“Where?”
“Pardon?”
“Where are you on your way to? This path leads to the river, and then a full circle back to the town once more.” Joseph watched as she looked at the path, then back to him.
“I am walking.”
“I shall walk with you.”
“No.” She shook her head, and the ribbons of her bonnet fluttered in the cool breeze. “I have no wish for you to do so, or indeed to keep you any longer.”
She looked healthier already, which was hardly surprising considering the quantity of food he was sure the Wimplestow family ate regularly. She still wore her glasses, and the padding in her cheeks, and he saw the lace edges of her cap beneath the bonnet, covering her ears.
“That cap is ridiculous for a woman of your age.”
“What I wear is no concern of yours.”
“It is if it’s offensive to the eye, and unless you are bald under it, I see no reason for you to wear it.”
He noted her wrists were still skinny, and she had a way to go to reach the woman she had once been, but to his eyes, she looked better.
“Then do not look,” she snapped, increasing her pace. “Now, please excuse me.”
“Should you speak to an earl in such an insolent manner?”
“Only if the earl concerned is rude! Now please move.”
He’d never seen this side to her. Had she found this courage after leaving him, or had she been hiding this side of herself?
“No.”
A small breath puffed from her lovely lips and created a white plume.
“Forgive me if my words offended you. You are an earl, and I am a nobody, therefore it is not right that we should walk together. So good day to you, my lord.”
“I shall walk behind you then.”
She’d taken two steps when his words stopped her. Spinning to face him, she snapped out, “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Joseph was surprised he knew how to laugh, considering the anger that still smoldered inside him, but the sound definitely came from him as she bit her lip.
“I beg your pardon, I should not have spoken to you as I did... again, my lord.” She’d started backing away from him, so he followed.
“No, you should not, but as you have I forgive you. Besides, my family speak to me that way all the time.”
“But I am not your family, nor have I the right to do so.”
Once you would have.
He was now close enough that he could see the small scratch on her cheek. She tried to drop her eyes, but he held her chin.
“What happened?” He traced a finger along her cheek.
“D-Daisy was excited to see me, and I bent down to pick her up.”
“How is the ugliest dog in Christendom?”
Her skin was cool to the touch, and yet he felt his body heat at the contact. Once, she would have turned into his hand, and enjoyed the touch.
