“The woman sounds horrid. I wish I’d been there to give her a piece of my mind.” Although Fancy always took such incidents in stride, Bea was indignant on her friend’s behalf. “I shall cherish your present all the more…”
She trailed off, turning her head at the sound of rustling leaves. An instant later, the branches parted, and Murray stepped through, ducking his head to avoid low-hanging bowers.
She sprang up from the bench, Fancy following suit.
“Good evening, ladies. What a charming hideaway.” He bowed, then said with a smile, “Pardon my interruption. I just arrived and was told Miss Brown might be by the pond…and I believe I just heard mention of a present. Is it a special occasion?”
Bea hesitated, gripping her cap. But when she’d stood, the box that had held the gift and the accompanying note had slid to the ground, and now Murray bent to pick it up. There was no way he could miss the large, painstakingly formed letters.
“Happy Birthday, Beatrice. From Your Friend, Fancy.” He tilted his head at Bea. “Today is your birthday?”
Seeing no reason to lie, she gave a terse nod.
“Happy returns,” he murmured. “I’m afraid I didn’t bring you a gift.”
You were my gift.She felt the warmth of his regard, his eyes taking on the flickering gold of the nearby lantern, and she couldn’t suppress a shiver of longing.That night with you was my one indulgence…and perhaps my greatest mistake.
“Why would you?” She collected herself. “You didn’t know. And even if you did, there’d be no reason for you to go to the trouble.”
His brows drew together, and he looked as if he might say something.
She decided it was time to take the bull by the horns. “Fancy, would you mind giving Mr. Murray and me some privacy?”
“Are you certain that’s a good idea?” Fancy said, her brow puckered.
“Go on and enjoy the party, dear.” Beatrice kept her expression composed. “I need to talk to Mr. Murray alone, and it might as well be now.”
With clear reluctance, Fancy left, sending Murray a look of warning on her way out.
“This is quite the lavish abode,” Murray commented.
He was looking around, his handsomeness gilded by the lantern light. His outfit struck the perfect chord for the occasion, the blue cutaway and smoke grey waistcoat and trousers elegant yet not too formal, his silver cravat tied in a casual knot. It said a lot about him that he’d chosen not to lord over the other guests with excessive finery.
It reinforced her conclusion that he wasn’t a bad sort. She knew she’d reacted rather defensively thus far and had decided to try a different tact. Surely he could be reasoned with; surely if she laid out the reasons why she must turn down his proposals for her hand and her land, he would understand. He would go away…and so would the foolish, painful yearnings he stirred up.
She took a breath. “I’d like to offer you an apology, sir.”
His gaze met hers. “What are you apologizing for, exactly?”
“I have been churlish,” she admitted. “Our meeting at the masquerade was supposed to be an anonymous, one-night affair. Seeing you afterward was a surprise. A discomfiting one. Nonetheless, that does not excuse my rude behavior and for that I am sorry.”
He regarded her with some surprise. His dawning approval caused her toes to curl in her slippers, for what reason she could not fathom.
“I accept your apology,” he murmured, “although it is quite unnecessary. I’m the one at fault with my precipitous appearances.”
“Are you saying that you’re sorry for dropping by uninvited?”
“I didn’t say I was sorry. Just that the fault was mine.”
At his unrepentant grin, she felt her lips quiver. “Regardless, we have not been going about this like reasonable adults, have we?”
“Not unless your definition of reasonable includes pitching hay for two days.” He gave her a rueful look. “It nearly killed me, and my back may never recover.”
His honesty startled a laugh from her. “Why did you volunteer in the first place?”
“Because I wanted to impress you with my manly skills,” he said mournfully.
It was fun to banter with him, to be playful. She nearly retorted that she and his manhood were quite well acquainted, but she caught herself. Heavens, the man’s flirtatious charm was subtle yet irresistible, making it all too easy for a woman to lose her head…and her purpose.
