She shrugged, saying lightly, “They are being courted while I’m doing my own courting—which won’t happen in my mother’s parlor.”
“Getting yourself back into britches, are you?”
She chuckled. “I didn’t mean changing roles, only that I have my target and intend to ignore all other Romeos.”
“You wound me.”
“You aren’t a Romeo.”
“I could be, with a little encouragement.”
“Don’t tease.”
“You’re asking me to surrender half my arsenal!”
She laughed. He was often endearingly silly. And she loved his teasing, just not when it implied he might be available, which he wasn’t.
But then he said, “Since you haven’t mentioned it, dare I hope you are declining my offer of lessons?”
She raised a brow. “I thought you were sincere in wanting to help?”
“Oh, I was, but I can still hope you’ll come to your senses and leave this path you’re—”
She interrupted him. “If you are about to repeat your prediction that misery and other forms of unhappiness await me, don’t. Nothing is absolutely certain, and anything can change—and I am still considering your offer.”
“Then forgive my momentary morbidity,” he said, and offered a conciliatory grin. “Ride with me?”
She was about to say they were already riding together when she saw him pat his lap and her eyes flared wide. “Whatever for?”
“Because I long to touch you again.”
Hot color rose up her cheeks as quickly as her pulse now raced. He was doing it again, provoking her passion with mere words, and so easily! She quickly glanced ahead and cleared her throat to say, “There’s nothing wrong with my mare to require the necessity.”
“She’s lost a shoe.”
Her eyes came back to him. “No, she hasn’t.”
“Give me a moment and I’ll show you.”
She burst out laughing, amused that he would actually pry off a horseshoe just to prove his statement was true.
Chapter Thirty-six
VANESSA EXTENDED HER RIDEmuch longer than she meant to, but how could she not with such charming company? She was almost late for lunch because of it, so she didn’t bother to change clothes first, just removed her riding jacket. Monty couldn’t be as quick, since he didn’t dare appear at the table in his borrowed groom’s attire. And Charley arrived just after her and, in his usual chipper way, complimented everyone, even Kathleen.
It was a pleasant lunch inasmuch as Kathleen didn’t need to scold anyone. While Layla was delighted that Lord Harris had called today and she couldn’t say enough nice things about him, Emily was mostly silent, broodingly so. But Vanessa caught not one but two frowns cast her way, which made her decide to have a talk with Emily right away.
Before Vanessa left the dining room she whispered to Emily that she would like a private word, but her sister didn’t follow her out. She waited for Emily across the hallway in Kathleen’s study. And waited. Everyone except Emily had left the dining room.
Vanessa returned to the dining room, but Emily immediately said, “I’m not done eating.”
Vanessa considered that an absurd statement when only a single small slice of sausage was left on Emily’s plate and she was moving it around with her fork in a desultory manner rather than eating it. Vanessa took the seat next to her sister, saying, “We’ll talk here then.” But when she saw a single tear slip down Emily’s cheek, Vanessa gasped. “Em, what is troubling you?”
Emily’s pale blue eyes, so like her own, glared at her. “Youare! I hate you! But I hate hating you!” Great sobs arrived with that confession. “And it’s tearing me to pieces—just go away.”
Vanessa was taken aback, but she certainly couldn’t leave her sister like this. “No, we’re going to discuss this until you feel better.”
“How typical of you,” Emily sneered. “Dearest Vanessa to the rescue as usual. But I won’t be feeling any better, how can I when you’ve ruined everything? Why did you have to come home?”
