And yet she did. She couldn’t help but think that her grandmother had been right about that trip into Amblewood; she really did need some new dresses if she was going to be mixing in such society. She had expected to spend her time with her grandmother, perhaps visiting or calling upon some of her older friends – but certainly not attending dinners and balls with dukes and earls. There was far more society in Northumberland than she would have thought.
"You should take your maid," Grandmamma said, as she bade her goodbye at the foot of the stairs. "You may be in the countryside, but you still need to observe propriety."
"Oh, Grandmamma, you know how Lucy hates to ride. And besides, his mother will be there, so you needn’t worry."
In fact, she had no idea whether his mother would be there – he certainly hadn’t mentioned it – but she did notwant to drag her maid along, and she wasn’t sure that she was too worried about propriety. After all, she had been alone and unchaperoned with the man several times already, and nothing untoward had happened. Probably because he had no interest in her.
She was well aware that she was taller than a woman should be, and no great beauty, only noted when a maid took particular care over her appearance.
And in truth, she’d rather they were alone. After he had apologised, she had found him rather charming, and she wanted to see more of that side of him – without a maid, and hopefully, without his mother hovering over proceedings and making things awkward.
???
He walked around the castle before she came, checking to make sure nothing was out of place. He didn’t go into the countess’s chambers, or the nursery, for he had no wish to show anybody those. But the rest of the castle, he thought, was looking good – especially the gardens, which were in full bloom. Not that she seemed like the sort of woman who was particularly interested in gardens. It was architecture she liked, and he hoped she would enjoy his castle.
He found himself feeling surprisingly nervous. He was not sure why. After all, he had seen her three times now, and only the first had been a disaster.
He thought it was because he did not normally let anyone into his home.
He wondered if he ought to have invited his mother along for tea too – whether it would be the appropriate thing to do. But perhaps she would bring a maid, and if not, he could always ask one of his own maids to step in if propriety was a concern.
He hadn’t wanted his mother there because she would undoubtedly be critical and negative. He loved his mother dearly, and he was sure she really only had his best interests at heart, but she had her own strong views, and she was not afraid to express them.
And when she had spoken of Lady Constance, she had not been very complimentary. He would not want the lady to be insulted in his home. He very much did not want her insulted at all.
???
If she were a properly fine lady, she thought, she would have taken the carriage, so that she would not appear windswept when she arrived. But she did not like to be stuck in stuffy carriages when it was not necessary, and she much preferred the fresh air. Besides, these coastal paths were so narrow that many would not allow a carriage to safely pass, and so the driver would have had to take a much longer route, which seemed foolish. No – she was happy to ride, even if it did make her look slightly less presentable than she might have liked.
He came out to greet her, which she had not been expecting, and he was grinning as he did so. She could not help but grin back, finding her nerves melting away.
It was funny. At their first meeting, he had scared her, and then offended her. But now she found he rather put her at ease…more than any other man had done, anyway.
"I didn’t know if you’d come," he said, reaching up to help her as she dismounted. She allowed him to put his hands around her waist and guide her down, and she felt her pulse flutter as he did so.
"I said I would, in my note," she said, when her feet were safely on the ground and there was a little distance between them.
"I know – but after last time, I worried you might think better of it."
She flashed him a smile. "I think you underestimate my love of castles, Lord Gracewood."
"Would it be terribly improper if I asked you to call me Ezra, when it’s just us? It feels so formal being called ‘Lord Gracewood’, and I have been out of society for so long that I am not used to it," he said with a shrug. "It doesn’t feel like me."
"Ezra…" she said, trying it out. "Ezra. Yes, I suppose I can. My grandmother would be horrified, of course."
"And my mother," Ezra said with a chuckle. "But if no one else is around…" He gave a furtive smile, and she smiled back. It would be their secret – and it sent a thrill of excitement through her.
"Very well, Ezra. Then you should call me Constance. And now – I’ve been desperate to see this castle properly since I arrived in Northumberland."
She looked up at the façade, shielding her eyes from the sun. "You know, it’s almost a shame you’re getting rid of the vines and the ivy and so on. I’m sure it blocks a lot of the light, and perhaps it damages the brickwork. But it gives the place rather an impenetrable, magical quality." She smiled to herself. "It’s rather romantic."
Chapter Eleven
He had never thought of his castle as romantic, but he felt something now, looking at her as she gazed up at it with such adoration on her face. He had not felt anything for another woman in many, many years. He had not expected to feel anything again. And yet…there was no use denying it. She sparked something within him that he had thought long dead. Something stronger than he had ever felt before, if he were honest.
He had been fond of Laura, and they had even shared some passion, eventually. But he had never felt like a tinderbox waiting to go up in flames, as he did now.
It was dangerous and exciting, and he felt like a boy again, excited to show off his castle to her.
