The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(7)
Daphne let the arrow fly. Thwunk. It hit the target a bit off center.
Upton whistled. “Well done.”
“Yes, well done. Both of you,” Jane called, feeling uneasy. Good heavens. She’d just wondered what it would feel like to have Upton’s arms around her, showing her how to do anything. Not that she needed him to. Never that.
“Thank you so much for your help,” Daphne said, smiling sweetly at Upton.
Upton let his arms fall away from Daphne. He turned his head to look at Jane. A small, not uncharming smile rested on his firmly molded lips. “Thank you, Miss Lowndes. Coming from you, that is quite a compliment.”
Lucy pressed a hand to her throat in a mock gasp. “What’s this? The two of you actually being civil to each other?”
Half of Jane’s mouth quirked up. “I can be civil … when I choose to be.”
“I’m extremely glad to hear it,” Upton replied. “I have to admit I’ve doubted it.”
Waving away a servant, Daphne strode across the lawn to retrieve the arrows, leaving the others alone for the moment.
“This house party may be extraordinary indeed, if we’re off to such a fine start,” Lucy said.
Upton arched a brow. “I do hope this is a great deal different from the last house party we all attended.”
Lucy pretended to study her gloves. “The one last autumn at Upbridge Hall?”
Upton gave her a skeptical look. “Yes, the one last autumn at Upbridge Hall.”
“What was so awful about it?” Lucy asked.
Jane shook her head. “Really, Lucy?”
“Must I count the ways?” Upton added.
Lucy pushed up her chin. “I take great exception to that, Garrett. I think it worked out splendidly. We’re here at the wedding, aren’t we? A wedding that might not have happened if we hadn’t had that house party last autumn.”
“All’s well that ends well, eh?” Upton pulled at the cuff of his sleeve.
“Exactly.” Lucy nodded so forcefully that one of her black curls flew out of her coiffure and bobbed on her forehead.
“I would give a warning, Lucy. Don’t try any of your antics during Cassandra’s wedding,” Upton said.
Jane had been expecting such a speech. Upton was known to be the voice of reason when his much more exuberant cousin got a scheme in her head. Lucy’s “antics” always seemed to work out for the best, but there was usually trouble before they were over.
“Nonsense.” Lucy tossed a hand in the air. “I would never do anything to cause trouble during Cass and Julian’s wedding.”
“Lucy.” A note of warning sounded in Upton’s voice.
Lucy pursed her lips and regarded her cousin. She blinked innocently. “Yes?”
“I do not for one moment believe you’d do anything with the intent to cause trouble at Cassandra’s wedding, but we all know that if you’re up to something—”
“Up to something?” Lucy faked outrage with the best of them.
“Yes. Up to something. Are you up to something?” Upton asked.
Jane had to swallow her laughter. “Now is probably not the best time to mention my new chaperone.”
“New chaperone?” Garrett put a hand on his hip.
Lucy looked at her cousin out of the corners of her eyes. “Never mind that. Suffice it to say, I do intend to help Janie here with her little problem, but that has nothing to do with Cass and Julian and will not cause them a bit of trouble.”
Upton’s dark brows shot up. “Jane’s little problem?”
Jane shaded a hand across the top of her bonnet in an effort to look as if she were watching Daphne’s progress in retrieving the arrows. Jane wasn’t about to explain anything to Upton, of all people.
“Yes, it’s Jane’s turn, after all,” Lucy responded.
“Turn at what?” The expression on Upton’s face could only be called skeptical.
“Why, our pact of course.” Lucy shrugged as if it were common knowledge. “We made one last summer, Jane, Cass, and I.”
Upton scrubbed a hand across his cheek. “I don’t think I want to hear this.”
“It’s nothing scandalous.” Lucy flicked the curl off her forehead. “We merely agreed to help one another, using our particular skills.”
“And those are?” Upton prodded.
“First, I helped Cass rid herself of the Duke of Claringdon,” Lucy said.
Upton’s eyes widened. “You mean your husband?”
Lucy pursed her lips. “He just so happened to be perfect for me, but I hardly knew that at the time we made our pact.”
“Then we helped Cass in pursuit of Julian,” Jane added, smiling sweetly at Upton.
Garrett’s mouth twisted grotesquely as if he’d just swallowed an eel. He turned to Lucy. “Don’t tell me you’re turning your talents toward finding Miss Lowndes here a mate.”
“Don’t be a nitwit, Upton.” Jane crossed her arms over her chest. “And please don’t say ‘mate’ like that. It sounds so … barbaric.”
“Of course not,” Lucy interjected before Upton could reply. “We merely intend to ensure Jane’s mother leaves her alone to be a spinster. Just as Jane wishes.”