George sighed but then straightened as he noticed Lily was approaching him. She appeared…determined. And beautiful with her wind-tousled hair. Why did she have to be so beautiful, no matter her mood? That seemed incredibly unfair.
She stopped beside him and together they looked off at the others.
“Good game, Mrs. Manning,” he said.
She glanced up at him at last. “Your father is excellent. I merely felt compelled to match him.”
“A great many have tried and never done as well,” he said. “I also believe you’ve wrapped him around your little finger, so well done.”
She let out her breath. “I think you and I must discuss our…our situation.”
He turned toward her. “Yes. Last night we were both at high emotion. It was not a productive conversation. But obviously we must work this out and discuss it rationally.”
“If that is even possible. The situation itself seems to lack rationality.” She shook her head. “We must also be somewhere that won’t allow interruption. My sister could have overheard us on the terrace and that would have been a further disaster.”
He glanced off, trying to think of someplace where they might be alone but wasn’t a dangerous option. He saw the tower from the old castle in the distance and said, “What about the tower?”
She looked toward it and he thought he saw a little pleasure on her face when she found it. “Oh, I have wondered about that place. Before I saw you, realized who you were, it was even suggested you would be my guide in exploring the old castle site.”
“Then it won’t seem odd if I offer. Why don’t you say something about it now while the others are preparing to go inside, and I’ll gallantly offer to guide you?”
“Won’t others want to come along?” she asked.
He laughed despite the fraught situation. “I promise you, I’m the only one who has any interest in the tower. I’ve bored them all to tears with my obsession with it over the years. They’ll likely be happy I have a new victim to torture with my tour.”
“Very well,” she said, and then took a big breath like she was gearing herself up for this. “Is that the tower from the old castle site in the distance, my lord?” she asked in a louder voice so the others would hear.
“Oh no,” Clarissa said with a teasing groan as she and Kirkwood rejoined the group. “Don’t get my cousin started on his tower, he’ll never let you escape it!”
George stuck his tongue out at her and she returned the look playfully. “They’re just jealous that they don’t have a castle of their own.”
“Youdon’thave a castle of your own,” Kirkwood snorted. “You have half a crumbling tower.”
“You said you wished to have a tour of it, I think, Mrs. Manning, when you arrived,” Lady Pembrooke said with a shake of her head at the others. “George, you could take her. Perhaps Alice could join you.”
As both George and Lily froze, Alice glanced back at them and then up at the house. “Oh, I’ve had the tour,” she said slowly. “As much as I enjoyed it, I think all this excitement has worn me out. You go, Lily. I think you like that sort of thing a great deal more than I do.” She gasped as she realized how that sounded and color filled her cheeks. “Not that I didn’t enjoy every moment of your tour, my lord.”
Kirkwood laughed. “Oh dear, you have already driven this poor girl to the edge of boredom, Lockhart. Badly done.”
“Well, if Mrs. Manning is a more intelligent person than the rest of you.” He halted and smiled apologetically at his fiancée. “Except for Miss Westinghouse, of course, I’m happy to takeherfor a tour.” George looked at her. “We could go now while the rest of them take their rest.”
“Yes, that would be fine,” Lily said, and the relief was plain on her face. They had made their arrangements. They would get their time alone to discuss all that needed to be discussed.
And George could only hope that all the things he actually wished to do to this woman when they were alone would fade in the background when they were finally away from the others. Because he couldn’t want her.
CHAPTER11
As the others returned to the house, Lily and Lockhart remained on the bowling field, watching them go. Alice was at the rear of the group, and she kept looking up at the house. Lily noted that she never once looked back at them, never sought Lockhart’s gaze. Funny, because all Lily wished to do was find it. Hold it. Lose herself in it. No matter how dangerous and wrong that desire was.
She drew a shaky breath and turned toward him. “Shall we go, my lord?”
He nodded and for a moment she thought he might offer his arm. His elbow tipped toward her a fraction and the world slowed. But then he shook his head, his cheeks brightening with color and motioned toward their destination.
“Of course.” Together they began the walk down toward the tower and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “Are you truly interested in the history of the place? Or is it only a good excuse?”
“Oh, no I’m very much interested,” she admitted. “I love to explore the history of old manor estates.”
He seemed to brighten a little at that answer. “Well, then perhaps I can tell you a bit.”
