Page 46 of The Trouble With Her Duke
“I hear you, boy. It’s very confusing. Let’s ride and see if it helps.”
Hero snorted and Damon squeezed his flank sending them both into the wind—putting several miles in before finally slowing at the gates to the manor house. He was torn. The children needed a governess, and he knew he should put distance between them. But he was drawn to her like a moth to light. Nearing the stable, he noticed Lydia and the children standing on the hill. Drawing closer, he realized the archery lesson had begun. Intent on attending, Damon handed Hero to a stablehand. “I don’t plan to miss this,” he murmured. After what had happened at the stable earlier, he knew it might not be his smartest move. I should go to my study and not risk making things worse—but I can’t.
Lydia noticed the duke return but kept her mind on the archery lesson. “Michael, hold the bow, just so,” she said, demonstrating. Her heart was doing somersaults, and she had been obsessing over those kisses all morning. As nervous as she felt, Lydia was determined to maintain her focus on the lesson.
“The string is tight,” Mandy said, testing it.
“Exactly as it should be. The string will be in front and the bow behind. It’ll seem more normal once we shoot an arrow,” she said, helping Mandy draw back her bow. “Michael, come close and watch.”
The children seemed to absorb everything she told them.
“We’ve never seen this before,” Michael said.
“You’re the first person to show us,” Mandy said.
“The bow is only used for archery. The object is to aim at the round target,” Lydia explained. “Never, never aim at one another or wildlife or another person.”
“Oh! We promise. I want to paint the birds and frogs, Miss Hammond,” Mandy said. “I could never shoot one.”
“Me neither—unless I must feed my family.” Michael puffed up his chest. “I would use a pistol.”
Beneath their prankster exteriors, Lydia found the children to be sweet and endearing. While she couldn’t pinpoint the individual reasons six governesses had failed before her, she realized that none of them had tried to get to know Michael and Mandy. Instead, they had bellowed instructions and set rules. And the poor frogs paid the price. The children knew no other way to protest.
It had taken a while, but Mandy and Michael absorbed some fundamentals, like stance. Once they learned to operate the bow, things would progress quickly—it was the same way Grandfather had taught her. The day flew by with the archery lesson.
“It’s time to introduce the arrow. This takes time to learn properly, so we will work at it,” Lydia explained. She marveled at the smaller bow and arrows Jenkins had supplied.
“Then, I’m just in time,” a deep voice said, from behind her.
“Father! Do you know how to archer too?” Mandy asked.
“It’s called archery, sweetheart. Archery is a sport that requires using a bow to shoot arrows at a target. And yes, I do.”
He gave Lydia a brilliant smile sending the memory of this morning’s kisses flooding back—something she had been fighting. And the sight of that delectable dimple sent butterflies whirling in her stomach. There hadn’t been enough time to process what had happened this morning and manage her feelings—and they were back together. They needed to discuss what had happened. Now they were together again—and in a more challenging setting.
Even though Lydia had brothers who adored their children, she knew this type of devotion between a father and his children was rare within Society—and even within her family’s social class. His adoration for the children tugged at her heart and made her wonder how he would treat a wife.
“I brought sustenance,” he announced cheerfully. A bow and quiver of arrows were slung over his right shoulder, and he carried a large picnic basket.
Behind him, Annabelle followed, carrying a small stack of lap blankets.
“We brought biscuits, cheeses, fruit, bread, and lemonade, in case you’d like a snack. And lap blankets in case there’s a chill,” the maid said, spreading a heavy blanket.
“Children, it looks like I have a second instructor joining us,” Lydia commented.
“Don’t get too excited,” he said, laughing. “I haven’t used a bow and arrow since university; I hope I haven’t forgotten how.”
“I don’t think it’s something you forget.” Lydia laughed. “Shall we take a quick refreshment break?”
The children didn’t need convincing. Mandy chose an apple and Lydia noticed the lemon biscuits were Michael’s favorites. He tucked one in his mouth and pocketed a second. “Not too many, children, or you’ll have a sour stomach from all the sugar.” While she didn’t look at him directly, she heard her charge crunch into another biscuit, and she sensed her warning had been ignored.
“I hear this is a favorite game of yours,” Damon said, withdrawing his bow and looking it over before lifting his eyes to meet hers.
“I enjoy it. My grandfather taught me,” she said, amused. Is he planning to challenge me? This could get interesting. Yet, she couldn’t miss the intensity of his gaze.
“The one that left you the watch?”
“The same. He would have been thrilled with Michael’s and Mandy’s interest. I’ve been trying to take it slow, remembering how he taught me. He let me warm to the sport first.”
