Yet the thoughts were there in an instant. She saw the two of them in his library, the way he had bent towards her, his lips hovering over hers, ready to kiss her.
Oh, how I wish we could share that kiss again.
“Come, come, let’s go to dinner,” Lady Silverton said with an eager smile. She bustled them ahead of her with a wave of her handkerchief.
“My Lady, you forgot your shawl,” Caroline called.
“I have no need of it, thank you.”
“Oh, you must.” Caroline hurried forward. “A lady must have her shawl,” she said hurriedly and passed it into Alaina’s grasp.
“Thank you.” Alaina took it, though she spied something out of the corner of her eye, which made her falter. Lady Silverton’s own smile had dropped just a little. She was now looking at Caroline most acutely. “Well, shall we go for dinner?” Alaina said as quickly as she could, bustling them away.
Within minutes, they were settled in the dining room tighter, with Marcus at the head of the table, and the two ladies sat on either side of him. Tonight, Caroline was helping the other maids as they served the table.
“There is so much I need to show you about Hertfordshire, my dear,” Lady Silverton said amid praise of Alaina’s supposed new home county. “There are such wonders to see, castles too. If you share my nephew’s love of poetry, I am sure there are many sights to inspire you both.”
“I’d like that, thank you,” Alaina whispered. She hesitated, unsure once again which fork to pick up to eat her fish. Caroline, who was topping up her glass, managed to push one of the forks towards her discretely, and Alaina snapped it up.
As Alaina lifted her head to smile at Lady Silverton, she saw the lady’s eyes were on her hand.
Wait … did she see what Caroline did?
“Aunt, I would be glad to show Callie the sights,” Marcus said, clearly not having noticed it. Alaina hurried to eat, hoping to cover up what had happened. “We do not need an escort.”
“You are not married yet, nephew,” she reminded him with a chuckle. “Though your eagerness is encouraging, I daresay.”
Marcus looked at Alaina. It was barely there, but he subtly winked, for her eyes only. She managed to hide her laugh behind her wine glass, covering it up as a cough.
The thought he could be eager to marry her for something other than the money made Alaina take a rather large gulp of wine to quench her sudden raging thirst.
She thought of the lucky woman who would be taken to bed by Marcus on their wedding night. That woman would be the fortunate one to feel his lips on hers. That woman would be the one to experience his hands wandering over her, exploring her, as he whispered poetic and beautiful things in her ear.
Alaina fidgeted so much in her chair to relieve a sudden ache between her legs that she didn’t notice she had spilled her wine. Caroline stepped forward and mopped it up.
“Poise,” she hissed in Alaina’s ear so no one else could hear her. Alaina reset her balance and looked at Lady Silverton, realizing suddenly that she had been practically ogling Marcus with no shame at all.
“Well,” Lady Silverton paused long enough to look between Caroline and Alaina, “I am excited to hear your plans. Nephew, what plans do you have for the estate?”
Yet Alaina couldn’t concentrate now as Marcus talked about all the kind things he wished to do for his tenants. Alaina was all too aware of the number of times that Lady Silverton glanced her way. Though she seemed as kind and warm as ever, always smiling, Alaina couldn’t help wondering what exactly these constant looks her way actually meant.
***
Marcus waved at his aunt one last time. Sarah stepped into the carriage and quickly disappeared from view into the night as the coach door closed. Marcus lowered his hand as the carriage pulled away down the gravel path. He angled his head around to look at Callie standing a short distance behind him.
She was leaning against the doorframe, her expression somewhat nervous, her arms wrapped around a shawl as the chilly breeze bristled the two of them. He offered her a smile, one that she tentatively returned. An explosion of happiness seemed to erupt in his chest.
How can she have such an effect on me after knowing each other for so short a time?
It was a question he could not answer, but he did not worry himself about finding an answer. All he knew now was that he was not prepared to say goodnight just yet. He walked towards her and offered his hand. She took it at once, and a contented sigh escaped his lips.
“My aunt can be a little … exuberant,” he said, seeking the right word.
“She is lovely,” Callie said with a giggle as he led the two of them inside. The door closed behind them, and Marcus longed to draw her to the parlour so they could spend longer together, but he felt her footsteps steer towards the staircase. He went with her. “She has a rather keen stare.”
“She likes you,” Marcus assured her with a whisper. “Do not doubt that. I could see it at once.”
Callie’s hand tightened in his a little. He raised that hand as they reached the bottom of the step and kissed the back. He heard her breathing alter. It grew short and stuttered, fluttering like a butterfly’s wings.
