Discovery of Desire by Susanne Lord

are more interesting and accomplished a man than they are. They will not like to help you if you remind them of that.”
    The hell? He stared at her, but she looked like she believed what she was saying. And before he could puzzle out her words, she let loose of his wrist, hiked up the hem of her skirt in a fist, and swept off to a group of her friends.
    The woman wasn’t any of his business anyway.
    But she was right about helping Georgie. Why didn’t he know what was right before doing everything wrong?
    He doffed his hat to comb back his hair, and positioned it back on his head careful and straight. Mina was only half-right about those gents. They didn’t like his sort; they never had—but they’d tolerate him so long as he remembered his place.
    So it was damn stupid of him to always be forgetting it.
    And now Mina was mad at him.
    He stomped toward the hunters, but they kept company with the ladies. They’d not welcome him just then. He sorted the calling cards he’d collected and stuffed them deeper in his pockets. He’d call on every one of them tomorrow, but today he’d start with that gent in the agriculture department.
    After wandering to watch the servants load the rifles and ready the dogs, the men began separating from the ladies and retrieving their guns from their bearers, making a big show of inspecting their weapons.
    Except for Tom Grant, who was suddenly in a hustle to get to Seth.
    â€œWalpole just hauled me through the coals over you,” Tom said. “Don’t count on any help from him.”
    â€œI know it.”
    â€œWhy the devil—?”
    â€œBecause he was poaching Mina.”
    Tom’s laugh was harsh, and the anger simmering under Seth’s scalp erupted. “You’ll be sorry if she chooses another.”
    Tom shut his eyes and held up his hands. “ All right. The ladies are coming. Calm down your feelings.”
    â€œI’m thinking you’re a little too calm, Tom.” But Seth could say no more with Emma and Mina approaching.
    â€œThe hunt is about to start,” Emma said in a voice already mourning all the fallen snipe.
    Mina moved to stand beside Tom, and damned if Seth’s stupid heart didn’t sink lower.
    The men veered into the dry rice paddy, cut low now that the growing season was done, and the ladies walked a little behind on higher ground. The dogs were let loose, the snipe took wing, and the first volley of shots was a waste. Not one bird was hit.
    â€œI knew I wouldn’t stop one,” Tom mumbled.
    â€œYou’re shooting too fast,” Seth said. “Wait until the bird’s higher in the sky and less scared, not twisting to evade a predator.”
    Walpole was listening and smirked at his words. “A surprising observation from a man with no gun.”
    â€œNever hunted for sport,” Seth said, aware that everyone was suddenly listening. Including the agriculture gent.
    â€œNo?” Walpole handed his gun to his bearer to reload. “I’m rather unclear why you are here, then, Mr. Mayhew. Perhaps men of your situation are unaccustomed to pursuits of skill and concentration. Perhaps you are gratified only by more immoderate pastimes.”
    Seth clenched his teeth. He couldn’t say anything to that. He wasn’t exactly sure where the insult was in those words, but it was there all the same.
    Walpole would like him to tug his forelock and retreat to the line of servants, but Seth found himself looking at Mina instead. Composed, capable, orderly-like Mina. And she looked right back at him like she shared every thought in his head.
    And damned if that didn’t make clear as crystal what an ass Walpole was.
    The men moved quietly to their next position. The hunters stood and waited, and the dogs were released. The reeds rustled as the snipe exploded from their nests, whirling into the sky. Shots rang in his ears; the birds continued to climb—save for