Page 57 of The Duchess Games

“The games, of course. I’m going to win them.” She waved her hand nonchalantly. “But you can keep the duke.”

Cat needed her sister if she was going to stay at Penhallow. The ladies would stop focusing on her if she was no longer competing. And she had every confidence Viola could win them over.

And in the meantime, she would find the signet ring.

She would steal it.

Again. Properly, this time.

And she would go home.

She would not obsess over the fact that Callum had stood against the revenue men on her behalf. Had kicked Lady Siddal, the daughter of an earl and the widow of a marquess, out of this house. And not just for attacking the poor turtle, but for stealing her dress?

Doomed.

Utterly.

Chapter Twenty-One

There was nothing like a spot of murder to pull one out of the doldrums.

The heat had finally broken, and it was a much more temperate day that brought the party out onto the lawns for archery. The sun was bright but inoffensive, even without the tents set up for the spectators. The footmen spent the better part of the morning setting out chairs, and tables laden with treat trays and towering displays of macarons and iced tea cakes. Strawberries floated in champagne, blackberries in lemonade. Everything sparkled, from the ladies to the sweets to the gentlemen.

Percival, having found Lady Wandsworth again, was in heaven. If heaven was made entirely of cookies snuck under the table and a saucer of milk. And it absolutely was. Viola rejoined the party to a warm welcome which allowed Cat to claim a seat in the furthest tent. She was just planning her escape when Summer dropped into the chair next to her, wearing a silk dress the color of peacock feathers. Emeralds gleamed in her dark hair. “At least this is better than watercolors,” she said without preamble. “We were literally watching paint dry.”

Cat laughed. “True.”

“You are not participating?”

“My sister has recovered.”

“Hmm.”

Cat did not ask her what she meant by that. Here was another person she was going to betray, through no fault of their own. Summer would not take kindly to her brother being harmed in any way. Cat knew the potential for violent sibling defense when she saw it. She was well versed in it.

Summer poured tea from a small delicate pot painted with hedgehogs. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

Cat took a sip and choked.

Summer grinned. “I cannot be expected to survive this farce without proper fortification.”

Fortification came in the form of double malt whisky. It burned a cheerful smoky path down Cat’s throat, stealing all of the apologies she wished she could make, but could not.

“It’s not French brandy, much as I’d like to serve some to that horrible Armstrong fellow,” Summer said, adding more to Cat’s cup. “But drink up. I need a partner in crime.”

As this seemed a much easier type of crime than the one she was planning, Cat took another sip. “Your brother has always been very vocal in his support of Mr. Armstrong and his men.”

“He has, I suppose. He likes it when things are clear.”

The ladies lined up to have their turn at the bow. Helpful gentlemen hovered nearby, eager to lend assistance. Lady Ruby nearly stabbed one with an arrow when he attempted to adjust her stance without permission. Callum, wisely, was nowhere to be seen.

The archery butts were set up at the end of the freshly clipped lawns, against a swell of land and a copse. Cat felt sorry for any wayward rabbits. The birds had fled within moments of the house party trooping out in their finest riding habits and beaver crown hats.

Lord Kenilworth could not help himself and insisted on doing a demonstration. He missed the target entirely. When Blackpool drawled something in response which they could not quite make out, Summer leaned back in her chair. She sprawled mockingly, like any rakehell worth his salt. Her eyebrows raised tauntingly. “Go on then, Blackpool.”

Ladies did not shout across the lawn. Twin sisters to a duke, apparently, did. Not being a lady herself, Cat snorted a laugh. The whisky might have had something to do with that.