She felt herself sway toward him, a natural result of his mysterious, piratical appeal. Any woman would be susceptible to that look, and she was no exception.
“What can I do for you, Adalyn?”
She found herself fixated on his lips, full and teasing as they smiled at her. She struggled to focus on his question, whatever it had been.
“Oh, yes. I apologise. You distracted me.”
“Good,” he grinned without a lick of shame.
She swallowed and widened the distance between them. “I have been asked to dinner by Sir Amery Fairhurst,” she began.
“That bounder,” Trick swung away to hang up the tack he’d carried into the room. “Don’t trust him an inch, Adalyn.”
“I don’t,” she answered. “Neither do Giles and Jeremy. They were present when he invited me. As was his niece Judith.”
That brought a response. “Niece? First I’ve heard of such a relative.” He looked suspicious.
“She’s a charming young girl, and a bundle of nerves, I think,” commented Adalyn. “And it would certainly make it easier for me to have her at the dinner table.”
“True,” he nodded, leaning against the battered old desk and crossing his arms. “So how can I help?” He held up a hand. “Wait. We should have tea. Will you join me in my quarters, Adalyn?”
Curiosity flooded her. “I should love to see them, Trick. You have a room in the main house, don’t you?”
He took her arm. “I do, yes. And ’tis warm when nights get icy, as they have this winter. But there’s still my private little piece of Wolfbridge and I’d be honoured to share it with you…”
“Then please, show me?”
He walked her from the tack room back outside and around to the rear of the barn where a set of wooden stairs led up to a door high on the wall.
Making sure she didn’t trip, Trick helped her up and opened the door. “Welcome to my chambers, Adalyn.”
Intrigued, she walked inside.
And blinked.
It was a large room, with light coming in from several windows at one end. There was an old fashioned fireplace complete with a pot hanger, and comfortable furniture, along with a huge bed, covered now with a thickly stuffed quilt.
There were thick curtains and Adalyn guessed it would be snug on cold days, even though on winter nights Trick might decide to sleep in the Manor.
“How nice this is,” she said, turning to him with a smile. “I had no idea it was here.”
“That’s the joy of it,” he answered. “A secret place of my own. What man could ask for more?”
She walked to the hearth. “And you can heat water…”
“Indeed I can,” he joined her and stoked up a cheerful blaze. Swinging the large kettle over it, he stood back. “Tea shortly. A good fire warms the water like the tea warms the soul.”
“Lovely,” she chuckled. “May I?”
“Sit, Adalyn. Please.” He nodded as she gestured to one of the two chairs. “Now tell me about this plan of yours, because you’ve the looks of a woman who has had an idea and needs a bit of a hand with it.”
He busied himself with teacups and saucers and opened a small cupboard to remove a jug of milk as she watched.
Noticing her gaze, he shrugged. “There are cows. I need milk.”
“You know how to milk a cow?” she asked out of curiosity. “I understand the association but I don’t think I could actually get a cow to part with any.”
“You just have to know how to stroke them and make them happy,” he said. “Like all women. Stroke them with kindness and the right touch and they’ll be happy.”
