.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The next afternoon,Daniel and his brother strolled out to the archery field. A dozen targets were set up across the field. Double as many people milled about the grass chatting. The bows and quivers were passed out by two servants Daniel recognized as stable hands. He and Miles each picked out a bow.
“I haven’t shot a bow in years,” Miles muttered. “Is this what people do for fun out in the countryside?”
“Yes, it is. Plus, it’s a sport that women also enjoy. Makes for pleasant socializing,” Daniel returned. “Do you think your fiancée is any good with the bow?”
A cheer went up from behind them. Daniel turned just in time to see Charlotte notch an arrow. She took her time sighting her mark, she exhaled slowly, then let her arrow fly toward her target with a whistle. The arrow sank into the bull’s-eye, millimeters from two others. The small group behind her cheered again.
With a grin, Miles slapped him on the back. “I guess that answers your question.” His brother crossed the grass to congratulate Charlotte on her marksmanship.
Daniel smiled to himself. It didn’t surprise him at all Charlotte would be excellent at archery. Her meticulous nature lent her the patience and exacting eye needed to shoot the arrow with accuracy. He sucked in a deep breath. This fresh air was exactly what he needed to clear his head. He had woken up in his bed late this morning, fully clothed, one boot still on, the other lying across the room. He’d had barely enough time to call for a bath and make himself presentable before luncheon. He was fuzzy on how he had gotten upstairs to his room, but he did remember blurrily casting up his accounts into the chamber pot.
“Weston. It is Weston, right?” Rivenhall and his wife strolled up to him.
“Yes, you are correct.” Daniel tipped his hat. “Good afternoon, Lady Rivenhall.”
“Ha! I knew it. Didn’t I tell you I could tell which brother, my dear? Do you care to shoot, Weston?” Lord Rivenhall motioned to the targets, his smile friendly.
Lady Rivenhall stared at him. A small furrow appeared between her eyebrows. Had Charlotte told all her friends about what happened?Of course, she did, you dunce.
“I’m not married,” he blurted out.
Lady Rivenhall looked taken aback. Lord Rivenhall perplexed. Damn, perhaps he had hit his head last night as well. His brain clearly wasn’t working correctly.
The lady turned to her husband. “Rivenhall, would you be a dear and go get us some bows? I’ll walk Lord Weston over to meet you in a moment.”
“Of course.” Rivenhall shot him another confused look but walked over to where the servants were furnishing bows and quivers to the guests.
Lady Rivenhall turned to him. “I have no doubt there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for what Charlotte saw at your estate.” She held up a hand. “I don’t need to know, but Charlotte does. If you want to preserve a friendship between the two of you, I suggest you speak with her.”
