Chapter 5

Victoria stepped outside, closed her eyes, and tilted her face to the sun. The warmth bathed over her and she let out a breathy sigh. Only a person who had been stuck inside for several days with surly guests could appreciate the heaven of a nearly cloudless sky. Today they would finally have some of the outdoor activities she'd planned. Considering she had a couple days' worth that were not used, she'd decided to have two for the guests to choose from that day. They could, of course, always remain inside.

In the morning they would have archery, which would lead into the afternoon. There would be lawn billiards and refreshments. Light food items guests could eat while they socialized, watched the lawn billiards, and enjoyed being outdoors. They only had eight mallets and balls for the lawn billiards. So not everyone could play at the same time, they could however observe the game. She fully expected some would choose to watch instead. It's what she'd have done.

"The sun is quite breathtaking today, isn't it," a lady said as she stepped beside her.

Victoria smiled and glanced over to her side. Lady Cora Stephens had come out to join her. Her black hair was coiled into an elegant chignon. "It's life altering," she told her friend. "If the rain had not stopped soon, I might have gone mad."

Cora laughed. "It couldn't have been so terrible…"

"It was worse, I assure you," Victoria told her emphatically. She grinned. "But I am glad to see you. I trust Lilah's revenge is going well?"

"Indeed," Cora said. "As far as I can tell." She motioned to where a group of ladies had gathered. "That Lady Daisy shouldn't be such an easy girl to lead astray." She wrinkled her nose. "But she seems to genuinely want to be near that arse, Viscount Harcrest."

Cora didn't know the full scope of the plans they had for the viscount or Lady Daisy. She'd tell her sister, and Lilah could not discover it all. She'd ruin their carefully laid plans. "Trust me on this," Victoria motioned toward Lady Daisy. "That one is far more than she appears. Quite malicious where it counts."

"Is that so?" Cora studied Lady Daisy. "Intriguing. I look forward to seeing her world unravel then."

"Me too, my friend," Victoria said. Then smiled slyly. "It will be worth noting when it does."

"I do hope that I'll have a chance to witness it." She motioned to where the servants were setting up bales of hay for the archery. "Do you think this is wise?"

Victoria shrugged. She rather liked archery and was even good at it. Though she probably would not participate. She had to oversee it all and it wouldn't do to take some of the fun away from her guests. Besides, she couldn't very well keep an eye on Lady Daisy and shoot at a target. Though she did think Lady Daisy would make a fine one. She could even pretend it was her before she launched an arrow. Not that she hated the woman, but she didn't like her either. Lady Daisy was a nuisance that thought herself above everyone else. That was why she was going to be taught a lesson. One she should have learned years ago. "Do you not like archery?" she asked Cora.

Cora studied the archery field. "I don't know." She tilted her head to the side. "I've never been permitted to shoot an arrow." She turned toward Victoria. "My father has always been disappointed that he only had daughters. We've been nothing but a disappointment to us."

"He's a fool then," Victoria said. "My father adored me." At least until he was no longer around to dote on her. "Did he ignore you then?"

She snorted. "I suppose, in a way, he did." Cora's countenance darkened. Something bothered her a great deal. "My father didn't pay us much mind. He had another that he gave all his attention to."

"Who?" Victoria asked. Her curiosity was something she'd never been able to control.

"The Earl of Thornton," she said. "Not at first, mind you." She sighed. "It's a bit of a long story. The earl was often sent to my father for educational purposes. He'd spend months at a time at our estate. He was, in short, an arse. I very much doubt much has changed. Though I haven't been in his company for several years now. His father died and he stopped coming to the estate."

"Was he not grateful for your father's tutelage?" More importantly, why didn't his own father give him those lessons? She'd ask Blake. He'd know the answer. "I believe he's friends with my brother. He spent a summer here, and he was quite broody. I believe it was just before they all took that holiday to Italy or some such faraway place."

"Ah, yes," Cora said with a nod. "I believe that is the summer before his father died. My father insisted that he be allowed to go. Said all young men need to sow their wild oats or some such shite." She frowned. "Pardon me. I shouldn't curse."

"Don't let me stop you." Victoria waved a hand. This was quite interesting. But she had to ask, "Is he the one you want your revenge on?"

"That obvious, is it?" She drew in a breath. "He was a miserable cur and took out his frustrations on me. Lilah was saved from his beastly behavior and I'm glad for that. But he should understand no one should be treated that way. I aim to show him that he made a mistake with me."

"In more ways that one." She grinned. "Don't fret. We will help you. It's our pact, after all."

Lord Foxcroft strolled out onto the lawn and it caught her attention. He promised her another lesson. The flirting one had gone well. He had thought she wouldn't be able to flirt with him. Once she got out of her own way, it had been quite easy. She'd shocked him, and that had been worth that lesson. She'd use it in the future when she hoped to seduce him.

"And there is your quarry," Cora said. She smiled at Victoria. "I'll leave you to your scheme. Good luck." With that, Cora walked away and back into the house. She couldn't think about Cora or the revenge her friend sought. She had her own to see to, and as Lord Foxcroft strolled in her direction, Victoria started to consider everything she wanted from that man. The length of that list was long, but only one thing topped it. Him. She just wanted him.

David didn't know what this next lesson should be. The last one had addled his brain a little bit. He had barely touched her. All she had said was a few words and she had touched him. Just enough to make him stop thinking and only want. Desire had fallen over him like a downpour. He had become so drenched in it that he could not see past it. If she hadn't pulled away from him, David would have kissed her. He still wanted to do just that.

He made his way over to her. When he reached her, he gestured toward the field. "Archery?"

"You don't like archery either?" she said, a little sullen. "What does everyone have against archery?"

"I am sure it will be all right." He shrugged. "Some of the guests will appreciate it." He could use it to his advantage. Maybe. He just had to discern the best way how.

"Well," she began. "I can show them to entertainment, but it is up to them to partake in it."

"Like leading a horse to water?" His lips twitched.

"Precisely," she said, then beamed. "How astute." She motioned to the field. "And you, my lord? Will you take up a bow and see if you have the skills to hit one of the targets?"

He considered it and then nixed the idea. Victoria wouldn't be shooting any arrows, and neither would he. Instead, he had an idea of what he could do for her rogue lesson. She might not consider it something a rogue might do, but he'd convince her. "I cannot very well give you another lesson if I'm taking part in the contest, can I?"

She arched a brow. "And my next lesson will take place during the archery event?"

"No," he said. "Your next lesson will take place the entire day." He motioned to everything. "What do you see here?"

"Servants," she said. "They are placing the hay bales, the targets, even setting the bows on a table over there for guests to choose from."

"What else?" he prompted.

She sighed. "Why don't you just tell me what I should be seeing and save us some time?"

David grinned. She was becoming surly. "This all takes a lot to prepare. You won't be participating in any of it, will you?"

"Of course not." She snorted. "It's not as if my brother will oversee these events, and he'd remind me I am the one that wanted this party. Therefore, I must see to the details."

He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "A good rogue," he began. His voice husky as he spoke. "Would do something that would ensure his lady could enjoy herself."

"And how would you manage that?" She tilted her head to the side. "I can't very well leave or give this task to someone else."

David had to handle this with care. She wouldn't want anyone to see to those details. Victoria didn't like ceding control on anything. That was why she wanted these bloody lessons to begin with. "If you could shoot," he began. "Would you?"

She shrugged. "Perhaps."

"There is no perhaps about it," he said. "You love archery."

Victoria glanced at him, surprise in her gaze. "How…"

"I remember," he said. "You told me once." He'd listened and stored every little bit of information she'd shared with him. "I'd like to see if you're as good as you once claimed."

Victoria grinned. "I would wager I'm better now."

"Then we will do just that," he said.

"Do what?" Confusion spread over her lovely face. He ached to gaze upon her beauty and not be able to tell her or kiss her. She wouldn't welcome his attentions.

"Wager." He grinned. "That's a part of being a rogue. Though we will explore that in more detail later." He motioned to the field. "What we are doing now is something else entirely."

"All right," she said. "You will have to explain all of this to me."

David nodded. "I will. Give me a moment." He went over to a servant and gave him some directions. The servant went to do his bidding. David went over to a table and picked up a bow and a quiver filled with arrows. Then he went back to her side.

"What is all of this?"

"The archery doesn't begin for another hour." He held out the bow and quiver for her. "You, my dear, are going to shoot now. The servant is going to fetch a target for you."

"Is he now?" She stared at the targets already in place. "And what is wrong with those?"

"They're not nearly challenging enough for an expert like you." He held out his arm to her. "Come with me."

The servant came out with a few green tomatoes. They were a decent enough size for what he had in mind and probably would have been delicious in some sort of stew, if left in the garden to ripen. David took them from the servant and thanked him. Victoria stared at him in confusion. He looped her arm with his and lead her over to the targets. He placed one of the tomatoes on the very top of the bale of hay. Then he led her back to where they were to stand to hit the targets. "Can you see the tomato from here?" he asked.

"Of course," she said.

"All right. This lesson is a bit of a dual one." He trailed a finger down her arm. Tiny bumps formed over her skin in its wake. "I, as a rogue, want all of your attention. I'm making myself indispensable to you and providing you with something that you desire." He leaned over her. "What a rogue desires most of the time, is the lady. He needs to prove to her that he can be everything she wants, and by any means at his disposal."

"And you're providing me with a target because I want to shoot?" she supplied. "And what is the second part of this lesson?"

"That's a lady can also get something she desires in the bargain." He grinned. "I propose a simple wager."

"And what shall we wager, then?" she asked.

"I have three tomatoes," he told her. "If you hit this one, I'll replace it with another."

"And?" she prompted.

"If you manage to hit a tomato," he told her. "I'll remove an item of clothing." He met her gaze. "One article of my choosing for the first two. If you hit the third one, you may choose."

She swallowed hard. "And if I miss? Do I have to remove anything?"

He shook his head. "I'd never ask you to do that. At least not where anyone could witness it." He grinned. "Besides, this is a lesson. Let's see if you can shoot when you are distracted." He trailed that finger over her soft skin. "and that's what I intend to do. Because I don't wish to lose."

Victoria nodded. "Then let's begin." She nocked an arrow and took a deep breath. After a moment, she let the arrow fly, and it sailed through the tomato with ease. She turned to him and grinned. "I believe you owe me something, my lord."

"Indeed," he said. He hadn't even tried to distract her on the first shot. He wanted her to be overconfident and at ease. He wouldn't try on the second attempt either. He had something special in mind for the third. He tilted his lips upward and considered what piece of clothing to give her. David untied his cravat and pulled it free. When his shirt fell open around his neck, she stared there for several moments before she took his cravat. "Now I'll go replace that tomato."

He jogged out and replaced the tomato. So far, his plan was working well. He had liked how she'd stared at his neck. Perhaps she wasn't nearly as immune to him as he'd believed. He could have taken off his waistcoat, but that had been far more advantageous.

David returned to her side. He grinned. "Let's see you do that one more time." He didn't plan on allowing her to win the third time. He needed her to lean into her arrogance, though. If she thought she'd never lose, then she wouldn't believe it when she did.

"Easily," she said, and nocked another arrow. It struck the tomato. She was beaming with pride, and yes, that would be her downfall. "Another item, my lord." This time he did peel off his waistcoat. He handed it to her and she set it with the cravat on the lawn. He replaced the tomato and was back at her side quickly.

"Now," he said. "We can make this a little more interesting."

"You have already lost twice, my lord." She lifted a brow. "I don't think you want to lose another piece of clothing."

He grinned. "I'm not afraid to be naked, love." It was his turn to arch a brow. "Are you?"

She frowned. "But you said…"

"And I meant that. Perhaps you can wager something else."

Victoria grinned at him. She was so sure of herself. She had no idea that she was playing into his hands. David wanted her to be comfortable and assured she would win. Because then he would win. He'd get what he wanted. What he desperately craved. "What do you have in mind?"

"A kiss," he said. "If you win, you have to kiss me. At a time of my choosing."

"A kiss?" she asked. "But…" She frowned again. "Is that necessary?"

"Consider it part of your rogue lessons. If you want to seduce a man, you will need to know how to kiss him." He smiled. "Besides. Do you think you will lose?"

She shook her head. "No. I will hit the tomato."

"Then is it a wager?" he asked.

Victoria nodded. "It is."

She nocked another arrow and aimed. David knew exactly when she was about to release, then stepped behind her. He blew lightly on her ear and the arrow went wide, missing the tomato. "That's not fair…"

"Everything is fair to a rogue, love," he said, then grinned. "That's one lesson you should never forget. When they want something, they'll do anything to have it." David retrieved his cravat and waistcoat from the lawn. "I'll have that kiss. But not now. You're not ready." He bowed. "Until later, love."

He walked away from her, satisfied. David had given her a lesson she wouldn't soon forget, and he would have that kiss from her. A part of him had wanted to claim it immediately, but he couldn't. He hadn't lied when he said she wasn't ready for it yet. Soon, though, she would be. And when that time came, he'd savor every moment of it.