Which might, in fact, be easier to do than what she had to look forward to.
Trying not to obsess too much over the coming ordeal, Emily assisted Cecily with the blanket and cutlery while Mr. Nottingham, with his son in his arms, assessed the condition of the cattle attached to the baggage coach.
“It’s time to eat!” Cecily waved the men over. “Come sit down.” When her husband made himself comfortable on the ground, but Marcus remained on his feet, Cecily insisted. “Sit down, Marcus. For heaven’s sake.”
How was he to respond to her words without appearing contrary and sullen? Cecily had left him no choice.
The only setting left was the one beside Emily. Poor man. He’d have to sit within three whole feet of her.
Without looking up, Emily handed him a plateful of all his favorites.
And she knew they were his favorites because she’d fed them to him a few days before. She’d literally placed them on his lips with her fingertips while traveling back from Gretna Green. Strawberries. Bread and ham.
Wine.
The contents of this meal were nearly identical.
Only that meal had been sprinkled with lingering kisses.
Marcus took the plate without looking up, careful to avoid touching her. “Thank you,” he murmured politely.
“You’re welcome,” Emily humbly responded.
Having him so near but being unable to touch him tormented her. The familiar scent of bergamot and soap, and something distinctively masculine that was Marcus alone, brought intimate memories to mind. It had not been so very long ago. Less than twenty-four hours.
She finished what she could of the lunch and then folded her napkin and placed it carefully upon the plate. “Will you walk with me, Marcus?” Emily was afraid to meet his gaze as she asked.
All four sitting around the completed meal fell uncomfortably silent after she mumbled her request.
A few seconds dragged into several seconds. And then perhaps nearly half a minute.
“Very well.” As Marcus unfolded himself and rose, Emily let out the breath she’d been holding. Out of the corner of her eye, she became aware that he offered his hand to assist her.
She looked up, met his gaze, and then deliberately took hold of his hand.
Neither wore gloves and the shock of awareness shook her to life.
Apologize.This was to be her opportunity to apologize.
Her mind went blank as she tried to remember what she’d told Cecily she would say. What Cecily had encouraged her to do.
Marcus dropped her hand once she found her balance. She searched the depths of his gaze in the instant before he turned away.
He revealed nothing. He would make this difficult for her.
Marcus strode determinedly away from this romantic little picnic Nottingham’s wife had arranged. He intentionally took long strides, knowing her shorter legs could not keep up with him.
He’d begun waging a battle within himself. He didn’t want to be manipulated by anybody. Not his father, not Meggie, and by God, not his wife.
“Marcus.” Her breathless voice caught up with him from behind. “Please, Marcus. Please. I have something important to say to you. Will you please listen to me?”
Marcus drew to a halt and glared at her as she stumbled toward him along the primitive path he’d taken. “Now you wish to speak to me? Now you would discuss matters of import with me? I certainly would have appreciated it if you’d deigned to discuss your decision to investigate my past before asking Prescott to do so.”
“That’s what I wish to say. I wish to apologize.”
“Ha!” He couldn’t help himself. “Why would it even matter? If you cared so little about what I might or might not wish before, wouldn’t you have consulted with me first? Did it not occur to you that I would not wish Prescott to know about Meggie? Would it not occur to you to consider that I’d prefer to keep something such as this private? Even you would know nothing of it if you hadn’t been eavesdropping that evening.”
“I’m sorry, Marcus.” Her spectacles took on an unusual foggy sheen, making it difficult to see her eyes behind them. “I simply did not think of that. In case you haven’t noticed by now, I’m not very good with people stuff. Cecily knows this. As do Rhoda and Sophia.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I just didn’t think.”
