He would have shuddered at the thought if he was not holding the future Duke of Norfolk.
Theo relented and relieved him of his burden. “You know, you really ought to get used to it.”
It was almost an incentive not to marry.
Charles gurgled, diverting Theo’s attention, and Henry took the opportunity to change the subject, hoping his sister never brought up children again.
Chapter Nine
THE PAST
August 1804
The moment Louisa arrived in Bath, she had every intention of seeking Henry Beaumont out once again. He had been adamant that he would not kiss her, but she was determined to test his mettle. She was eighteen now, a full Season behind her, and she had learnt the art of flirtation as well as any girl of that age might.
He might attempt to resist her, but she knew well all the tricks of the trade. A hand on his arm, a glance up through her eyelashes, a calculated bite of her lower lip. Her Season had given her the ability to flirt, if nothing else, and she was determined that Henry should feel the full force of her newfound skills.
If someone had asked, she would not have been able to say preciselywhyshe was so hell-bent on persuading him tosubmit to her charms. She might even, given the nature of his resistance, admit to herself and others that it was not a strictly kind thing to do.
In truth, it was the thrill of the chase that excited her. She was young enough that few things had truly been denied. Marriage, for her, was not something she was contemplating as long as her father allowed her to paint at home. Therefore, she had nothing to entertain herself but flirtations, and persuadingHenryto flirt would be the biggest victory of all.
A week passed, then two, without seeing him, and she began to wonder whether he was even in Bath this summer at all. Until finally on an expedition to Wells Cathedral, she came across his tall, iron-straight figure on his horse.
Her heart gave a little, wholly inexplicable leap when their eyes met across the street. Her friend Beatrice Lacey had organised the event and was waving at everyone from atop her spirited mare. Behind Louisa, her groom (the reason she had been permitted to go on this trip) was perched behind her.
“You may go,” she said imperiously, hoping her tone would be enough to persuade him. “I will collect you on my return.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, miss. Your mother gave me strict orders, and I’d be dismissed if she ever found out.”
Disappointed but unsurprised, Louisa sighed and nodded. “Very well. Don’t ride too close.” Then she squared her shoulders and trotted across to where Henry was waiting. “Good morning, Lord Eynsham,” she said, giving him a smile she had been told on countless occasions was alluring. “What brings you out of the house? I haven’t seen you at a single ball or rout this summer, Lord Eynsham.”
His brows rose. “You were looking for me?”
“Is that so surprising?”
“I would have thought you had more than enough admirers to satisfy you.”
She preened, glorying when the corner of his mouth dimpled like he was attempting to suppress a smile. “Does that mean you count yourself among their ranks, perchance?”
“I would hardly say that,” he said, but he glanced at her before encouraging his horse into a walk after Beatrice Lacey.
“Whatwouldyou say? Have you been avoiding me?” She caught up and rode by his side again. Their party was sizeable, another reason her mother had agreed she could go, and the other members were too busy talking amongst themselves to listen to her conversation. “Is that why I haven’t seen you?”
“Why would I be avoiding you?”
She fluttered her eyelashes at him in an overwrought gesture calculated to make him laugh. It succeeded, and she felt another flush of victory. “Perhaps because you fear how much you like my company?”
“Is that so,” he said, amused.
“Well, do you have a better reason?”
“How about that I arrived in Bath yesterday,” he said. “Is that reason enough?”
“Yesterday? But you have wasted half the summer.”
The humour left his face and his mouth turned into a hard line. “I was at my family estate.”
Louisa rode beside him in silence, frowning at this new nugget of information he had offered her. “Do you not enjoy it there?” she ventured at last.
