Page 17 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
“That is only natural. But it seems to me, only knowing Lord Wade casually, he would not want that.”
Lady Wade studied her thoughtfully, but made no answer.
Louisa shifted uncomfortably, reminded of the dark conservatory, Lord Wade so near her, the attraction to him that had never gone away. As if any of that made her an expert on the man!
~oOo~
After luncheon, Lady Wade went to her morning room to work on her household accounts, leaving Louisa with the afternoon free. And she knew just whom she wanted to spend it with. She found Miss Wade in the drawing room, frowning at a blank canvas, a dry paintbrush in her hand.
“Am I disturbing you, Miss Wade?”
Miss Wade looked up with a smile, full of as much charm as her brother’s. “Of course not, Miss Shelby.”
“I have not had a chance to tour the park yet. I was wondering if you would walk with me? I’ll be honest, I have an ulterior motive.”
Miss Wade seemed relieved to put her paintbrush aside. “I confess that I’m curious. What deeper motive could there be in a casual walk?”
“I’m trying to find out if you have an archery field. I’ve lived in London my whole life, but whenever I was in the country, I practiced with a bow and arrow.” She leaned toward Miss Wade and lowered her voice. “I’m quite good, and I’d hate to lose my skills.”
“Then you’ll be happy to know we do have targets and equipment, although we’ll have to have someone set them up for us.” Miss Wade looked toward the door, as if to be sure no one was listening. “To be honest, after a near-mishap a few years ago, I thought I should give up learning the sport.”
“Nonsense.” Louisa grinned and slipped her arm through Miss Wade’s. “I’ll teach you.”
And Louisa would be teaching her the first steps to a new confidence, too.
After the targets had been set up in a field between the garden and the stables, Louisa re-taught Miss Wade the correct technique for holding the bow. Miss Wade had just taken a few practice shots—all of which had fallen short of the target—when Louisa happened to see Lord Wade and his valet walking through the garden toward the manor. She almost told Miss Wade to freeze, so that Manvil wouldn’t see them.
But Manvil did, and to Louisa’s dismay, he led his master toward them.
“Good afternoon, Lord Wade!” Louisa called brightly.
Miss Wade gasped, and her arrow went high into the trees. She faced her brother, guiltily hiding the bow behind her back.
“Ladies, I understand that you’re attempting the dangerous sport of archery,” Lord Wade said.
Louisa thought he looked suspicious.
“Georgie, did you not explain to Miss Shelby what happened the last time you tried this?”
Miss Wade blushed. “I almost put an arrow through Leo’s arm.”
“I’m sure that was many years ago,” Louisa said smoothly. “And why ever was your brother between you and the target?”
Lord Wade cocked his head toward his sister, letting her explain.
Miss Wade sighed. “He wasn’t. Leo distracted me with a frog, and I was startled. The arrow just…slipped. But then he chased me into the woods, and Simon had to rescue me.” She smiled at the memory.
Louisa thought that Lord Wade was still trying to rescue his sister, even though she was an adult. Someone else with his disability might have let others take over his responsibilities. She was glad he still had the role of protective older brother in his family.
But there was no proof that he had to rescue his sister from Louisa, so she remained quietly confident, even as Lord Wade stared in her direction, wearing a challenging smile.
Miss Wade looked between them in puzzlement. “I think I’ll search for my stray arrow.”
Soon they were alone but for Manvil, who stared off into the distance as if pretending he wasn’t there.
“Miss Shelby, I thought I specifically asked you not to work with my sister,” Lord Wade said firmly. “She is not to be your latest project.”
Calmly, Louisa answered, “My lord, ladies practice archery together to pass the time when the weather is lovely. Would you prefer that I spend each day in my room when your grandmother doesn’t need me?”
