Goddess of the Hunt (The Wanton Dairymaid Trilogy #1)

“Courting can be a sport in its own right,” Felix said with a sly smile.

Toby countered, “Yes, but blushing virgins are always in season.” He rose from his seat and went to stand by the window, gazing out over the park. “Miss Hathaway is an enchanting creature. I admire her beauty and esteem her character. I may even love her. But this autumn is my last gasp of bachelorhood, and I mean to enjoy it. While there are still coveys in Henry’s woods, I have no intention of proposing marriage to Sophia Hathaway.”

“And what about Lucy?” Jeremy asked.

“Oh, don’t worry. I shan’t propose to her, either.”

Jeremy regarded his friend through narrowed eyes. Toby’s brand of reckless charm wore well on a youth of one-and-twenty, but it ill became a gentleman nearing thirty. Not that the young ladies had ceased swooning in his direction. Falling in love with Sir Toby Aldridge was still a rite of initiation for debutantes. But this wasn’t another simpering heiress they were discussing. This wasLucy .

He turned to Henry. “Aren’t you the least bit concerned for your sister’s welfare?”

“Of course I’m concerned for her welfare. I’m her guardian.”

Jeremy snorted.

“You’re making too much of this,” Henry said. “So Lucy is infatuated with Toby. It’s an all-too-common affliction. One many a girl has survived, with no lasting ill effects.”

“Unless you count near-drowning.”

“She’s mistaken Toby’s kindness for some deeper emotion,” Henry continued, ignoring Jeremy’s remark. “It’s entirely understandable. She ought to have had her season by now, and fallen in and out of love a dozen times. As it is, she’s a complete innocent.”

Jeremy snorted again. Obviously Henry did not know aboutthe book .

“She feels left out,” Henry went on. “She’s surrounded by ladies who are either happily married or engaged.” He waved off Toby’s interjection.“Nearly engaged. She wants a bit of romance all her own.” Apparently satisfied with this deduction, Henry saluted his own ingenuity by pouring another round of brandy. “It will pass.”

Jeremy felt creeping tendrils of madness winding around his brain.It will pass? Henry couldn’t possibly know how wrong he was. And Jeremy couldn’t possibly tell him. “And in the meantime?” he asked. “You just allow her to keep up these … these antics?”

“Jem has a point there,” said Toby. “I can’t very well have Lucy hanging all over me if I’m meant to be courting Miss Hathaway. A bit awkward, that.”

Henry shrugged. “I don’t see what else there is to do.”

“Perhaps you should invite the vicar’s son to tea,” Felix suggested.

“Impossible,” said Henry. “He’s off to Oxford.”

Jeremy shook his head. This conversation was becoming nonsensical. He glowered at Toby.Selfish ass . So cocksure of captivating any and every woman’s affections. Of course he saw no reason to rush a proposal. The idea of Miss Hathaway refusing him would never cross his mind. It would serve him right if she did.

Toby noted Jeremy’s sullen expression. “Don’t look at me like that! It’s not my fault, you know. If you find Lucy’s ‘antics’ so annoying, why don’tyou distract her?”

“Please.” Jeremy tipped his glass to drain the last of his brandy, then lowered it slowly. Henry was giving him the most distressing look.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Henry said.

“What’s not a bad idea?” asked Felix.

“Jem distracting Lucy.” A mischievous grin spread across Toby’s face.

“Oh, no.” Jeremy rose from his chair and stepped behind it, as though the wing-backed barrier of civility might shield him from their lunacy. “If by ‘distract,’ you mean—distract—and if by ‘Lucy,’ you mean Henry’ssister … the answer is no. No.”

“Relax, Jem,” Henry said. “We’re not suggesting you court her in earnest. Just pay her a bit of attention. Take her on an amble through the garden. Read her one of Byron’s poems.”

“And don’t forget the pie.” Felix was enjoying this far too much.

“You can’t be serious, Henry.” Henry had never been a model guardian, but this strained the definition of the term. “Are you honestly suggesting—invitingme to play loose with your sister’s affections?”

“Her affections?” Henry laughed. “As ifyou could engage Lucy’s affections. It’s nothing so dreadful. Her pride’s been bruised, and she wants a bit of admiring. Just do your best to stand in for the vicar’s spotty son.”

Good Lord, had Henrymet his sister? Lucy was many things, but easily dissuaded was not one of them. She’d invested eight years in this misplaced adulation, and if Henry thought a few pretty words would snap her out of it now, he was a bit late on the draw.

“You’ll not touch her, of course,” Henry added, his voice deep with mock warning.

A bit late on that one, too.