“With Al—with another student,” she answered. “Little Fiddle, I’m afraid, does not travel well. One trip in a coach was enough to convince me it’s not worth the effort.” She scrunched up her nose meaningfully, and he chuckled.
“I see. Do you enjoy long drives?”
“It depends on the length of the journey. But I don’t mind them. I can even ride backward if necessary. What about you?”
“Given the choice? I far prefer to ride.”
“I don’t blame you. Nothing compares to riding through the countryside. Unless it’s raining or snowing. But even then, it doesn’t seem quite fair to sit inside a dry coach while the driver is left to the mercies of the weather.”
At this, Hunt shot her a quick sideways glance. If his memory served correct, Meadowbrook had mentioned that his daughter wasn’t much of a horsewoman.
But he also remembered what it had been like to be so young. Was she trying to impress him?
“We shall go riding together while you are here. I have a gentle mount that will be perfect for you. But don’t attempt to ride alone, mind you. The trails here erode more easily than those inland. So it’s not unusual to meet up with hazards.”
She nodded knowingly. “We have the same issues at Sky Manor. Nothing is ever constant with the sea nearby.”
“Indeed.” But. “Sky Manor?” The name sounded familiar. “Isn’t that Kingsley’s estate?” But of course, Meadowbrook conducted business with peers beside himself. Hunt, however, had difficulty imagining the single-minded businessman taking his family along.
Even if he wasn’t opposed to including his daughter in one of his contracts.
“Ah. Yes.” She tensed beside him. “The earl and countess are benefactors of Miss Primm’s.”
He was missing some connection but couldn’t quite place it.
And when Allison turned and smiled up at him, he dismissed the inkling of unease.
These moments of pending doom weren’t all that unusual—not since the day after his father’s death—the day he’d met with his father’s man of business.
Dash it all to hell. He needed to marry this young woman.
Romance her, Edgeworth has suggested. It was sound enough advice if Allison was any other chit. Trouble was, he found himself on his heels each time he’d met with her.
Turning toward the stairwell, Hunt tugged at his cravat. With so much attraction between them, why did she persist in opposing their betrothal? She didn’t seem like the sort of chit who’d play at being coy. Was it all a game to her?
She was young. Naïve. But Hunt didn’t have time for such nonsense.
Under other circumstances, in small measures, such courtship antics might be charming. But with the urgency of this damnable situation breathing down his neck, he couldn’t abide by them.
“Were you pleased to have an extended break from school?”
“Not at all.” She stiffened beside him. “But if we discuss that, you and I are going to have to get into my primary reluctance to make this visit. Not that I am ungrateful for your hospitality but….” She shrugged. “Besides that, I enjoy learning.”
“What is your favorite subject?” The question reminded him of her age.
Given a choice, he’d have allowed her to finish her schooling before making his offer.
As matters stood, however, neither he nor she had that luxury.
“I will tell you, but…” She shot him a warning glance. “If you laugh, I will never speak to you again.”
Hunt pressed a fist over his heart. “I would never. Is it Romantic Literature?”
She rolled her eyes.
“Philosophy? History?”
“No, no, and no.”
