Quite unhurriedly, he slid her close to his body until her feet landed softly upon the grass. She moved her hands along his collar and then briefly touched the nape of his neck. She wished she weren’t wearing gloves so she could feel his hair. She wanted to stay in this position, close to him, touching him, but knew it was quite improper. Captain Redmond’s groom seemed busy enough with the horses but could see them clearly from where he worked. Much of society’s worst gossip began belowstairs.
As she pulled her hands down, her fingers dragged a trail along his cravat. Reluctantly, she pressed upon his chest and took a step back.
Holding one another’s gaze with open longing, he seemed as breathless as she was from the encounter. His hair had fallen forward again, giving him that sleepy, sensual look. Liquid warmth pooled in her center, and Lilly thought that perhaps her heart might jump out of her chest.
After what seemed like several minutes—but was, in fact, only a few seconds—Captain Redmond gestured toward the water, and they began their stroll.
At last! They could talk without other eyes and ears about.
“Tell me about your family,” she said. She wanted to know everything about him.
He tugged at his cravat, uncomfortable at first. Apparently, he wasn’t used to discussing personal matters. But he would not disappoint her. “I have not seen my father and brother since before I joined my regiment, two years ago.”
And yet he lingered here, in London.
He was silent as they neared the water’s edge.
“What is the age difference between you and your brother?” Lilly persisted. She was going to have to help him along. His discomfort in talking about himself merely endeared him to her more.
“My brother, Edward, is four years older. He has always been my hero. I trailed after him for the better part of childhood. Before he went off to school, he showed me how to be a hellion, just like him.” He chuckled softly to himself, almost as though forgetting she was there. “My father’s property is huge. It encompasses two lakes, several streams, a very large forest, and more meadows than I could count. For a couple of young boys with active imaginations, these places transform into an entirely different world. We were pirates, Robin Hood, and battling knights. Many evenings we would forget to return home until after dark.” He grinned sheepishly. “That earned us a thrashing every time.”
She imagined him as a youth, trailing after an older boy. “So you and Edward are close then?”
They had stopped walking and were looking out over the slow winding river. He raised one fist to his mouth and looked away from her. “We have grown apart.”
Ah, so there was some sadness in his life. No family, it seemed, could escape it.
“It is difficult when one sibling becomes an adult and the other is still a child.” She could not help thinking about herown sister, who had married while she was yet in the schoolroom.
He cleared his throat and turned back to her with a smile on his lips. It did not reach his eyes. It was not his real smile. “The heir to a dukedom requires training. He is separated from everyone else and taught to live his life independent of other children. There is little room for mistakes. My brother was distanced from me by my father.”
“Your father separated his sons from each other?”
“It was necessary…and my brother—well—he changed. He has grown to be much like my father—disciplined, rigid, aloof—but we all must grow up eventually.” With her hand tucked into his arm, they strolled alongside the river’s edge. “What of your family? I can already tell you have a good relationship with your mother—and your aunt seems to think highly of you as well.”
He was changing the subject. Was he estranged from his father and brother? As the second son, perhaps he’d been neglected. She must allow him his privacy in this—for now.
“I had an older sister, Rose, born ten years before me. She was beautiful.” Lilly glanced over at him, feeling sheepish. “She was tall and elegant with gorgeous chestnut hair.” She touched her own hair self-consciously. “I always felt like the ugly duckling around her.” She grimaced at how self-pitying that sounded. “She was as much a mother to me as Mama is.” Why had she told him that? Why had she drawn his attention to the unusual color of her hair? She hoped he did not decide she was unattractive now. “We lost her three years ago. It sometimes feels like summer will never come again. My parents adored Rose. They were so proud of her. She was beautiful, perfect.” Lilly shook her head sadly. “She was a wonderful mother.”
He was looking at her curiously. “Ah, but you have become a swan.”
She felt her cheeks turn warm. Shehad notbeen fishing.
“But Rose married and left me all alone.” She feigned a sigh, to show him that she was mocking herself, and then looked up at him to grin. “But she had a beautiful baby. Glenda is an adorable child. I visit with her whenever I can.”
“How old is your niece?” He sounded genuinely interested.
“She is all of eight years old and has already surpassed me in sophistication. She is not as playful as she once was. Ever since Rose fell ill…”
“The child remains with her father?” Captain Redmond asked.
“Oh yes, but his estate is not far from ours, just over an hour’s drive. Her father is…” Lilly searched for the best way to describe Lord Beauchamp. “Somewhat reclusive, although he dotes on Glenda. He rarely ventures away from his property. We retrieve Glenda every other week and bring her home for a few days at a time.” Lilly laughed and shook her head. “Even I will admit she is becoming spoiled! She needs a mother in her life, but…” She trailed off, realizing what she was about to tell him.
“But?” he prompted. He was a good listener. It was as though the things she had to say actually mattered! He was a captain! He’d fought in a war and returned safely. He’d won metals. And yet he wanted to know her thoughts—her opinions.
“My father wishes for me to take on the position!” There, now. She’d said it.
She was going to have to explain such an announcement. “I love Glenda, truly, I do, but I could never marry Lord Beauchamp.” Never. Never, ever, ever. “First and foremost, he is Rose’s husband. So horribly wrong! And secondly, he is so very old! Thirdly and most importantly, I am not comfortable with him. He has this mustache that is absolutely ridiculous…” Lilly trailed off.
