She had no right to Arran. No future awaited her with him. That didn’t make it feel any less wrong allowing Mr. Smith even that innocuous touch.
Lucy snatched her hand back and tucked it in her lap.
“Lucy…” Mr. Smith’s gentle voice called her attention back to his.
Cheeks warming, “F-Forgive me,” she repeated. “I—”
“Were woolgathering,” he said, his lips quirking in their usual effortless smile.
What perversity of her soul that she’d come to appreciate the hard-won grins of wary Arran McQuoid.
Life-hardened Arran McQuoid, who she’d be forced to reveal her deception to any moment. And that would be the end of…something that’d never even had a start.
“Given my condition, I’m the one of our pair who should be woolgathering, Lucy.”
“F-Forgive m—”
“That is now three apologies too many. No more.” Even Mr. Smith’sordercame gentle. “What I’d intended to say is this: I hit my head, but that does not mean I’m unaware some misunderstanding occurred regarding our…uh…connection.”
The wide, honest smile he wore confused Lucy enough to distract her from her misery. “It appears so, Mr. Smith.”
“Appears so? Or is so?”
“I believe it can be both?” Her voice crept up into a question. “And…it is both.” Lucy slumped in the cobalt-blue velvet upholstered folds of the armchair.
“Oh, Mr. Smith,” she whispered. “I’m in it, I am.”
He smiled like a fat cat who’d gotten into the cream. “ThisI must hear.”
Lucy scratched nervously at the back of her neck. “I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Alas, you’ve gotten me even more intrigued.” Propped against the pillows, Mr. Smith stretched his arm along the back of the gold upholstered, silk-buttoned headboard.
“Aye, well that was not my intention, Mr. Smith.” Lucy eyed the exit—hard.
“Lucy?”
“They believe I’m your…” She struggled to form the word. “Your…”
The playful gentleman lifted an impertinent eyebrow. “My…?”
Lucy’s eyes slid closed. “Your…betrothed.”
When she opened them, she found Mr. Smith frozen. The sharp slash of his features revealed nothing more than a handsome face.
Say something!
Nay!
Lucy changed her mind.
Do not say anything!
“Which is it, Lucy?”
Lucy stared quizzically at him. “Mr. Smith?”
“Do you wish me to say something or nothing?”
