Page 98 of Last Duke Standing

Douglas chuckled. “I donna think so.”

“You don’t think I could?” she challenged him. “Would you like to place a wager?”

That brought Douglas’s head up. “Are you willing to lose, ma’am?”

“Goodness,” said Prince Michel. “Perhaps we ought to have a round as a diversion and—”

“I’m always willing to lose,” Princess Justine interjected. “But I hardly ever do.” She turned away from Douglas and smiled at Prince Michel. “Je,let’s have a round, shall we? As a diversion. It will be fun!” She hopped up before either man could offer to help her to her feet.

There was something about this archery business that seemed to be sliding off the path Lila had carefully constructed. She had, at the princess’s request, seen that the archery field was set up. But now seeing how keen Princess Justine was for it, she suspected the true reason the princess had wanted it.

Lila had meant to leave them, to prepare for her husband, but instead she followed the three of them and two footmen down to where an archery field had been set up.

Prince Michel pleaded with Princess Justine to go first, but she refused, challenging him to start things off. Prince Michel was such a gentleman that he couldn’t bear the thought of preceding a lady, so Lord Douglas stepped in and volunteered, asking them both to step back lest they be hit by a stray arrow. It was a good thing he did, too, as his shots went so wild that Lila thought he must be trying to lose.

The princess laughed gaily. “You’re tohitthe boss, sir,” she said. “The target!”

Prince Michel was convinced to go second, and he was fairly good, not hitting the smallest circle painted on the boss, but racking up a few points nonetheless.

Princess Justine was obviously eager to show her skill. She was elegant in her stance, and her arrows seemed to fly like birds off her bow, easily piercing the target. When she’d shot her last of three arrows, everyone politely applauded. She turned a beaming smile to them.

“It’s your turn, my lord,” she said to Douglas. “Shall we wager this round?”

“That seems hardly fair,” Prince Michel said with a laugh.

“Aye, but I’m the sporting type,” Douglas said. “What would you wager, Your Royal Highness?”

“What shall I bet him?” she asked Prince Michel. “My kingdom?”

Prince Michel gave a nervous bit of laughter. “Perhaps a pound or two?”

“Mmm. Too small. I will bet you my kingdom, my lord. And ifIwin, I will have your Scottish palace.”

“Alas, the palace is no’ mine to give.”

“Then what will you offer?”

He bowed low. “My liege and limb in service to the queen. Will that suit? At your beck and call until you beck and call no more.”

Princess Justine laughed with delight. “I had hoped for something a bit larger, but I accept.”

Lord Douglas stepped up to the shooting line, withdrew an arrow from the stand beside him, took aim...and hit the center ring. Princess Justine cried out with amazement. Prince Michel applauded vigorously.

“What a lucky shot, my lord,” Princess Justine said.

“Aye.” He drew another arrow and did it again. No one applauded him then. When he did it a third time, Princess Justine cried out, but this time, in protest. She ran to the boss and he followed, and the two of them argued over whether he had earned the highest number of points.

Prince Michel did not follow them. Lila moved to stand beside him, and the two of them watched as the princess and the marquess playfully argued. The princess accused Douglas of tricking her. He didn’t deny it and said it was the oldest betting trick there was, and how could she not have suspected it? He said he had no idea what he might do with an entire kingdom. She asked to examine the arrows to see if there was some trickery involved, but he held them out of her reach, teasing her.

Dear God, these two lovebirds were terribly smitten, much more than Lila had believed. “Well,” she murmured, thinking what to say.

Prince Michel frowned. “The game has turned serious.”

“Oh no, I think not,” Lila hastened to assure him. “They are friends. You understand how friends can be with one another.”

He looked at Lila and smiled sadly. “I do understand,” he said. “Quite well, actually.”

“Your Highness,” Lila started, but was interrupted by a footman.

---