“I always talk.”
He grinned. “I know, but try to keep your mouth pinched tightly closed, then no one will be the wiser. Or…I could kiss youinappropriately and we’d both have orange tongues. You know, mix yellow and red, get orange.”
She tossed an ice shaving at him. “Keep your yellow tongue to yourself, Your Grace.”
He angled left and the ice shaving missed him and fell to the floor, quickly melting under the heat of the day. “You never could aim straight. Come on. Let’s go before we start an ice fight in here. Where to next?”
“Would you mind if we browsed the shops?”
“Not at all. Hurrah, sounds like oodles of fun.”
“Do not be sarcastic,” she said with a trill of laughter. “Were you not the one who suggested this outing? I would have been content beating you with a croquet mallet.”
“Oof, violence does not become you.”
“I meant beating you in a game, not actually hitting you over the head until your brains spilled out.”
“Delightful.” He rose and offered his arm. “Besides, as I said, your aim is execrable. You could never beat me at any lawn games that require an accurate eye and a steady hand.”
She tipped her chin up in playful defiance. “Challenge is on, Durham. I shall have you weeping because I am going to beat you so badly, you shall be on your knees in utter devastation.”
“Oh, you think so? A complete rout? That will never happen, demon who has taken possession of Fiona’s body.” He led her out of the confectionery shop, his chuckle light and playful as he held open the door for her. “But let’s wait for Cherish’s house party guests to arrive before we play for points. I want to have an audience when I soundly defeat you.”
She laughed as they started down the street toward the elegant shops. “You are such a fake, Rob. All I’d have to do is sniffle and pretend I am about to cry, and your soft heart would melt and let me win.”
“Consider me warned.” He paused to peer in the window of a jeweler’s shop. “Come inside with me. Lots of sparkly things to catch your eye.”
“Ooh, pretty. You should buy a trinket for the young lady you choose to marry.”
“You know our deal,” he said more sternly than intended, but the mention of anyone other than her occupying his heart just made him bitter. “I don’t offer for anyone until three months has passed.”
“Fine,” she said, turning away a moment so he would not see the flash of pain in her eyes. But she hadn’t turned away fast enough, and he saw her smile crumble. “Why must you be so stubborn? You know the wait is unnecessary. Nothing is going to happen with me. Did you notice those children at the table next to ours?”
He nodded, giving her cheek a light caress. “I did.”
“Weren’t they lovely?” She cast him a fragile smile, obviously forcing herself to ignore her own pain and be happy for this family who were livingherdream. “I wanted to reach out and hug them,” she said, her voice shaky. “A boy and a girl. How sweet they were. That’s what you must have for yourself.”
He put a finger to her lips. “Not thinking about it for the rest of this week, and nor should you. Come on, you’re my hostess. It is right that I choose a gift for you. Tell me what you like.”
“It isn’t necessary.”
“I know. I still want to get you something nice.” He put his arm around her to offer comfort for the terrible ache he knew she was feeling. “Diamonds? Rubies? Sapphires? Emeralds? Anything catch your eye?”
He could easily afford to buy her every beautiful piece in the shop. However, he knew it wasn’t the gems Fiona wanted. Pretty sparkles did not interest her. She wanted something that held meaning for both of them.
She said no to the diamonds and sapphires the jeweler brought out to show her. Refused the glittering necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and earrings on display. “They sparkle like the stars,” the jeweler said, hoping to coax Fiona into selecting something expensive. “Don’t you love starlight, m’lady?”
“I do,” Fiona said, giving Rob an impish smile.
But she remained firm in her resolve, for she was all about sentiment.
“Would you happen to have a brooch of a clown eating an orange ice?” Rob asked, grinning at Fiona.
The jeweler looked at him cross-eyed. “No, Your Grace. Surely you jest.”
“Oh, no. He is absolutely serious,” Fiona replied, unable to resist a chuckle.
His absurd comment had put a genuine gleam of joy on her face.
