She thought about it. He expected that she would choose to return to the drawing room.
“The stroll,” she said, and when he offered his arm she took it. “Why specifically do you want a countess, Lord Brandon? You have had your title for six years. Why now?”
“Sometimes the stars align,” he said. “It was time to fetch Maria home. She has come without her longtime governess and companion. It makes sense to offer her a sister-in-law instead of a new companion. It is also time to consider the full responsibilities of my position—as I told you at the summerhouse. And I met you.”
“The perfect candidate,” she said. “Daughter of a marquess. Not too young for your thirty-four years, but not quite in her dotage either.”
“Yes,” he said. “But notjustfor those reasons.”
“You fell in love with me at first sight,” she said. “By the riverbank.”
“Hardly,” he told her. “If I did any falling on that afternoon, it wasin lust.”
“Because my hair was loose down my back and my legs were dangling in the water?” she said. “And my skirts were up about my knees?”
“Iama man,” he told her.
“Yes,” she said. “I had noticed.”
Was she flirting with him? There was a lightness in her tone. Washeflirting withher? He had a feeling that he was smiling and discovered that yes, he was. But no, they were not flirting. They were teasing each other. Was it the same thing? Either way it was a bit astonishing and felt rather good.
“So you wish to marry me notjustbecause you need a countess and I am eligible,” she said, “but because you arein lust with me. You are improving. That sounds a little less impersonal and offensive.”
“But only a little?” he asked.
“Is lust a good enough reason for marrying someone?” she asked.
“I believe sex is an important part of marriage,” he told her. “It would—itwill—certainly be an important part of mine.”
“And lust will be good enough for that?” she asked.
He could not see her clearly. He had lit all the candles along both sides of the gallery, but their flames had to compete with vast expanses of darkness. Even so, he was almost sure she was blushing rosily. This, he thought, was not a very proper conversation for a lady to be having.
“It will be a start,” he said as they came to the end of the gallery and turned to walk back.
“Oh?” she said. “And what will come after it? Boredom? Duty?”
“Shall we wait and see?” he asked her.
“We?”She turned her head to look at him. “Are you assuming that I will say yes, Lord Brandon?”
“I am trying to think optimistically,” he said.
“And I am thinking of what a huge risk I would be taking if I married you for lust and hoped for some vague future that mightnotbe boredom or dreary duty,” she said.
“You do lust after me, then?” he asked her.
She laughed again. “You are trying to discompose me,” she said. “You are expecting me to be shocked and deny that I feel any such unladylike thing. I beg to disappoint you. Yes, I lust after you, Lord Brandon. I havenoidea why. I think... making love with you would be an interesting experience. Now I wish to return to the drawing room if you please.”
An interesting experience.
“Are there many new names and ideas on that list of your brother’s?” he asked as he led her from the gallery a couple of minutes or so later.
“Yes,” she said. “Mr.Chandler has suggested having posters printed and pinned up in all sorts of public places between here and Ricky’s home in Gloucestershire. He is willing to travel to the closest place where there is a printing press and use his influence as a Yorkshire bank owner to make a rush order. He insists that he will pay for it all himself.”
“Dash it all,” he said. “I wonder where Ricky is tonight. At this very moment. And I wonder how Wes and Hilda are feeling. He has to be found, Estelle. He must be terribly bewildered and frightened. He will not know how to cope...”
Her hand, which was linked through his arm, pressed his arm to her side for a moment. “He will be found,” she said. “Mr.Ernest Sharpe suggested the Bow Street Runners. Hiring them seems a bit of an extreme step to take, but it is a possibility. They have a great deal of experience in tracking people down.”
