Page 85 of Counting on Love

“Never use any but my own,” Billings said. “And please. You do the honors.”

Jasper nodded. “Very well. I will be using the Earl’s.”

Georgiana watched him take a pistol from a box, then move to a line that had been chalked on the grass. He aimed for the nearest target and blew a hole through it.

“Oh, very good!” Billings said. “You have been practicing.”

Jasper nodded, teeth gritted. “I have.”

Billings turned. “Lieutenant Taverston, you must be next.”

Crispin smiled coolly. “I will not be shooting. As an officer of the King’s Army, I should have unfair advantage. And, if I do not, I should not like anyone to know.”

Billings laughed. He looked to Reginald. “You, young sir?”

“After you.”

Billings cupped the second wafer. Then Reginald cupped the next. They moved to the second set of targets, a little farther away. Jasper missed. Billings hit his, but there was the distinct sound of metal being pinged and the frame tilted.

Billings frowned. “Not very clean, was it? But a hit is a hit.”

“It was a hit,” Jasper agreed.

Reginald said nothing. He stepped to the line, held up his gun, then lowered it.

“It is a bit out of the usual range,” Billings said, with more than a hint of condescension.

“No, it’s fine,” Reginald said. He took his spectacles from his pocket and donned them. Then he took aim and fired, tearing a hole through the middle of the target.

Billings looked disturbed. “Very nice.”

“I’m out,” Jasper said. “The next is too far. They should not have set them that far. Shall we call it quits or have them brought closer?”

“Nonsense,” Billings said, clenching his jaw.

He stepped to the line, aimed, and missed. He moved aside. Reginald took his place. He hit it clean.

“Bit of luck there,” Billings said with forced humor. “Once more?”

Georgiana felt nastily pleased to watch him struggle. Billings missed again. Reginald, after tapping his spectacles into place, did not.

“Let’s move our lines up ten paces or so and shoot from closer,” Jasper suggested. “The targets should not have been placed so far. Not in this wind.”

“No!” Billings thundered. “I’m just now warmed up. I’ll take my shot.”

He missed.

Reginald stepped to the line, but Crispin stopped him. “Let Lord Billings try again.” He said it in a tone so gentle it was cutting.

Furious now, Lord Billings came back to the line while Reginald was still moving aside. He glared at the target and took a long time to steady his gun. He fired. The wafer split along its side. A hit—but barely.

The contestants stood silent, but Olivia applauded and shouted, “Oh, very good!” capping the Taverstons’ triumph by perfectly miming Billings’ patronizing tone.

Billings stomped over to where his man waited and shoved his pistol back into its box. There was a moment of awkwardness. Georgiana could no longer feel angry with him. He seemed rather to be pitied. A man would not wish to find himself with the Taverston siblings arrayed against him.

Jasper went to him and said, “The wind has picked up. It’s not worth the bother to reset the wafers. Why don’t we go have a brandy and discuss this bill you sent me?”

*