Anger rushed through him at her words. He was vaguely aware that others thought of her that way. Hell, he had believed the very same thing when he first met her, which brought him no little shame now. That she believed it, however, made it all too real.
And she should not have to settle for such a life.
“Don’t say that,” he growled.
“Why not? It’s true.”
“It does not have to be. You could still marry, have a family.”
But she was looking at him calmly. “It’s fine. I’ve come to terms with it. I’m not afraid to face my future.” She drew herself up, and he was touched by the quiet pride that shone from her.
“But I would very much like,” she continued in a low voice, “to have some memories to bring with me into that future, my lord. To know that not all of my life has been planned and prescribed and…wasted.” Her slender fingers gripped at the fabric of her skirts. “I want to know I lived a bit. I want an adventure or two to warm me. Nothing extravagant. Just to know that I had enough bravery to try something new and daring, before the chance was lost forever.”
She only wanted a bit of an adventure? He would do that and so much more for her if it would bring a smile, even fleetingly, to that sad, too-serious face.
And who knew, maybe this was a way, however small, to begin making amends for his past sins. It would not bring Jonathan back, would not erase the pain of the past decade. But at least he could make a difference for the better in someone’s life.
“Imogen, don’t you think you had better start calling me Caleb? After all, a good adventuring would be stifled by such formalities.”
It took her a moment. But when the realization hit her that he had agreed, her entire being lit up. Not just her face, which had broken into the most glorious smile he had ever clapped eyes on, but her body as well. She straightened, and it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck her, filling her with so much energy that she fairly crackled with it.
And then she did the thing he least expected. She rushed at him, flinging her arms about him. In his shock he automatically clasped her to him. He experienced a rush of awareness as he felt every curve of her pressed to him, the warmth of her through her thin gown. The clean scent of her drifted up to him, making him slightly dizzy. And he knew he wanted nothing more than to kiss her.
He stilled, his arms gripping her a bit tighter. He had no wish to ruin their friendship. He could imagine her shock if he followed through with the urge. He had gotten away with accidentally kissing her once; he did not think he could talk his way out of it a second time.
Gently pushing her back, he looked down into her flushed face, her eyes glittering like twin stars. There was that urge again, even more insistent. He ruthlessly buried it.
“Do you have any idea what you would like to do?” he asked her.
She spread her hands wide. “I haven’t a clue,” she replied breathlessly. “I have no notion how to go about adventuring.”
If this were London, he would have all manner of outrageous things he could drag her to. But they were in the country, and there was dashed little he could offer her here.
Her eyes were wide and full of expectation. No, he thought, mad London adventures weren’t what she needed, or indeed what she would even want.
What she needed was just to loosen up her boundaries a bit, to experience fun just for the sake of it.
He smiled wickedly. “What do you say to a spot of swimming?”
Confusion clouded her face. “Swimming?”
“I know of a pond not far from here. We could go tomorrow, while everyone else goes to town for the shopping expedition.”
“Swimming in a pond in broad daylight? Oh, no, I couldn’t.” Her eyes widened considerably in shock, but he saw the lurking interest just below the surface.
“Do you even know how to swim?”
“Of course I do. Well, I did so as a child. I swam with my siblings. But ladies do not do such things…” Her voice suddenly trailed off. And then a slow smile spread across her face. “Very well, I’ll go swimming. I shall claim a headache and ask to be allowed to stay behind.”
He smiled at her approvingly. But as he saw the dawning excitement in her eyes and the way her body fairly hummed with energy, he had a moment of doubt. Swimming. With Imogen. What new hell had he foisted upon himself?
Chapter 10
It didn’t take much work to convince her mother that she should be left behind the following day. And after looking in the mirror, Imogen knew why. Her color was high, her eyes bright. Her mother must have suspected a sickness much worse than a mere headache. A giggle escaped her and she clamped her hands over her mouth. Heavens, what was she doing?
She stood in the middle of the room, at a sudden loss. She had never in her life lied to her mother, had never even considered doing so. But, strangely enough, she had not been the least concerned about her mother believing her. No, it had been Mariah that had caused her apprehension. Mariah, who had always been able to read her like an open book. But, wonder of wonders, she had even managed to convince her sister that she was unwell.
Imogen felt a brief moment’s guilt before the excitement that had been building in her all night and into the morning burned it away with a fire that would not be contained. Full of nervous energy, she moved about in agitation, donning her stoutest walking shoes, a bonnet, and a shawl. Taking up the small bundle she had readied the night before that contained a towel and spare chemise, she hurried out of the room.
