“Hugh, I should not have said that.”
“I am glad you did. I asked you. I needed to know where I stand, so I know how far I have to climb. Now, I must ask, is there anything else I should know?” She shook her head. At least that was a relief. “All right then, are you hungry?”
“What?”
“Are you hungry? I brought sandwiches from Mrs. Hudson.”
“You brought sandwiches?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.” Oh, she was surprised. My wife was surprised that I was thoughtful enough to bring food for us. That would have stung more were I less wrung out. Fortunately, I didn’t seem to be capable of falling further at the moment. I retrieved the sandwiches from Perseus’s saddle bag, turning back toward her, she looked as overwrought as I felt.
I could not decide if this ride was a good idea or a terrible one. I did not think she would have been as open in the house, particularly if given the opportunity to escape or the possibility of interruption. But now I needed to find a way to recover the mood somewhat. Introspective, forlorn, and raw was not precisely the emotional state I was aiming for this morning.
Sitting beside her once again, I spread the sandwiches and fruits Mrs. Hudson packed between us. She made a selection and took a delicate bite, and I did the same, chewing thoughtfully.
“Tell me about your family?”
“What?”
“I have met Kit. Hopefully he will join us for Christmas, I would like to become better acquainted. Ideally when he is not doggedly protecting every shilling of yours and glaring at me for stealing his sister. But I have not met your parents or your sister and her family.”
She studied me carefully for a moment, before coming to some sort of decision. “Father is a vicar, as you know. He was the youngest son of the Earl of Leighton. Aunt Prudence is his elder sister.”
“Mother and Juliet’s stepmother were sisters. Father said he took one look at Mother and was determined to marry her. He was sixteen and she was fifteen. His parents were not overly pleased with the match as her family was untitled, but he was the second son and unbearably determined so they relented.”
“Lizzie is my eldest sibling. Sydney, her husband, was the farmer’s son and now he has taken over. The two of them have been in love for as long as I can remember. She has five children now. Kit is in the middle and just a year older than I am.”
“I have never traveled to Lincolnshire, perhaps we could visit next summer when the weather turns?”
“You wish to visit?”
“If you’d like. Or, if you would prefer, they could visit us here. Or in town. But I imagine it’s difficult for a farmer to leave for any great length of time while the weather still allows for travel.”
“I would like to visit.”
“Then we shall.”
“Just like that?”
“Yes. It is all right to ask for things you want, Kate. I want to be able to give you those things, but, as we have already established, I am not the most observant of men.”
I managed to get a giggle out of her there. “Certainly not,” she commented, popping a grape in her mouth. Such a lovely mouth. She dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “What? Is there something on my face?”
“Nothing at all. I was just trying to recall what it was I found objectionable about your mouth in my drunken stupor. I was a daft fool. What was I thinking? Her lips are too full and too lovely a color? She is too kissable?”
“I believe it was too wide.” She pinched the corners of said mouth together.
My hatred of the motion fueled me. “Ah, I remember now. I was driven to distraction by lecherous thoughts of your lips. I was still under the delusion that as a gentleman, you see, I should not be having such thoughts.”
“And I was to blame for such thoughts?”
“Certainly not, but I was an immature ass.”
“I cannot disagree with you there. What kind of lecherous thoughts?” She raised one brow with the question. It was an arch look and unfamiliar on her face. I rather liked it. Particularly juxtaposed against the pinched one.
“Kate…”
