“Give the man some space!” Mr. Nott waded through the group until he could extend his hand to Seth. “Congratulations, Mr. Reeves.” Mr. Nott surprised him by pulling him forward with their clasped hands to pat him on the back with the other. In a half hug, he murmured, “Next time, keep your personal drama to yourselves.”
Embarrassed, Seth could only nod as Mr. Nott winked at him and cordially stepped to the side. The crowd parted for Lord Bolderwood and he clamped a thick hand firmly on Seth’s shoulder, knocking him forward. The bruise from the kick throbbed and his skin crawled, but he kept his face impassive and fought the impulse to shrug off thegesture.
“What a show!” Lord Bolderwood laughed, low and robust, soundingproud. “What did I tell you, Kendall? A man could shoot the feathers off of a hummingbird with a contraption like that!”
A silence descended as Duke Kendall sauntered toward them.
“I’ll give it to you, Bolderwood. Mr. Reeves has far exceeded my expectations. Look at that, a near-perfect shot. Allow me to try out your little invention.” He extended his hand and Seth obediently handed the rifle over.
“Explain how it works to me.”
Cooper jumped into the space between them.
“We’ll be happy to explain it to you, Your Grace! Only…” Cooper looked at Seth before he continued, “the invention is something of a sensitive matter. We can go over the details privately. Perhaps over lunch this afternoon?”
“You can use my study,” Lord Bolderwood offered. He finally released Seth’s shoulder and accompanied Duke Kendall to the range. Cooper trailed closely at their heels.
A fluttering of skirts came next, with their perfumes and high-pitched giggles, a chorus of colors bleeding together. Behind them, away from the crowd, Cassandra stood with her companions. She was smiling as bright as a sunrise.Forhim.
Not Bishop.
Him.
The world melted, silencing the annoying buzzing in the background. She navigated the crowd until she stood before him. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, pick her up, spin her around—and he had won a bet for the right to bed her. His heart felt like lead with his shame.
Damn it all. Damn Bishop for boxing him into a corner. Damn himself for falling right into his trap. His show only cemented inBishop’s mind that Seth had an interest, and the Colonel would ensure that Seth didn’t get what he wanted.
Dear God. He made itworse.
“What is it?” Cassandra’s voice was gentle, barely audible over the rising voices all speaking at once. Saying nothing, Seth shook his head and turned from her, finding himself unable to meet her eyes.
“I do believe this man is in shock, let’s go inside and get him a drink!” Lord Dorchester chuckled. “I know I would need one after a challenge like that!”
“You go on ahead, my lord,” Seth said quickly. “I think I’ll take a walk through the gardens instead.”
As tempting as a drink was, he needed solitude andquiet. The noise was overwhelming; the crowd suffocating. His skin itched. His neck cloth was too tight, he couldn’tbreathe. Heart hammering in his chest, the feeling of being trapped wrapped around him like a vise.
“Perhaps we will join you.” Lady Dorchester urged Cassandra and Jasmine closer to him.
“We couldallgo.” A haughty blonde blinked her eyes in a flirtatious manner, sounds of assent coming from her two friends as they all inched closer to him.
No, no, no,no!
“Maybe he would like a moment of reflection? It’s his routine to have some time to himself after shooting.” Cassandra rolled her shoulders in a graceful shrug. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Reeves?”
Lady Dorchester caught Cassandra’s hint and shooed the women away with a closed fan. “Come along ladies. Let’s leave Mr. Reeves to his contemplation. There is plenty to do indoors and we’ve all had far too much sun and excitement for one morning.”
With a grumble, the other ladies turned and followed Lady Dorchester when she walked away, linking her arm with her daughter’s. Cassandra followed a step behind, but she turned her headand, with a hint of a smile, she mouthed the words, “Well done.”
The highest bidder.
Bishop’s disgusting words rolled around like curdled milk in his stomach, but they teased and opened Seth’s mind to another possibility. He returned her smile with one of his own as his goals adjusted.
I could be the highest bidder.Hell, he had beat BishopandMr. Nott! And he would do it again. Cooper’s approval wouldn’t be hard to earn, and neither would Cassandra’s if he had the time and resources to woo her properly.
Hecouldmarry Cassandra Cooper.
As long as hewon.
