For once she regretted not following her mother’s advice to shade her fair skin from the summer sun. Rather than provide him an opening to insult her, she ignored the child’s comment entirely. “Well, then, Ellie, that is fortunate, as one of my nieces is also named Eleanor.” She turned toward her nieces. “And this is Indira.”
Smug satisfaction rolled through her as the girls performed curtsies as perfect as those of the viscount’s daughters. She would compliment Alice later. Andrew certainly had nothing to do with the girls’ manners.
“Aunt Honoria said you’re twins, but you don’t look alike,” Cassie said.
“We’re not identical twins,” Eleanor explained—patiently, Anne was relieved to say.
No need to give Lord Grumpy-Trousers any more reason to disparage the Weatherby name. He no doubt had already made a list in his mind from Anne’s two brief encounters with him.
Deciding to play a game of hide and seek, the four girls raced back to the house.
Her attention jerked back to Lord Grumpy-Trousers as he cleared his throat.
“Well, since they’ve found something safe to occupy themselves with, I shall take my leave. I only came out here to warn them against playing so near the lake. If you’re still looking for your brother, he and Burwood are having tea with the ladies in the small parlor.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t want to thank him. Not really. But manners being required in polite society...well. “Will you be joining them?”
He shook his head. “But I would be happy to escort you inside if you wish.”
Part of her yearned to take his proffered arm, if only to feel the muscle beneath the coat’s material. My! What had brought that thought on? However, the stubborn part her mothertold her would someday cause her heartbreak refused to give Lord Moody-Manning the satisfaction. “No, thank you.”
“Very well.” He bowed and strode off up the hill toward the house.
As she watched his retreating back—yet again—she cursed her stubbornness and prepared for the climb up the steep hill.
CHAPTER 4
Colin could almost feel the termagant’s gaze burning a hole between his shoulder blades. Not unlike how his thighs burned as he climbed the steep hill to the house. The Elfin Menace would regret refusing his offer to assist her. So be it. He had no desire to placate silly women. He chuckled to himself as he pictured her struggling to ascend, tripping and rolling back down into the water. It would serve her right.
Once inside, he walked to a side window of the morning room, peered out, and waited. As expected, she stood there but a few moments longer before she began her ascent.
To her credit, she only stopped four times, stumbled to her knees twice, and avoided rolling down the hill into the water. Perhaps his little nuisance was made of sterner stuff than he imagined.
When the door opened, he grabbed a book lying on a side table—no doubt left by Honoria, as it was some silly romantic novel calledEmma—leaned against the wall, and pretended to read.
“Stupid Lord Grumpy-Trousers,” the nymph muttered.
Stupid Lord Grumpy-Trousers?Grumpy he might grant her, but stupid? He couldn’t resist.
“I’ll have you know I’m actually quite intelligent.”
She spun around, strands of her red hair straggling down her neck from her strenuous climb. One errant lock fell into her eyes, and she blew it away. “You should have made your presence known, sir!”
“I believe I just did.” He pointed the book at her skirts. “Trouble climbing? Those look like grass stains on your gown.”
Her attention jerked down, and pink splashes of color appeared on her cheeks. “I . . . simply knelt down to examine a . . . a . . . flower.”
The lie was pathetic, but he’d play along. “What kind?”
Blue eyes wide, her mouth fell open. “What?”
“What kind of flower?”
She squared her shoulders and gave a defiant lift of her chin. “A rose. A pink one, if you must know.”
“Hmm. Odd. I thought the rose garden was on the side of the house next to the terrace.” He pointed the book in the direction of the garden.
“It was by itself. Someone must have plucked it and dropped it.”
