She reached the edge of a low stone wall just before him, breathless and triumphant.
“You let me win.”
“I did no such thing.”
“You did. Confess it.”
He looked at her, and then… he smiled.
It was not careful. Not guarded. It was a smile that transformed him entirely, drawing warmth to his eyes, a softness to his mouth.He’s beautiful when he smiles. Heaven help me.
She looked at that mouth and wondered—just for a moment—what it would feel like to kiss him.
Dangerous,she thought.Tempting.
“I think I like riding with you,” she said.
“I should hope so. You’re already far too good at it.”
“Well, I have to impress my husband somehow.”
“I assure you, April, you needn’t try.”
And he meant it.That was the most disarming part of all.
They slowed and turned into the woods, dappled light breaking through the canopy above. In a small clearing, nestled between trees, a blanket had been laid out. A basket of food waited atop it.
April halted. “You planned this?”
“Somewhat,” he confessed, dismounting.
“You planned it,” she repeated, watching him with a mix of wonder and wariness.
“I thought it better than another stiff breakfast across that endless dining table.”
He secured their horses. She settled onto the blanket, carefully smoothing her skirts as he sat beside her.
She poured tea for him first, adding a spoonful of sugar then milk. He accepted it without comment. She poured her own then buttered a slice of toast.
Theo reached into his coat and pulled free a small leather-bound volume.
“TheFaerie Queene,” she said softly.
He nodded.
“I read it often. My father read it to me when I first learned to read. Every night, he’d read one canto aloud. I didn’t understand half of it, but I still memorized every line.”
She paused mid-motion, her knife poised over a scone. “Then it’s sacred,” she said. “A piece of him.”
He nodded again, slower this time. April spread jam and cream cheese over the scone and handed it to him. Their fingers brushed, and for a moment, neither moved.
They ate quietly, sunlight filtering through the trees above. “Tell me more about you, April.”
She looked up at the sky. “My sisters and I used to pour overThe Lady’s Monthly Museum, dreaming up every detail of our debut. We practiced our curtsies and imagined the dresses. I never thought I’d marry before the Season ended.”
“Do you regret it?”
She turned her head and found his deep blue eyes on her. The way he looked at her… it wasn’t cold or guarded. It was full.
