Rayne shrugged. “You needed the rest, I suppose.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What wereyoudoing while I was sleeping?”
“Sleeping, too, for the most part—or trying to arrange a change of postilions while not disturbing you. You looked so peaceful I’m only sorry I had to wake you now. However, there are a few things we must discuss before we arrive.”
Ah, yes.He’d said they would have to devise a story. Because, no matter how gentle he’d been, no matter how well they worked together or how much trust had grown between them, they had not come to any understanding.
As much as she felt as if they were eloping together, they were not.
“Have you any suggestions?” she asked, hating the tiny crack in her voice.
“Well…” He winced as he scratched the back of his neck. “I’d be obliged if our imaginary child-to-be didn’t make another appearance.”
She searched his gaze, wondering if his attempt at humor hid something similar to what she was feeling. “Must we lie to people who are your friends and Farring’s family?”
“Do you want to tell the dowager the truth? About…” He hesitated. “Belhaven?”
“No.”Belhaven. How could he still believe she was on her way to wed another man? “I am no longer certain about…Belhaven.”
His brows went up, and her blush deepened. She scowled as she reached for her hat.
“Allow me?” he asked.
She handed him the pin and the hat and turned her back. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his hands as he carefully rearranged her hair.
Why was it that with Rayne love came simply but discussion proved difficult, which was the opposite of her experience with everyone else? She bit her lip, working up the courage to ask him the one question that scared her most.
“Are you determined to return to New York?”
Asking proved easier when her back was turned. Her throat dried anyway as she folded her hands in her lap, waiting for his answer.
He set her hat on her head. “Do I have a reason to stay?”
“I’d like to think so,” she whispered.
She shifted to face him. He cradled her cheeks, angled his head, and placed a gentle, chaste kiss to her lips. A kiss that left her tingling with possibility.
“With your permission,” he swallowed, “I’ll give the duchess your name.”
She nodded.
“Do you know what that means?”
She nodded again—no going back.
She filled with so much emotion she couldn’t find words. As the carriage slowed to a stop, he covered her hand with his. Explanations and details could wait, she decided. For now, the firm pressure of his fingers around hers was enough.
“Look.” He drew her to the window. “The infamous gate.”
She frowned. “But the gate is green!”
“Thought the gate would be blue, didn’t you?” He smiled as if even he did not quite understand. “Your first lesson…abandon all assumptions before we pass through.”
“Like Dante’s hope at the gates of hell? What a thing to say! You’ve been so cryptic I don’t know what to expect.”
“I’m sorry, minx. I daresay you’ll soon understand. I can promise you I wouldn’t bring just anyone here, however.”
His thumb moved along her hand, sending shivers of pleasure spiraling up her spine.
