It was the work of but a moment to turn the corner. And there he was, even more handsome without glass and distance between us.
His head was tipped back, crown resting against the thin trunk. Above him, deep in the branches, a bird released a little two-note song.
I crossed the small lawn to him.
“I already feel ridiculous, you do not need to laugh at me,” he muttered under his breath.
My feet planted in the damp grass, parsing the previous moment for any hint of laughter.
The bird let out another little high-low chirp and understanding dawned. Its song did sound like laughter.
I cleared my throat. The effect was instantaneous. Rosehill jumped perhaps half a foot in the air, his hand jolting to his chest as his gaze snapped to mine.
“Sorry,” I whispered sheepishly.
“You!” It was too loud to be considered a whisper, but the tone was there.
“Me?”
He shook his head, hand dragging along his chest and stomach before finding his side. The effect was entirely too enticing to have been an unconscious maneuver.
“You do not know this yet, but once you reach a certain age, you’re at risk of one good fright stopping your heart entirely and it just not starting again.”
“I’m almost certain that’s not true.” I took another step toward him, keeping my movements slow so as not to startle him again.
“Well, it certainly feels that way.”
There was a hint between his words about how it was my presence that made him feel that way. It was certainly true of his effect on me. But we weren’t there—not yet.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you. I had no idea you were in attendance.”
“I wasn’t supposed to be. I sent my regrets because I thought to be finalizing my trip. But then…”
“Then?” I breathed.
“Then this morning.”
Nothing in the world could have restrained my smile, nor another step halving the distance between us.
“Is your sister off causing mischief somewhere?”
“No, she is actually quite cross with me. I told her I could not attend and mother was otherwise occupied. I expect she’ll never forgive me when she finds out. We can only hope I’ll be safely in Scotland by then.”
“So you’re here alone.” It was a redundant statement, but Christ, I wanted to hear him say it. “No other responsibilities?”
“Oh, I have plenty of responsibilities. I’m just neglecting all of them in favor of… this.”
Another step. It was too close for propriety and I’d never cared less.
“Good.”
His gaze flicked to the French doors opening off one of the retiring rooms. “Someone could come out.”
“I’d offer my room upstairs. But I expect you’d say no.”
“I would, but it would be a hardship to do so.” His fingers twisted into a knot in front of him. I was so close that a knuckle brushed my stomach. The muscles danced in answer.
“Damn. I should have asked.” I caught one of the gloved hands in mine, then pulled him to the side yard opposite of the kitchens. Urging him toward the little wrought iron table that abutted a backless bench. It must have been Kate’s addition because it hadn’t been there in my youth.God bless Kate.
