It was foolish of him to behave like a spoiled child and resent someone else’s win over something utterly inconsequential.
Yes, he failed miserably at being a good sport. Perhaps winning mattered to him because Cherish was watching and he wanted to look like a conquering hero in her eyes.
Bah, it was the opposite of what he ought to want.
Bloody blazes, he was still reeling from that brief touch of her lips.
He stopped at the top of the stairs and simply looked out across the water as the sun began to set. The colors of the sky were a brilliant mix of orange and lavender, and the sea glistened. There was a lightly salty tang to the air as a soft breeze wafted across the white-foamed waves toward him.
The magnificent view and pleasant breeze ought to have calmed him, but he remained too riled to fully appreciate the beauty of his surroundings or this sunset.
He had been so determined to find the right girl for Reggie that it never crossed his mind that Cherish would feel so right forhim. But he would have to get over this unexpected longing for the girl. For pity’s sake, he had only known her a few days. Not even a week. Not evenhalfa week. That Fiona had been writing to him about her for several months did not count other than to explain why he felt so comfortable around her.
His heart hitched when he sensed Cherish approaching.Oh, great.Now he couldfeelher presence before he ever set eyes on her.
This was very bad.
He heard her soft laughter a moment later, so he turned to her with a frown. “Don’t you dare berate me.”
She came to his side and smiled up at him. “Fiona sent me to calm you down and return you to the party. She said to tell you that she apologizes profusely for saddling you with the three silliest guests at her party and…” Cherish burst out laughing. “Oh, please forgive me. I hope you know I am laughing at the situation and not at you. I would never laugh at you.”
He groaned.
“Truly, I had no idea Fiona was so diabolical. It was such a wicked, wicked thing for her to do to you, especially knowing your nature. I could almost see smoke pouring from your ears each time your team botched an answer. The frustration you must—”
“I thought you said Fiona had sent you to calm me down.”
She nodded. “Oh, yes. Sorry, but do allow me to tease you just a little. You are so perfect in everything you do, it is quite daunting to us all. So, to see you brought low in this harmless way… And it was harmless, you must admit. But how you must have gritted your teeth and tried to slog through the evening. You looked so…”
“Foolish?”
“No,dismayedis the better word.” She laughed again, unable to stifle her melodic trills. “Oh, do ignore me. I am so relieved to find you are actually human and not this unreachable paragon. She pushed you too far and asked me to convey to you that she is truly sorry.”
Gawain shook his head. “No, I should not have stalked off as I did. These were simple parlor games. Harmless, as you said. Iwas a poor sport and took it out on Reggie when I lost. He’s a good nephew, and I’ve been coming down on him like a hammer over the head. He is nothing like that dolt Pershing and will never be, even on his worst days.”
The wind blew softly through Cherish’s curls as she nodded. “He is handling it well. In truth, your coming down on him harder than warranted is bringing out the strength in him, don’t you think? Perhaps we all need to face a little hardship to bring out the better part of us.”
He met her gaze, loving the warmth of her eyes. “And what about you, Cherish? Do you really believe living under Northam’s roof has made a better woman of you?”
“It has forced me out of my complacency and made me think of my own needs.” She shook her head and sighed. “To be honest, I am not happy about having to toughen myself up. Oh, I am eager to be away from my ogre of an uncle, but it still feels cruel to manipulate some innocent soul into marrying me simply to enable me to escape an intolerable situation. I cannot find it in my heart to use someone that way.”
“And if that someone loved you?”
Her expression turned soft as a dream. “That would be an altogether different matter, especially if I loved him back. That would be bliss.”
She appeared ready to say something more, then shook her head again. “It is a lovely sunset, isn’t it? The same can be seen from my home… Well, what used to be my home. I was sure my father would leave it to me, since it is not part of the entailment. But my uncle and my father’s solicitor claim he did not.”
“And you trust their word?”
“I would never trust my uncle, but why would my father’s solicitor lie to me? Well, I did not question him at first, but now I am not so certain. Yet it seems so far-fetched that hewould collude with my uncle regarding this estate. He insists it is Northam’s now, and I must accept it.”
“But you haven’t?”
“No, it sticks in my craw. It feels wrong, but how am I to challenge it when the solicitor has all the documentation and I have none? So, it is time I accepted the harsh fact that Northam Hall is not mine and will never be mine. Otherwise, I will never have the courage to distance myself from all the memories I hold so dear and move on.”
She placed her hand on his arm when he said nothing in response. “We ought to return to the others.”
“You go on ahead, Cherish. I am not fit company yet.”
