“You don’t expect me to believe that, do you? You must not make fun at Hannah’s expense or we will never be invited back to Summerhaven, and I will never forgive you.”
Damon nodded. “Hannah does tend to hold onto offense, Mr. Atherton. Best make your apologies now.”
“I donothold onto offense,” I protested.
“You do.” Damon grinned, and he reached out to touch the curls that framed my face. “Should I provide a few examples?”
I batted his hand away with a frown.
“That won’t be necessary, Jennings,” Mr. Atherton said to Damon, then he turned to me. “Miss Kent, please accept my most heartfelt apology.”
“No need, truly.”
Amelia tugged me to her side. “My brother can be intense, but underneath all his fancy clothes, he is a kind and gentle soul.”
“As soft as custard.” He patted his trim stomach. “I’m completely harmless.”
I believed him. For all his frills and frippery, he didn’t seem to take himself too seriously.
Ollie finally returned from his errand of loading the baskets and directing footmen, but he didn’t contribute a single word to the conversation. I searched my mind for a topic that might interest him, but then a second carriage appeared and commanded his attention.
He separated himself from our group and stood tall to greet Miss Digby. It was the ball all over again.
Amelia and Mr. Atherton followed a few steps after Ollie to greet Miss Digby.
“Breathe,” Damon said.
I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding my breath. I forced air into my lungs.
“That wasn’t so hard now, was it?” Damon said.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
He only smiled. “Even your glare is beautiful.”
My eyes widened, and I glanced at Mr. Atherton and Amelia, who stood close by. And although neither seemed to have overheard him, we had to be careful. We wanted people to believe we werebeginningto form an attachment, not about to have the banns read. I pulled him a few paces back and lowered my voice. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Shouldn’t I?”
“No. You should not. When you speak like that to me in private, it confuses things.” It confusedme.
“Go on,” he said.
“Our goal was to make Ollie and all the marriage-minded mothers believe our ruse, butyourmother believes you’ve developed atendrefor me.”
“Would that be so awful?”
“Seeing as I am in love with your brother and you with bachelorhood, yes it would be quite awful indeed.”
He laughed.
“It isn’t funny, Damon. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Nor do I.” He sobered.
“You’ll watch your words then?”
He tilted his head side to side as if considering. “I promise not to say anything in front of Mother that is not true.”
