This seemed to pique Jonathan’s interest.“I understand it’s worth seeing, but I might need a guide.When will Henrik return?”
Lise’s mother shook her head.“We don’t know.”
“Then perhaps Miss von Ostenfeld would be able to take me through it.”He spoke directly to her, as if the invitation were perfectly normal.
Silence greeted his words until he quickly addressed her parents, “With an appropriate companion, of course.Maybe one of you.”
Her mother smiled a little sadly, and her father responded, “Normally, we would say yes without hesitation, but it has become far less safe for everyone, what with French detachments moving through the area every time there are new rumors of British landings or Hanoverian resistance.And there do seem to always be fresh rumors.”
“I understand perfectly, Herr von Ostenfeld,” Jonathan assured him.“If the French make a habit of going through the forest, then its relevance has just increased.”
Boldly, lifting her gaze to his, Lise spoke up.“The forest is old and deep.”And she adored it.Wishing she could go with him, she added, “If you do survey it, be careful.”She and her brother and Friedrich had partaken of many adventures there.“One can lose oneself in the Dodau, if one is not careful.”
Jonathan looked at her without speaking, as though they were alone.As though her parents were not watching.As though the last two months had not happened.As though London was not an impossible ocean-voyage away.
“Then I shall have to take great care, Miss von Ostenfeld,” he said at last.“I would hate to lose myself.”
The silence stretched too long.Her mother cleared her throat.“My children did get lost in the forest once.Fortunately, Lise’s betrothed along with his father and, of course, my husband found them.”
“With the help of father’s hunting dogs,” Lise said to lighten the mood, and wishing her mother wouldn’t bring up her engagement in front of Jonathan.It reminded his lordship that she’d behaved scandalously while intended for another man.
Besides, Friedrich had been the one to tell her and Henrik to go deep into the trees where the sunlight barely penetrated to the forest floor.A dangerous place to play their childish game of hide and seek.Looking down at her hands, she saw they were trembling.
Just then, Frau Kemper announced that dinner was ready.Crossing the front hall, Lise made sure to walk in front with her mother.But then, one moment that Lise had been dreading in an evening of dreaded moments, happened.Once Jonathan saw where she was going to sit, he stepped closer and drew out her chair.
Inclining her head with polite gratitude, she sat and then waited, holding her breath.His fingers curled around the back of the chair, brushing her shoulders briefly through the thin silk, before he pushed her in.
Then he leaned down, too close, until she could catch his familiar fragrance of sandalwood and citrus and something earthy, like vetiver.Her body hummed, as the scent of the outdoors in the warm sunshine took her back to being enveloped by his strong arms.
“Are you comfortable?”he asked.
“Yes, thank you,” she managed past suddenly parched lips.
And he left her to walk around the table and sit opposite, leaving her not comfortable at all.
Chapter Eight
Jonathan was seated directly across from Lise, with her parents occupying either end of the table.It was hardly an intimate arrangement, seeing as there were four empty chairs, one on either side of him and of her.Another four chairs rested against one wall for larger parties.Yet if he looked across the impressive tower of fruit and the flowers, he could see the candlelight reflected in her eyes, the way the light caught the curve of her cheek, the hollow of her throat.
And he could remember, with appalling clarity, how her mouth had felt under his.
He had no earthly business being there.None.He should have declined the invitation when it was proffered three days earlier.After making his excuses, he ought to have ridden to his lodgings in Eutin and focused on the work that had ostensibly brought him to Holstein.
Instead, upon accepting with unseemly haste, he was now trapped in this exquisite torture of proximity, close enough to see her, to hear her voice, but forbidden to touch.
What are you doing, Bowen?What in God’s name do you hope to accomplish?
He had no answer.Or rather, he had too many answers, none of them respectable.
He was acutely aware of Lise’s attempt not to look directly at him since they’d sat down.Scarcely since he’d arrived for that matter.Which was why he’d taken extra time to draw out her chair and had leaned ridiculously close, simply to catch her floral and orangey fragrance.
The first course arrived, a platter of poached carp in a light bouillon, set in an empty space beside the candlesticks, and a large tureen of soup.The latter was placed in front of Frau von Ostenfeld.As the only guest, Jonathan had the honor of handing her his bowl first, into which she ladled a creamy pottage, rich with the flavor of beef and root vegetables.
He accepted it, waiting while the rest of the family’s bowls were filled.After a maid in a tidy white cap removed the tureen, he helped himself to a slice of warm dark bread, still steaming from the oven.The table stayed silent for a minute while everyone enjoyed the talent of the von Ostenfeld’s cook.
However, the reprieve was brief.Herr von Ostenfeld began by asking Jonathan about his reception in Eutin.When this was answered to his satisfaction, Lise’s father had more penetrating questions.
“You mentioned establishing routes,” Lise’s father said, tearing his bread with blunt, capable fingers.“For military purposes, I presume?”
