“So long as you conduct yourself properly, say please and thank you, and treat your coach to dessert.” She winks.
“That can be arranged.”
She giggles. It’s a wonderful sound that makes me feel full, alive, and hopeful.
“Let’s see. Where to go?” she says as we stride down the hall. “I’m thinking of a funny, unexpected place. What do you think about a rock-climbing wall?”
“Not a big fan of heights and last I checked, you can’t eat rocks or whatever it is the walls are made out of.”
“They have a concessions counter with burgers, fries, things like that. Although I’m not big on heights either.”
The butler, Arthur Fitzwilliam, nods genially as we exit the manor. Stars twinkle in the sky above. In the distance, the royal castle nestles into the mountain and glows.
“There’s a pub in the village that has game night, live music, and I think on Fridays they host a karaoke night,” Pippa says.
“I don’t like singing unless I’m at church. My voice sounds better when it’s among many.”
“Hmm. Good point. My sister and I tried to join the choir once. I was told I sound like an angry koala. Despite their cuddly appearance, they make a deep bellowing noise. I guess it was the inspiration for the T-Rex roar in the dinosaur movies. I looked it up.”
“Someone told you that? That’s oddly specific and so mean.”
“True story.”
“I find it hard to believe and will be the judge of that, but we’ll skip karaoke tonight.” Pippa’s voice and English accent are so lovely, I could listen to her talk or read for hours—and have done so in the nurse’s office when Liam was injured.
Still standing on the front steps of the manor, Pippa gazes up at the stars and takes a breath as though enjoying the natural beauty.
I sure am. The light overhead illuminates the smooth line of her neck. I’d like to leave a kiss there, more than one. Trace a path up to her lips. I imagine she’ll be soft and will smell like...roses and a cool spring night.
Initially, Pippa shared her ideas for tonight boldly, but as her gaze lowers to meet mine, her voice softens. “What about bungee jumping while performing show tunes?”
“That sounds like a nightmare.
“Just getting creative.”
I wag my finger. “I see what you did there. You combined two things I don’t like—heights and singing.”
“Just trying to come up with something unique.”
“As part of my Blancbourg evaluation? If so, I’m already well out of my comfort zone, Pippa.” She’s pushed me over the edge and I’m in free fall.
“Is that so?”
“Heights and singing are my two biggest fears.”
“You only have two?” she asks.
“Well, there’s a third.”
“And it is?”
But I don’t answer because it’sher. I’m afraid that after falling, I’ll land hard and lose Pippa again.
22
PIPPA
We start down the path toward the village. A few shops are still open and restaurants with outdoor seating overflow with couples and large parties.
