“You have been out?” she asked, quickly swallowing. “Where did you go?”
“For a walk on the estate.” He gestured to the window. “I do so most mornings when it’s the summer. I live in a beautiful place. I like to admire it.”
“I would have liked to have come with you.” Mrs Winter looked more surprised than the duke did as she handed Marcus his latest correspondence.
Did I do something wrong?
Alaina bit into another piece of bread as she realized that Caroline never went for early morning walks. She usually practiced the piano, insisting that a lady should never go for a walk before late morning. Alaina had never understood such a ridiculous rule.
“Then how about we take a walk together after breakfast?” Marcus offered, such a smile on his face that she hoped she hadn’t made a mistake after all.
“I’d like that. Very much.”
Mrs Winter smiled a little and walked away from the two of them.
“You’ve startled her too,” Marcus added, leaning towards Alaina and speaking under his breath.
“Let me guess. Most ladies of the ton would not go for a walk so early in the morning.” At her words, he nodded at her acknowledgement. “I am not like most ladies of the ton.”
“I can honestly say I’m quite delighted to hear it.”
Alaina wanted to wriggle with delight at his praise but held herself back.
Well, maybe there is no harm in enjoying his company in the meantime before our plot falls through …
***
Callie strode out into the garden with purpose, breathing deeply. Marcus raced to catch up with her, startled by the pace that she set. Rather than opting for the path, she headed straight into the garden.
“Show me all the beauties of these grounds then,” she pleaded. They both glanced back at their chaperone, the maid Alaina, who was clearly having trouble keeping up with them. She was busying herself with trying her best to keep the hem of her skirt out of the mud and adjusting the ribbons of her bonnet repeatedly. “And do so quickly.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re in a hurry to be alone again with me, Callie,” he whispered as they entered the bordered gardens and practically danced around the sundial.
“What gave you that idea?” she said with innocence. “I haven’t thrown myself at your feet yet.”
“Perhaps not, though there was a moment in the library last night where I thought –”
“Shh!” She waved at him to be quiet, giggling and blushing red.
“I have an idea. This way.” He offered his hand to her.
She glanced back, but evidently seeing what he had seen, that the maid was too busy now trying to get mud off her boot, Callie gave him her hand. He pulled sharply, and they disappeared together into the thicket of trees.
“Where are we going?” she said, holding onto the bonnet on her head as they practically ran over the tree roots.
“To disappear,” he said with mischief.
He led her down a path that he had trodden many times. They jumped over fallen trees and through thickets of brambles, avoiding the main paths completely, and then they came out at a wide lake that stretched between the green parkland hills.
“Wow,” she marvelled as they came to a halt before it. “This is beautiful.”
“Let me show you one of my favourite places.” He pulled on her hand again, and to his delight, she ran with him. She didn’t bother holding onto her hat anymore but took it off, clutching it in her hand as they hurried from one edge of the lake to another, where a stone grotto stretched out before them. Covered in moss and dappled with dirt, it was a hidden building that could not be seen from the main path high above. “What do you think?” he asked.
“God’s wounds – I mean, my goodness,” she murmured. He burst out laughing at the way she corrected herself.
“You don’t have to be so polite with me in your cursing, you know,” he said with glee and towed her towards the entrance. “You want to see inside?”
It was an old structure, introduced to the grand grounds a hundred years or more ago. He knew as well that his father had spent significant money on the repairs, though he barely went there. Instead, it had become Marcus’ refuge from the house.
