His words were unexpected. That privilege was reserved for those betrothed or married and they were neither. But she would confess to herself, she’d wanted to call him by his given name since the moment she met him.
“Very well, William. And I believe you are trying to change the subject.”
His smile disappeared when she said his name but returned with her accusation.
“That was it, that was the end of the story.”
“I do not believe you told no one.”
“It is the truth. You are the first person I have ever shared my encounter with the Gray Lady.”
The whole conversation had become so personal and intimate she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.
“Then I thank you for sharing it with me,” she said.
“Did it meet your standards for unusual creatures?” he asked with one brow cocked.
It took her a moment to realize what he was saying. “Och! You fibbed! You have never seen a ghost,” she said and couldn’t help but laugh at the way he now sat straighter in his saddle and brushed invisible dust from his arms.
He then placed his arm across his chest and bowed. One thing was for sure: he had an infectious sense of humor she’d not expected. Aye, upon closer inspection, there was much more to this man than she’d ever imagined. She would need to bemindful, lest she find herself at risk of letting her feelings get the best of her and making a complete and utter arse of herself.
*
William loved thebanter between them. He’d been considering her over the past few days, watching the various expressions cross her lovely face, as though she were having complete conversations internally. He’d come to the realization he wanted to be part of them and know what could make her smile so freely or draw her brows together while staring off at a distant mountain. For some unaccountable reason, he wanted to be a part of her sphere.
Truth be told, he’d never been one to sneak sweets from the kitchen. He preferred to use charm to fill his belly with delicious creations by one kitchen hand in particular who could not resist his compliments. By the time he was twelve, she would automatically set some aside for him.
Agnes had not invited him to address her informally as he had, but he would wait to see if she did. The sound of his name on her lips was pleasing. Those lips. The ones he’d begun dreaming about every night that he wanted to taste. Her neck he wanted to kiss. Her body he wanted to caress and pleasure. Aye, he was already in it too deep for his liking, but he was powerless to fight the rushing desire she instilled in him whenever he thought of her.
Each night he would pleasure her until neither could stand it any longer, only to wake in the morning alone and unsatisfied.
But she was a lady.
And as a lady, she was not available unless he was ready to make that kind of commitment to her and her family.
He’d considered that a great deal over the past days riding quietly behind her. There was no barrier, only his desires and hers. And so here he was, doing his best to find out just that. But he wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all himself. He’d known he wanted to make her his the moment she entered the great hall at Stirling Castle.
And now he would also discover her wishes. She’d been embarrassed to speak of her desires to find a husband, and understandably so. Young ladies did not normally speak of such things to unattached men as it could be seen as unbecoming and desperate. But she was not like that and the sentiment she’d shared was not in that context.
Now before him, he considered this bright, beautiful woman with a striking imagination and a kind soul. Fin had seen it immediately and had voiced his concern in the most authoritative way possible for a man of his station. He’d practically threatened harm to William should one hair on her head be out of place upon her arrival at her home.
William grinned thinking about the disheveled state she’d be in if he could have the kind of night with her he longed for.
“Are you plotting your next fairytale, William, or remembering something pleasurable.”
Christ, even the way she said pleasure made his loins react.
“I was indeed thinking of pleasurable things, Lady Agnes,” he said in a pointedly low voice.
She shifted in her saddle, and he hoped it was for the reasons his mind conjured.
“I suppose, William, since I am to address you by your given name when there is no one else around, that you may do the same.”
“Thank you, Agnes. You do me quite the honor.”
Tilting her head to the side, she asked, “May I ask what color are your eyes? I can never quite make it out.”
He pulled back on the reins and stopped his horse and waited until she did the same. If that wasn’t an invitation, he didn’t know what was.
