Page 25 of The Duplicate Duke
“You are most definitely not an old man,” said Lady Greywood.
“Blustery, however…” added Lady Gwendolyn.She stood up and tossed her book on a side table.“I have been looking forward to this.”
Her smile transformed him.She had been looking forward to seeing him.The knot in his stomach unwound.“I will meet you at the grove near the stable in a half hour.”Miles attempted a half smile.“You are welcome to join us, Lady Greywood.”
The older woman looked up.“Oh,merci, but no.I’m quite comfortable.”
Miles set up the target, then inspected his bow and the smaller one he’d brought for Lady Gwendolyn.He nocked an arrow, pulled back the string as he eyed the bullseye, and let go.
“Impressive,” said Lady Gwendolyn behind him.
He turned, soaking in the praise.“Thank you, my lady.”
“I wonder how long it will take me to become accustomed to that.”She leaned against the table holding the arrows and bow.“I’ve been Miss Bernard most of my life.”
Miles settled next to her.“It must be disconcerting.”
She nodded.“In the last few months, I’ve gone from Miss Bernard to His Grace, the Duke of Shackerley, and now Lady Gwendolyn and my lady.I woke up the other morning and had to remember who I was before I got dressed.”
He laughed.“It’s been quite an upheaval for you.”
“And you,” she said quietly, placing her hand on his arm.“I am sorry for the deception, the confusion… You are so dear to me, and I don’t want anything to change that.”
His heart twisted a little.“You’ve become important to me as well.I apologize for my sour attitude.It’s not like me.”
“No,” she agreed, “you are a kind and good man.I’m honored to be yoursecondcousin.”
Had she emphasized “second” for a reason?Miles glanced at her, wondering if she was as affected by their proximity as he was.It hadn’t occurred to him before, but now he thought of it… Was she attracted to him?In that way?
The thrumming in his belly was back, heat spreading to his core.Lady Gwendolyn still gazed at him with questioning eyes, her lips slightly parted.What if he?—
“Is this the bow I should use?”she asked, picking up the smaller one and holding it between them.“What should I do first?”
He gave her a demonstration, explaining the basic form.When she tried, the arrow hit the ground before it came close to the tree.“Let me help you,” he said.
Framing his arms around her, he guided her hands and helped her to pull the arrow and string back to her shoulder.Her skin was smooth and warm, sending his pulse into a frenzy.Her silken curls tickled his nose, lavender and vanilla filling his senses.He closed his eyes, praying for fortitude.“Now, take a breath, hold it, and let go.”
Zing!Her arrow landed in the outer circle.“Well done, you hit the target.”
“I did!Thank you, Lord Wickton,” she said, her face turned up to his.
“Miles,” he said, wanting to hear his name on her lips.“Call me Miles.”
“Gwen,” she whispered.“My family calls me Gwen.”
His arm reached out to pull her close just as she reached for another arrow.She nocked it as he’d instructed, pulled back with her eye on the target, took a breath and let it loose.She made the target again, still in the outside circle.“I rather enjoy this.”
I rather enjoy you.
They had a mock competition.Miles helped “guide” her several more times, coming close to the kiss he now obsessed to steal from her.He would be patient.She was an innocent, and he still wasn’t certain it was more than lust.
“What will happen when Graham arrives?”she asked as they walked back to the castle.“Will you stay on to mentor him?”
“I will have to return to my own estate, but I have an excellent steward.Returning shouldn’t be a problem.We still have to find an estate manager for Shackerley Place.”
“Do you miss your home, Miles?”Lady Gwendolyn placed her hand in the crook of his arm as they approached the hill.
His hand covered hers without thought, his heart swelling at the sound of his given name.How well their fingers fit together.Theyseemed to fit together.“At times.I have wonderful memories there.”
