“I did,” Marianne replied. “But I truly have never traveled. What if I do not like it? And what should I even look at? And will that fulfill my life?”
Lucien slipped to the edge of his seat, captivated. She was opening up to him in a way he had not expected.
“Did you not think about returning to the convent?”
“I did,” she replied. “But I suppose in many ways I wanted to go to the convent so I could escape my inevitable fate of being married off to some nobleman and engaging in an empty life ofballrooms and parlors and drawing room tea ceremonies. Now I do not have to do that. And thus, I don’t know what to do with myself.”
Lucien leaned back and scratched his chin. Stubble had grown that he hadn’t bothered to remove. Did she like that, he wondered briefly, then shook his head. It didn’t matter if she liked it or not.
“Well, was there never anything that you were passionate about? Maybe something that can be reawakened? Music perhaps, or reading, or something of that nature?”
Marianne nodded. “I always loved books because I wanted to escape into other worlds. Have adventures.”
“And traveling would be an adventure,” he said. “And you would have your friend with you, so it would not be lonely.”
“Yes,” she said, “but it is one thing to dream of something and quite another to suddenly have it. I have all the freedom now, but I do not know what to do with it. What if I am not any good at exploring?”
“There is but one way to find out. We should try it out,” he said. “Let us go together and explore something.”
“What?” she asked.
“There is an ancient manor not far from here. It dates back to the Tudor times. There has been a fire and some other calamity that has befallen it, and it is the ugliest place I have ever seen, but if you enjoy exploring, it is ideal for you.”
Marianne smiled. “And you will take me?”
“I will take you at first light. It should not be a problem for you since I’ve seen how early you rise. You put the nuns to shame, I am certain.”
She laughed. “Juliet will tell you otherwise. She used to have to pull my covers away to make me get up. And the nuns would tell you the hours were godly hours.
“I suppose most would disagree with that notion, but then, that is why we are nobles and not nuns. Now, pray, do you think you can manage a horse ride there?”
“I should think so, as long as we do not gallop. Or perhaps we could take a carriage?”
“I am afraid not,” he said. “For that would not be proper exploring, would it?”
She dipped her head to the side. “So you wish to tell me that we could take the carriage, but I ought to ride instead?”
He smiled. “I would never presume to tell you what to do. However, I venture to say that if you wish to adventure properly,you ought to do it without the comfort of a carriage. After all, how will you explore the New World if you must depend upon comfort?”
“I had in mind places more accessible,” she fired back, and Lucien leaned forward.
“Ah, but there is no challenge in that. Is there? And you, dearest Marianne, strike me as someone who likes a good challenge. Unless you feel you cannot manage.”
She blinked at him, her eyes sparkling as she rose to her full height. “I dare say, I think it is you who wishes to have a challenge. Also, are you suggesting that perhaps I cannot ride on my own?”
“You suggested the carriage,” Lucien replied with a shrug and a smirk.“I assure you, I can manage perfectly.”
“Good then. Shall we go this afternoon?” he asked.
“I will be ready.”
“Very well,” he replied and bowed rather theatrically. She curtsied in reply, and each gave a small chuckle.
Then, she walked away, and Lucien was left to stand there, looking after her with a strange mixture of feelings in his stomach. He was at once looking forward to the afternoon andat the same time dreading it, for this, he knew, was crossing a boundary he hadn’t previously considered crossing.
And yet, he could not help himself.
CHAPTER 15
