“Are we in agreement, Elsbeth?” His deep voice carried a warmth that sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.
She stiffened at the sensation. It was just a name, after all. “Am I to call you by your given name, as well?”
“I would prefer it.”
“Then… Niles, we are in agreement,” she replied, letting his name roll off her tongue.
He flashed her a flirtatious grin. “I like how you say my name.”
“Well, I find the way you say my name to be utterly bothersome,” she shot back, though her words lacked sincerity.
“I don’t think that is true,” Niles replied. “And did we not just agree to be honest with one another?”
Before she could reply, Eugenie’s voice rang out from farther up the path. “Aunt Margaret sent me out here to ensure you two didn’t kill one another,” she teased. “I should note she bet on Lady Elsbeth.”
Niles turned towards his sister. “Lady Elsbeth and I have come to an understanding.”
Eugenie raised an eyebrow as she approached. “An understanding?”
He raised a hand to clarify. “Not that type of understanding. We have simply agreed to be cordial to one another.”
“How fascinating.” Eugenie shifted her gaze to Lady Elsbeth. “Are you sure he didn’t coerce you into this? If so, blink twice.”
Elsbeth laughed. “We came to this agreement together.”
Eugenie’s eyes flickered between them. “This seems rather… sudden.”
“You are reading far too much into this, Sister,” Niles said. “I suspect this is due to your reading mania.”
That clearly was the right thing to say because Eugenie placed her hands on her hips and retorted, “There is nothing wrong with reading a book or two a day. Books are the key to a fulfilled mind.”
“There is when you should be using your time and energy to find a husband,” Niles responded.
“A husband is useless to me,” Eugenie contended, glancing at the sky. “Perhaps we should go back inside and continue this conversation. It appears as if it is about to rain.”
Niles stepped forward and offered his arm. “This is England. It always looks like it is about to rain.”
Eugenie accepted his arm and turned her attention to Elsbeth. “Would you like to go pheasant shooting tomorrow?”
Elsbeth glanced at her arm. Though she knew how to shoot, her injury would make it impossible. “I have never gone pheasant shooting before,” she said, opting for a half-truth.
Niles extended his other arm to Elsbeth. “My father indulged Eugenie too much in her youth. He often took her shooting, and now she insists on going at every opportunity.”
“And why shouldn’t I?” Eugenie asked. “Why should only men enjoy pheasant shooting?”
“I never said it was fair, but it is hardly conventional,” Niles replied.
Eugenie ignored him with a wave of her hand. “I am going tomorrow, and you are welcome to join us, Elsbeth.”
“I don’t think I will be much help with my left arm,” Elsbeth said.
“You should still come. We will need someone to balance the numbers. Perhaps bring your cousin,” Eugenie suggested. “I would like to meet him.”
Elsbeth’s back went rigid at the mention of Charles. “I am not sure if that is the best idea. I do not want to encourage him, given the circumstances.”
“What if I partner with Charles, and you partner with Niles?” Eugenie questioned. “We will turn it into a friendly competition.”
Niles offered Elsbeth an apologetic look. “You will have to excuse my sister. She is always looking for an opportunity to challenge me.”
