Free Love's Justice (Entangled Scandalous) by Joan Avery Page B

points.”
    Lady Edith smiled and shook her head at her husband’s backhanded compliment. She was about fifty feet from the target. For Victoria, it might have been a mile.
    Lady Edith set the arrow, pulled back the bow, and with an expert eye let the arrow go flying. It just missed the absolute center of the target by an inch or two.
    “Bravo. Now you, Lady Whitney?” Lord Percy held out the bow and Emily went to him. She seemed to know what she was doing.
    Emily let fly an arrow and it landed with strength six inches out from Lady Edith’s.
    “Miss Westwood?”
    “I’m sorry, I’ve never mastered the sport.”
    “You do not have to have mastered it to enjoy it,” Lord Montgomery said.
    “Please, I will only embarrass myself.”
    “Lord Montgomery can show you how it’s done, can’t you, Monty?” Lord Percy was being a little too helpful.
    “No, please.”
    Lord Montgomery approached her and spoke so only she could hear. “Are you afraid you’ll fail? I suspect you’re not accustomed to failing.”
    It was a challenge, but it also struck too close to the truth. She wasn’t used to failing. She had always played to her strengths, not her weaknesses. She feared appearing frail or uninformed.
    But she was not about to let the challenge go. She took in a breath. “If you insist.”
    She took the bow and an arrow from Lord Percy, who stood with Lady Edith. How hard could it be? As long as she didn’t make a complete fool of herself.
    She tried to remember what she had seen. She slotted the arrow with some trouble and pulled back, surprised by the strength it took to move the bowstring back toward her face. Then something went quickly and completely wrong. She pinched her finger and released the arrow before she was ready. The arrow barely made it ten feet before burying itself in the ground. She stood there mortified. She would not admit her embarrassment was made worse by the presence of Lord Montgomery.
    “You just need some instruction,” Lord Percy offered kindly. “Monty, help the poor girl. She needs but a little encouragement.”
    Victoria shook her head. She could deal with being mortified, but being too near to Lord Montgomery could be disastrous.
    Everyone seemed to ignore her head shake. Lord Montgomery approached. “Face the target once again,” he instructed.
    He retrieved the misfired arrow and handed it to her. Then he moved behind her and placed his arms around her, guiding her hands with his. His breath stirred the fine hairs at the nape of her neck. She could feel the heat of his whole length. It was completely distracting. Her heart was beating so fast she was afraid she might faint and further embarrass herself.
    Damn him.
    Why did he always catch her off guard, when she was least prepared? Now she was in his arms again with no means of escape. She tried to concentrate, but she was too rattled to do anything but follow his lead.
    He helped her pull back the bowstring, and there was a moment’s expectation, tantalizing and exhilarating. It stopped her heart. Then the arrow flew. It hit the target in the outer ring.
    She let out a breath of relief. He had not moved. It seemed to her he waited a moment longer than necessary before he backed away.
    “Bravo. Bravo. You see, you simply need some practice,” Lord Percy said. “I don’t think we should embarrass Miss Westwood any further by forcing her into a sport with which she is unfamiliar. I see carriages with other guests are approaching and the men will no doubt want to go hunting immediately. You will have to leave us to our own devices, my dear.” He gave his wife a kiss on the cheek.
    “As you wish, darling. As you wish,” Lady Edith replied.
    Lord Percy, Lord Whitney, and Lord Montgomery headed toward the stables while the women walked slowly back to the house.
    Victoria didn’t move immediately. Everything she had heard and felt only confused her more. Who was this man? And why did she react viscerally to his presence? If