They came back to the point in the path where they had begun their loop, and he sensed the hesitancy, the expectation of saying adieu. In response, he placed his hand over her arm. “I’m truly enjoying the fresh air. Would you care to find a spot under the trees to observe nature?” He almost rolled his eyes at his request. Surely he could have come up with a more intelligent option. He reflected back to when Heathcliff asked if he even knew how to make love anymore. While that skill was in top performance, his art of flirtation was lacking, he decided.
But why practice flirtation when there was no need for innuendo? Flirtation was an art, one that used manipulations, hidden meanings, and veiled seduction—all things for which he had no use and, clearly, didn’t know how to use well.
Yet Liliah took pity on his sad efforts and readily accepted. He selected a bench below a beech tree that overlooked the Serpentine and a length of path that would supply them with fresh faces about which to converse and reflect. As he took a seat beside Liliah, he noted the steadfast surveillance of the footman and the apparent unease of the maid who chaperoned. Liliah followed his gaze and he noted that her shoulders straightened as she turned her focus to the footman.
“Fredrick, please give me a greater span of space. I’m not going to run away from you, and I dare say if I tried you could easily catch up—or are you so frail that you think me able to best you?” she added with just a slight taunt to her tone.
It worked, and Fredrick reluctantly took several steps back. The maid’s body lost its rigid posture and she clasped her hands before her, relaxing.
“There, much better,” Liliah replied, turning to Lucas. “It’s quite irksome.”
“I can’t imagine,” he replied, then asked the question that was on the forefront of his mind, grateful for a measure of privacy. In a low tone, he whispered, “I was quite . . . surprised at your hasty departure last night. I’m quite certain it wasn’t your expectation to leave so suddenly?” He studied her expression for any clues.
Liliah’s smile faltered and turned into a pinched expression, and he readily noticed her irritation.
“It was indeed unexpected,” she answered. “Yet in hindsight I can see that it should not have been wholly surprising.”
Lucas hesitated, not sure how to frame the question without being overly direct. He decided to hang the propriety, and asked in frank honesty, “Was he harsh with you?”
Liliah’s gaze fell to her lap. “Angry, yes. Yet I found that his words only hold power if I allow them to, which I’ve chosen to not tolerate.”
“I see. And it was in direct response to my dancing with you.”
She gave a slight nod. “But should I stand up with anyone save Meyer, he would have the same reaction. Therefore, it is of no consequence. I’ve already made my decision on the matter and am allowing myself the freedom of that decision.”
Lucas frowned slightly. “What have you decided?” He suspected several things, yet he found his curious nature held him firmly in hand as he waited for confirmation—even as his stomach clenched in frustration, and dare he admit it?—Dread.
Liliah glanced to where Fredrick waited several paces away, intently staring at their shared bench. When she turned her gaze back to Lucas, she simply shrugged. “Perhaps another time.”
Lucas nodded once, accepting her response, yet he vowed that soon he would uncover the truth of the matter.
“I’d best head home, as much as I am loath to admit it,” Liliah remarked with a mournful edge to her tone. “But I must say, it has been an utter delight to . . . run into you. Fate is kind indeed.” She stood and gave a soft smile.
Lucas stood as well, also loath to lose her company yet understanding the wisdom of her ending the assignation. “The pleasure was all mine.” He reached for her hand and kissed her wrist ever so delicately, inhaling the fresh scent of her, conjuring up all sorts of other memories he’d rather repeat than simply remember.
“Until tomorrow,” Liliah whispered, as if afraid her guardian would hear.
“Far too long,” Lucas whispered seductively, allowing his gaze to rake over her body, greedily savoring each delicious curve.
When his gaze returned to her face, he grinned at the blush his hungry perusal of her figure had enticed, and he gave a wink.
Liliah shook her head and he released her hand.
“Come along.” She glanced back to her maid and footman, and Lucas had the fleeting vision of her calling her dog to follow—and it was probably closer to the truth than was humorous.
As she walked away, he tucked his hands behind his body and watched her till she was out of sight; not missing the footman’s suspicious glances as he accompanied her. Lucas only hoped that her father didn’t suspect that Meyer had helped create the ruse.
With a reluctant sigh, he decided to look forward to tomorrow, and a renewed opportunity to steal Liliah away.
Even if it was for only a few moments.
Pleasure was the greatest temptation of all—and time seemed always at war with it.
Chapter Twenty-five
The duke had asked for his daughter to join him the moment she arrived home, and so Liliah was quickly escorted to his study.
“You were away quite long for your intended to be unable to accompany you,” he said by way of greeting.
