Page 38 of Savage Blooms
Eileen moved behind her, pressing their bodies together, and Nicola was enveloped in Eileen’s scent. She smelled like cracked peppercorn and pressed irises, and her long hair tickled the back of Nicola’s neck as the lord helped her hoist the gun into the air.
“Trust the strength of your arms,” Eileen murmured, her lips nearly brushing Nicola’s overwarm earlobe. “Lookdown the barrel at that little bead near the mouth of the gun, that’s your north star. And no matter what you do, don’t take your eye off the target. You want to give the signal?”
“Pull!” Nicola called, feeling silly and exhilarated at the same time.
One of the clay pigeons flew into the sky, and Nicola obeyed Eileen’s instructions, keeping her eye trained on the target as it spun through the air. A heartbeat passed, then two, then Eileen’s finger slid down to curl around Nicola’s and pull the trigger.
There was a loud bang, a kick of recoil that shoved Nicola back into Eileen, then, gloriously, the clay shattered in midair.
Eileen let out a triumphant whoop, then took the rifle back from Nicola and slung her arm around her shoulders in a tight hug. Nicola, whose brain felt a little fuzzy from all the close contact, could do little but hold on.
“Well done, well done!” Eileen said. “You’re a natural.”
Nicola understood Adam and Finley a little better right now, at least the way they hung on Eileen’s every word.
“I didn’t realize shooting lessons were included in Craigmar hospitality,” someone said, and Nicola turned to find Finley leaning against a nearby tree, watching them both with a strange, hard glitter in his eyes.
“Want a go, Finney?” Eileen asked, thrusting the gun out to him.
“You know I don’t like guns. Don’t let her bully youinto taking up her hobbies, Nicola. Next thing you know she’ll have you out with the hounds hunting hare.”
It sounded like he was half joking, but Nicola balked at the idea of killing a real animal, especially the fat hares that she had spied hopping across the green from her bedroom window. Still, she was enjoying getting to know Eileen better without either of the boys around.
“I wanted to learn,” Nicola said, the wind sweeping her short curls back from her face. She stuck her chin out imperiously, the way she did when she wanted the last word on something. Finley had barely spoken to her over the last day, despite the surface-level pleasantries at dinner. He didn’t get to give her the cold shoulder and then show back up to boss her around.
Finley’s frown deepened, but he said nothing more to Nicola. Instead, he turned to Eileen.
“Dr Dasgupta is going to be here in an hour, and he’s going to wonder why you aren’t in bed.”
“And I’ll tell him that I no longer need to be confined to my room.”
“He ordered bedrest, Eileen.”
“What does he know about what my body needs? Fresh air and exercise, that’s the cure for what ails me.”
“He’s been your doctor since you were a child,” Finley said flatly. “I think he knows a thing or two about what you need.”
“Bah,” Eileen muttered, and hoisted her gun back up against her shoulder. “I’d stand back, if I were you.”
And with that, their conversation was over. Eileen went back to shooting her clay pigeons, and Nicola was left standing awkwardly with Finley, who was quietly fuming.
Nicola turned to him and opened her mouth to say something, anything, but then he just gave a curt nod and started away from her with his long strides.
Nicola jogged to catch up. If he ran, she would chase, at least until she was sure he didn’t want to be caught.
“Did I do something wrong?” Nicola asked as she came up alongside him.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Finley said, not meeting her eyes. Nicola wanted to scream. First he stared at her like she was a gift from God, now he couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge her existence.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Well, you’ve also been rude,” Nicola said, temper stirring inside her chest. “Listen, if I overstepped myself with that kiss, just say so. I don’t want you angry with me. We’ve all got to get along out here.”
Finley stopped suddenly and turned around, and she nearly collided with his broad chest. His hands came up to stabilize her shoulders.
“You think I’m angry with you?” he echoed.
