“Let’s take this one step at a time, shall we?” And then the horses emerged from the trees into a clearing near the water. “Would you care to walk a little before we drive to Mivart’s?”
His mention of the hotel caused her heart to skip a beat, which made no sense at all. She was excited to be with him but her normal emptiness didn’t seem to be fueling her actions as much as usual.
“I’d like that.” She sat primly, feeling like a fraud when he hopped down and walked around to assist her to the ground.
“I’ve never been to this part of the park,” she admitted as he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm.
“Don’t tell anyone, but it’s where all the duels are held,” he whispered dramatically and then told her about a few of the illegal face-offs he’d witnessed, one where he had acted as second.
“But you have never dueled?’ she guessed.
He shook his head. “My brother does enough of that for both of us. And as I’ve never felt there was a need, as well as for my mother’s sake, I have not.”
“I envy your relationship with your family.” Before he could offer a sympathetic comment, she hurried on to ask, “Is there anything youwouldenter a duel for? Anything you’d risk your life for?”
He nodded. “To protect the people I love.” They paused their walking, and he stared out at the water. “Or to avenge them.”
Peter Spencer was a sensitive soul and not inclined to violence, but the thread of determination in his voice sent a chill down Miranda’s spine.
“For Rosa?” she wondered.
“I wouldn’t kill for her.” He slid his eyes in her direction and grinned. “But I would maim.”
They both turned and resumed walking along the shoreline, not going far as to keep the horses and his shiny curricle in sight.
“I have only heard you play as part of a group, but I think, before you leave, that I must hear you play a solo piece. How am I to know that you are not pretending to play?” It was her turn to tease him.
And for the remainder of their walk and drive, Miranda found herself flirting, laughing, and getting to know this young man who’d entered her life so very unexpectedly. And their companionship was not only about asking questions and learning one another’s histories but simply enjoying the other person’s company.
Being.
For the first time in months, she didn’t feel completely alone.
Torn
Peter closed the door behind them, glancing around the room he’d acquired, feeling torn.
After the lovely drive and enjoying her company immensely, almost as though he was courting her, it did not feel proper for him to bring her here.
At the same time, he doubted she would have agreed to the drive if he hadn’t first agreed to this part of the outing.
“So, this is what a hotel is like.” She ventured across the room, touching the top of a dresser, running her fingertips along the back of a chair.
She was not the same as she’d been the night before.
“I’ve ordered a meal sent up.” He swallowed hard at the sight of her standing beside the bed. Seeing the curves he’d not had a chance to fully explore the night before stirred the most basic need inside of him, but he wasn’t ready to move in that direction yet.
Because she was gradually sharing the things that he suspected she normally kept closely guarded.
She met his gaze meaningfully and, for the first time that afternoon, she withdrew.
“Tomorrow I will play for you.” He wanted her here—her mind, her heart, and yes, her body—all of her. “I’ll have my manservant deliver Rosa to this room.” Because he didn’t want today to be the end of whatever this was between them.
“You are awfully certain of yourself, Peter Spencer.” But she had not told him no.
A knock sounded at the door and neither of them spoke until the meal was laid out on the small table and the servant closed the door behind him.
“I hope you are hungry.” Peter pulled out one of the chairs for her and breathed a sigh of relief when she uncrossed her arms and lowered herself to sit at the table. “I didn’t know what you would like so I told them to bring us some of everything.”
