“Good morning, everyone!” Amelia emerged from the terrace doors of the manor, a vision of loveliness. “I hope you are all well rested, for I have quite the adventure for you all, to liven your spirits!”
A few of the guests groaned, but there were smiles on almost everyone’s faces.
“I have arranged a treasure hunt,” Amelia announced, gesturing for the servants to come forth. They carried woven baskets, which they proceeded to hand out to the guests. “In the gardens, I have hidden one hundred of these.” She took a bright red star out of her pocket. “The couple who finds the most shall win the grand prize, though I shall not tell you what that is until it has been won.”
Leah instantly grabbed her husband, while Olivia did the same. The two other married couples followed suit, while the rest stared awkwardly at the ground as if awaiting some painful punishment. There was an even number of remaining ladies and gentlemen which, now that Phoebe viewed it, seemed somewhat deliberate.
“Please, decide your pairs,” Amelia instructed. “One lady and one gentleman apiece.”
Phoebe watched Jacob like a hawk, her heart lurching as he walked slowly in Ellen’s direction, their eyes locked on one another. She stepped forward, braced to usher Ellen toward literally anyone else, when a shadow fell across her.
Daniel cleared his throat. “Would you do me the honor of partnering with me?”
“Me?” Phoebe faltered, so surprised by the request that she forgot what she was meant to be doing.
He nodded. “Yes, if that would not be too torturous for you.”
“Should you not be asking Joanna to join you?” Phoebe regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth.
Daniel smiled. “It is your approval that I must earn first, and that is why I would like you to be my partner.” He swept a hand toward another pair, who were giggling together on the slope. “Besides, Joanna has already been claimed, and I shall not be the one to tear Caro away. She has had her heart set on this all morning, to ‘get to know’ Joanna better.”
“Your mother said one gentleman and one lady,” Phoebe pointed out. “Why are they the exception?”
Daniel laughed. “Because it is Caro. My mother cannot refuse anything my sister requests. Fortunately, it has not caused her to be spoiled.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “And worry not, your other sister will not be pairing with the Baron.”
Phoebe’s gaze darted back to Ellen, who had a face like thunder, glaring at the retreating back of another young lady who had her hand on Jacob’s and was walking away with him. Too distracted by Daniel, Phoebe had missed what had happened. Meanwhile, Caroline looped her arm through Ellen’s, pulling her into a giggling trio.
“They will be hunting as a trio,” Daniel explained. “My dear Caro also wished to get to know Ellen better, and the two gentlemen from dinner, Lord Peter and his friend, Mr. Hebden, have been… excused from the game on account of their liquor-induced maladies.”
Phoebe blinked in astonishment, recalling the two men who had insulted her last night. They stood off to one side, and though they did not appear to be too unwell, they looked relieved to not be taking part in the treasure hunt.
“Did you arrange it this way?”
“I… meddled a little bit,” Daniel admitted.
Phoebe turned to him, dumbstruck. “How did you know?”
“How did I know that you did not wish for Ellen and Jacob to be near one another?” A smile brightened his eyes. “It was obvious on your face, the moment he stepped into the drawing room. I know you consider me to be an oaf, Miss Wilson, but I am rather adept at reading people.”
A mild gust of wind could have blown Phoebe down—she was so overwhelmed with gratitude and confusion. Yet, the part that unnerved her the most was the realization that he might be able to read what she was thinking, at that very moment. Even if he could not, the flush in her cheeks would undoubtedly betray her.
“And this is for Joanna’s sake?” Phoebe checked, her stomach fluttering and unsettled.
Daniel nodded. “Of course. I did tell you I would not relent.”
“Yes, you did,” she replied quietly, her chest heavy with that same press of disappointment she had felt the previous evening, when he had insisted that his defense of her at the dinner table had just been for Joanna’s sake, too.
It remained inexplicable, to Phoebe, why she should feel any disappointment at all. She should have been feeling exasperation or annoyance or anger that he would not respect her wishes. Even resignation or appreciation would have been better than the peculiar pinch of disappointment, for at least she would have been able to understand where it was coming from. Standing at her side was a man she was not supposed to like andhadactively reviled since their first meeting, so what was this trickery inside of her, muddling everything?
“And you told me you would not either,” Daniel continued. “However, I still think that I can change your mind. I thought this morning’s game might be an excellent opportunity to further my campaign. So, what do you say?”
Phoebe thought about telling him that his mother did not approve of the match either, but she decided to keep that in reserve, a secret weapon for when it became necessary. Besides, it was just a treasure hunt, and if she was paired with him, that meant he would not be alone with Joanna.
“Very well, but I must continue to tell you not to raise your hopes,” she replied. “I am a fortress, and no siege can defeat me.”
Daniel grinned. “Then it is fortunate that I brought my grappling hooks.”
“I have traps for that.” She cast him a pointed look, but the very second she met his gaze, tumbling into those dark pools, she feared that she was the one about to fall into something she could not escape from.
