“Which is why they are unacceptable for Reggie. Lady Cherish is not so mercenary. I think I will have to get to know her better if I am to warm her up to the idea of Reggie. She does not come across as grasping.”
“She is kind and generous. In truth, I wish she would be a little tougher and think more about her own interests. How else is she to escape her uncle’s clutches?”
Gawain looked toward the terrace again, his heart unexpectedly tugging as he noticed Cherish standing alone, her slender form illuminated by the golden light of the setting sun. She was incredibly pretty, and he found it difficult to tear his gaze away. Her hair gleamed as rich and beautiful as a flame-gold sunburst. “I am going to try again.”
Fiona’s eyes rounded in surprise. “But she refused you the first time. What makes you think she will reconsider?”
Gawain grinned. “I can be persuasive.”
Fiona sighed and shook her head. “She is my dearest friend and I will never forgive you if you hurt her, Gawain. She isn’t merely a mission. She may seem resilient, but she’s quite soft on the inside. Tread carefully with her heart.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Reggie’s the one who needs to appreciate her. I’ll keep an eye on him to make certain he does not take advantage.”
He left the parlor and strode out onto the terrace in time to see Lady Cherish skitter away into the garden. No doubt she had noticed his approach and chose to run off rather than face him.
Well, he would deal with her as gently as he might any skittish filly.
He ambled slowly toward her, but she wasn’t having any of it. Instead, she frowned at him and started toward the beach. Shoreham Manor was on the water and had its own private sand beach within a sheltered cove.
In truth, this was a lovely estate and quite a pleasant reprieve from London’s summer heat. He would enjoy spending more than a mere week here. An entire summer would do him nicely, swimming or riding in the mornings, and hiking in the afternoons.
But first, he needed to deal with Cherish and gain her cooperation.
Gawain folded his arms across his chest as he continued to watch the girl scurry away. He knew she could escape no farther than the beach. He would follow her into the water if had to, assuming she were so foolish as to take her escape that far.
But he knew she was no fool and was not going to leap into the water.
She came to a halt at the top of the stairs leading down to the beach, seemingly lost in thought as she stared across the crystal-blue waters. However, he had no doubt she was acutely aware of his approach.
The wind was dying down, so there was hardly a ripple upon the water. Waves gently washed to shore with the softestwhoosh. Several birds flew overhead, occasionally breaking the silence with their caws as they soared and dove against a deep blue sky.
He stopped beside her, ignoring her frown when she turned to acknowledge his presence. “Lady Cherish, we started off badly. I did not mean to embarrass you. Why do we not take a step backward and simply start again? You might find me less of an ogre as we get acquainted.”
She fumbled with her hands, first clasping them in front of her, and then setting them at her sides.
Well, Fiona had said she was shy, so perhaps the girl found his attention more disconcerting than he realized. Had he been rude to put his cards on the table within minutes of meeting her? He merely wanted to be honest, certainly did not wish to lie to her. He also did not want her thinking he was interested in her. Was this not considerate of him?
“Yes, let’s get acquainted,” she agreed, surprising him. “The sooner we get to know each other, the sooner you’ll realize how foolish your venture is. Might I suggest you stop meddling in the lives of others and simply look out for yourself?”
He laughed. “Is your tongue always this sharp, or have you honed it just for me?”
“I do not mean to speak harshly, but you are a man used to getting your way in all things. Is this not so? I suppose it is because you are always fawned over by the ladies and sought out by those who want something from you. You plow ahead like a determined bull and will not listen unless someone stops you by hitting you over the head… Verbally, I mean. I would never actually hit you.”
Gawain used this remark as an opening to tell her a little about himself, hoping it might soften her. “Walk down to the beach with me and we’ll talk. Did Fiona not tell you about my upbringing?”
“No.”
“So this is why you assume my life has always been pampered and soft.”
She glanced at him, obviously assessing his looks. “You are not soft, that much is apparent. I also know you served in the military, so your life could not have been easy for you while in service to the Crown, even if you were supplied with all the luxuries appropriate for your noble rank.”
“There are few luxuries supplied on a battlefield. As for my noble rank… Yes, I was born the son of a duke, but I was never expected to step into the title. I am the youngest of four children.”
“Youngest?”
He nodded. “I had two older brothers and a sister who was Reggie’s mother.”
She turned to him in surprise. “I did not realize…”
