The carriage rolled to a stop in front of Thornridge Castle. The duke exited, and Roman followed. “Go inside without me,” he told the duke. “I feel the need for a walk.” Riding would be too much. His leg was still too stiff after yesterday’s jaunt. “My leg needs the exercise after being in the carriage.”
Thornridge nodded. “Don’t overdo it,” he told him. “We will talk more later.” He said nothing else. Instead, he turned on his heels and went inside, leaving Roman alone.
Roman took that as his cue to start his walk. He only had one destination in mind, and he hoped he’d find the gorgeous woman he’d met the day before there. Maybe, for once, luck would be in his favor.
Four
Roman strolled into the clearing by the pond at a leisurely pace. Yes, he hoped she would be there, but he also realized rushing would go against his own interests. For several reasons… If he walked too fast, he would aggravate the still healing injuries in his leg, and how would it appear for him to come running up on her? She didn’t seem like the typical female and probably wouldn’t easily startle; however, she would quickly realize how eager he was to see her again. That would give her an advantage in their exchange, and he wanted to keep them on equal footing. At least for as long as possible…
Everything changed inside of him when he met her. It was almost as if he’d been waiting his entire life to meet her, and now that he had, Roman had one goal. To have her by his side for the rest of their lives. He stopped near a tree and glanced around him, then grinned like the fool he most likely was when he noticed a horse tied to a post in the distance.
He hadn’t seen her yet, though. Where had she disappeared to? Roman headed in the direction of the pond, glancing around him as he made his way to where he hoped to find her. Underneath a large tree with leaves budding, he found her on a blanket with a leather-bound book in her lap. She seemed engrossed in the pages and hadn’t yet noticed him walking toward her.
Roman stopped in front of her and waited. Slowly, she lifted her head and met his gaze. A smile filled her face as she stared up at him. “You’re sneakier than you were last time,” she said, then laughed. “Aren’t you a surprise?”
He lifted a brow. “Is that so terrible?” Roman didn’t wish to tell her about his infirmity yet. The last thing he wanted was for her to see him as some sort of cripple. He had worked hard to overcome his difficulties, and he still had more work to do, but he fully believed he would recover.
She closed the book and tucked it away into a small bag. He was curious about it, but didn’t ask. She stood up and brushed down her trousers. Her hair was bound, and he found he was disappointed that they were not flowing over her as they had been before. Instead, they were wound around her gorgeous face in firmly secured plaits. Finally, she glanced at him and said, “I had hoped to see you again.”
“You did?” That surprised him. He hadn’t thought she would admit to wanting to see him again, but he was glad she had. Her smile, though not bright, carried a hint of sadness. He didn’t like it. “Because we won’t be here much longer. I wanted to apologize for my rude behavior.”
“I didn’t think you were rude,” he told her as her worlds seared through him. “Where are you going?” He focused on what was most important. Roman couldn’t very well court her if he couldn’t find her. He had thought he could handle his mother and be seen around London a bit, then return to her. That wouldn’t work if she left.
“To London, of course,” she said, as if that was the only answer that could be acceptable. “I’m to have my first season.” She shrugged. “Well, Maeve and I are.”
She was one of the twins… He still didn’t know her name, but at least he could narrow down which one she was not. He smiled. “That’s wonderful,” he told her. He felt that in his very bones. He had just decided to return home and then go to London. They would be in the same city and he could court her openly during the season.
“It is?” She raised both brows. “I’m afraid I do not understand your happiness at my upcoming season.”
He may regret his next words, but he did not see any reason not to tell her. “Because I’m leaving soon too,” he explained. “I’ll be in London soon enough as well. Perhaps we shall meet again there.”
Her smile held more warmth when it slowly filled her face. He basked in it and wanted to lean down and kiss her. It was too soon. Roman didn’t wish to frighten her away.
“I would very much like to see you again,” she admitted, then tilted her head to the side to study him. “You don’t know me. Why do you wish to be around me?”
Did she not realize how truly beautiful she was? There was something absolutely pure about her. When she glanced at him with those inquisitive eyes, he almost became speechless. Somehow, he found enough to utter, “Because you are a delightful surprise I never knew to wish for.”
Her eyes widened, and she stepped closer to him. “I feel the same about you,” she admitted.
They were so close now he could close the distance and give in to the need to kiss her. He shouldn’t. How scandalous would that be? He’d kiss her and compromise her without even knowing her name…
“I should go.” His voice came out gruff as he fought his need to kiss her. He would not accost her like a lecherous old man. “You were occupied when I strolled toward you.”
“Do you have to leave?” she asked. “I’d like for you to stay.”
He could stay and listen to her speak for hours, or not say anything at all. Roman calmed in her presence and just felt content. “Do you think that is wise?”
She studied him for several moments and then said, “If you must leave me, I have one request before you do.”
“Anything,” he said and meant it.
“Kiss me,” she told him.
He couldn’t have heard her correctly. “Pardon me?”
She flicked her tongue over her bottom lip and stepped closer. “You heard me, Lord Kendal,” she insisted. “Kiss me. I know you want to.”
He closed his eyes and groaned. It would be so easy to do as she asked, and he wasn’t strong enough to resist her. Now when she was asking him to do the very thing he desperately wanted. Roman cursed and pulled her into his arms, then pressed his lips to hers. His entire body erupted with need at the contact. He slanted his lips over hers, and when she opened her mouth on a gasp, he slid his tongue inside. Their tongues tangled together as their desire became an entity they couldn’t control.
