“One more and then you can try, Daphne,” Jane said. She lined up the arrow and let go. Again, the missile whipped through the air and hit the bull’s-eye in the center.

“Imagining anyone’s head? Not mine, I hope,” came a sarcastic male voice.

Jane lowered the bow and swung around to watch the man heading across the lawn toward them. She narrowed her eyes as he approached. “If you care to stand in as my target, Upton, that can easily be arranged.”

Lucy pulled up her skirts, and rushed to greet her cousin. “Garrett, I’m so glad you’re here. I worried you wouldn’t get away in time for the house party.”

Garrett greeted Daphne before he replied to his cousin. “I rearranged some things on my schedule.”

“Ah, a wonder. Who knew drinking and gambling were so easily rearranged?” Jane gave him a tight smile. She caught Daphne’s gaze and rolled her eyes. Daphne giggled.

“It’s nice to see you, too, Miss Lowndes,” Garrett replied. “I’ll forgo standing in as your target, as tempting as that offer is. I see you have your ever-present book.”

Jane squinted at the spot on the grass where she’d placed her book. “I’m surprised you recognized it, Upton, you not being a reader.”

Daphne stepped closer to Jane and took the bow from her hands while Jane made her way over and scooped up her book.

“Reading is quite overrated if you ask me, Miss Lowndes. Besides, you do enough reading for both of us,” Upton replied. “What is it you’re reading this time?”

Jane gripped the book. “It’s Montague’s Treatise on the History of Handwriting and Graphology, if you must know.”

“Good God, that sounds every bit as dull as I expected,” Upton shot back.

Hands on her hips, Lucy glanced between the two of them. “You two, don’t start. We’re here for Cass and Julian’s wedding, I’ll have you remember, and we have a sennight to get along and enjoy ourselves before the festivities. Let’s start off on a good foot, shall we?”

Upton turned to Jane. “That is entirely up to Miss Lowndes and whether she chooses to employ her razor-sharp tongue. Seems I’ve already become her target without the benefit of the bow and arrow.” He gave her a long-suffering look. “Shall we, Miss Lowndes?”

Daphne paused in pulling an arrow from the quiver to wait for Jane’s answer.

“Shall we what?” Jane asked.

Upton tilted his head to the side. “Shall we call a truce? For Cassandra’s sake? For the sennight?”

Jane shrugged one shoulder. “I’ve no desire to cause strife during Cass and Julian’s wedding. Though if I were you I’d stay out of my line of fire, Upton. I’m awfully good at shooting.” She turned back to Daphne, a small grin that Upton couldn’t see planted firmly on her lips.

Daphne smothered her smile behind her raised arm.

“That didn’t sound like a yes to me,” Upton replied.

Jane rolled her eyes where only Daphne could see. “That’s because it wasn’t a yes, Upton. Do try to keep up.”