“Without an ounce of guile, speaking about us spending time in each other’s company with an utter lack of self-preservation.”
“I don’t understand,” she said. “Why would I wish to be deceitful with you, and from what would I need to preserve myself?”
That struck him funny. When he laughed, she did, too.
“You have a pretty laugh,” he told her, “and you laugh often, which is nice.”
She shielded her eyes from the sun and continued to look up at him.
“Not too much, I hope, like a braying donkey.”
With Lady Brilliance being so earnest and affable, he wanted to take her in his arms despite it being broad daylight outdoors. He also had to swallow some ridiculous words, which ought not to be spoken lightly or too soon.
Such as how attracted he was to her and how much he enjoyed her company, both amusing and refreshingly off-kilter.
Clearing his throat, he said, “That thought never crossed my mind. You are not at all like a donkey.” Vincent drew her in front of him. When she looked as though she were about to melt against him for another kiss, he turned her around so her back was to him.
“Now look out there,” Vincent ordered, letting his hands rest lightly upon her shoulders. “Do you see the next valley where the stream appears as a ribbon of shimmering gold?”
“That’s entirely accurate and so cleverly described,” she said. “Yes, I see it.”
“My home is next to those woodlands.”
“Is it?” she asked before trying to turn in his arms.
The minx!But he held her firmly in place since other guests were approaching. He could hear them chattering as they came around the gully behind them. All he had to do was move so he wasn’t touching her.
“Perhaps you can see some of my home’s chimneys,” he said and took a step backward. “It’s possible.”If one were a bird in the sky.
Lady Brilliance raised her hand to the rim of her bonnet once again, staring into the distance. But then she laughed, spun around, and barreled toward him.
Vincent had to grab hold of her upper arms before she knocked him over.
“You’re teasing!” she exclaimed. “Kiss m —”
Lady Brilliance interrupted herself, undoubtedly catching sight of other guests. He turned and groaned. Sure enough, four others had stopped to stare at them, including the sharp-eyed Lady Georgiana, Lord Patterson, Miss Newton, and Lady Martine.
While Lady Brilliance put space between herself and him, she seemed unaffected by being caught standing close.
“Come see,” she called out, her voice perfectly natural, holding her hand out to Lady Martine. “You canalmostsee Lord Hewitt’s home from here.”
Easing the awkwardness, the lady came forward and took her friend’s arm. Together, they looked out across the shallow valley, soon joined by the other guests, although Lady Georgiana had given him a withering glance as she’d drawn near.
“His home is past the gold ribbon,” Lady Brilliance announced. “Can you see any chimneys?”
“No,” Lady Martine said and turned back to look at Vincent with a raised eyebrow.
He coughed. The lady thought he had lured her friend up there on false pretenses. It was clear as day.
“How disappointing,” Lady Brilliance said. “Shall we have an outing to your home one afternoon, Lord Hewitt?” she asked without turning.
He startled at her boldly inviting herself and others. Hopefully, Alethia had every day booked with activities from morning till night. In truth, Vincent had no wish for a passel of strangers to descend upon his estate. Luckily, his cousin and the Colonel had just crested the hill.
Having received no response from him, Lady Brilliance wasn’t shy about asking Lady Twitchard the same.
“Will there be an opportunity to visit Lord Hewitt’s country home?”
Vincent knew he must be wild-eyed as he caught his cousin’s questioning gaze. She recognized his reluctance to play the host and deflected the eager young lady.
