Still, for her to be alone with him, without the presence of her chaperone, must certainly be alarming for her.
And yet, a part of him felt glad that it had happened because now, at least, she was going to have to talk to him. Maybehe could finally get her to admit that something had been off between the two of them.
He sat down on a stone bench and regarded her.
“Aren’t you going to try to help find the exit?” she demanded.
“I’m not in any hurry,” he told her.
“Did you get us lost on purpose? Is that it?”
“Don’t be silly,” he said. “Of course, I didn’t.”
“You don’t exactly seem to mind it!”
“I don’t mind it, truth be told,” he said. “I think this provides a good opportunity for the two of us to have a conversation.”
“If you thinkthisis the way to convince me that you’re charming, I’m afraid you have the wrong idea altogether,” she snapped.
“I’m not trying to convince you of anything.”
“You’ve said from the start that you’re trying to charm me, so don’t expect me to think anything else right now.”
“That’s not what I want to talk about right now,” he said.
“Then what?”
“I want to know what’s going on between you and Lord Kentrow. I want the truth.”
Lady Edwina threw her hands up in the air. “How many times must I tell you that it’s nothing? He’s a friend of my brother’s.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence, please. You chose him over me at the garden party.”
“Because I was talking to him that means I chose him over you?”
“It does. Because you were meant to spend that day with me. You decided you didn’t want to do that. I was gracious about it and let you go, thinking you wanted to be with your brother. You were so distressed that I simply thought it might be good for you to have some family time instead of focusing on our date. I was trying to be generous and kind to you. And what did I see? You went straight to another gentleman. A gentleman who I then found in your home when I came to call upon you. You can’t seriously ask me to believe that there is nothing going on between the two of you. Anyone can see that there’s something.”
Lady Edwina sighed. “Matthew is trying to make a match,” she said. “Matthew is the one who has been putting us together over and over. It’s not me making that choice.”
He dared to feel a sense of hope. “Is that true?”
“Why would I lie? And besides, doesn’t this make more sense to you?” she asked. “You know I don’t want to marry. It’s the best known fact about me and the most consistent. What sense does it make to think that I’m suddenly allowing myself to be courted by Lord Kentrow? I can’t see how it makes any sense at all, and it confuses me to see you worrying about such a thing.”
“I don’t enjoy seeing you with him,” Allan admitted.
“But why? Why on Earth do you care what I do?” Lady Edwina demanded. “You’re doing this to find your perfect duchess, that’s all. Are you less able to do that because I spent my morning with Lord Kentrow? Does it get in your way somehow?”
“No,” Allan was forced to concede. “It doesn’t.”
“And Iknowyou don’t truly care about me or about what I do,” Lady Edwina went on. “It’s not as if it upsets you to think of me with him. Is it just that you aren’t able to control my behavior? Is that what’s bothering you?”
“What?”
“That’s it, isn’t it? It bothers you that I’m not bending to your will.”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Allan barked, irritated. “I’m not trying to control you. When have I ever given you any indication that I might want to do such a thing? I have no idea what you’re thinking right now.”
“If I’m wrong, then explain it to me,” Lady Edwina insisted. “I can’t understand why you care what I do, Your Grace. I’m not interested in Lord Kentrow, but even if I was—you’re entitled to five dates with me, and you’ll get them. You have been very clear about the fact that you don’t want anything else from me and that nothing else exists between the two of us, so what difference would it make to you if Ididhave feelings for another gentleman?”
