“I suppose not.” Harrypaused to stretch. “Sometimes what one thinks one wants isn’talways what one needs.”
She gave him a sidelong glance. Thatdidn’t mean Florence hadn’t hurt him. He might well be hiding hisdisappointment from her and putting on a brave face. “Fortunate todiscover it before any firm commitment is made,” she said. “It doesleave us in a pickle, though, doesn’t it?”
His brown eyes were solemn. “Short ofbrowbeating our fathers into submission, I’ve run out of ideas, I’mafraid.”
“Is there no other lady whomight take your fancy?”
He raised his eyebrows. “What? Heretoday? Why don’t you find a nice gentleman to suit your father,instead? There is one enjoying your father’s hospitality as wespeak.”
“Who, pray, might thatbe?”
“LyndonWainright.”
Lyndon was younger than her by sixmonths. And when he was older, he would still be dull company. “Wewouldn’t suit.”
A smile warmed Harry’s eyes. “Hisfather is a viscount. Wouldn’t Wainright be a better choice thanme?”
She wasn’t about to tell him thatshe’d refused Lyndon’s offer of marriage. It was a sore point withher father. She paused and gazed at Harry askance. “Well, no. As amatter of fact, if I must, I would prefer to marry you. At least,you have a sense of humor.”
Harry chuckled. “Well that’s extremelygracious of you.”
Beyond the fence, fields of wheatswayed in the breeze. Erina picked up her muslin skirts and tookhis extended hand to climb a stile. She had taken him the long wayaround because she dreaded going home. “Let’s stick to the matterin hand. We must work together.”
He jumped down and joined her. “We’llhave to agree to our parents’ wishes.”
“What?” She puffed away awisp of hair that had escaped from beneath her straw hat andnarrowed her eyes at him. “You surely aren’t giving up?”
Bemused, he studied her for a moment.“My, but you’re a spirited woman, Lady Erina.”
“It’s just that I don’twish to marry,” Erina confessed.
“Never?”
“Well, yes, of course,eventually. But not with such haste.” It seemed foolish to mentionlove after her father had ridiculed the notion. “I’d like time tomeet the right man, enjoy our courtship. And I dislike being toldwhat I must do.”
“A little stubborn, wouldyou say?”
She frowned at him as they entered theshady rhododendron walk her outraged breath drawing in the pungentsmell of damp, rotting leaves. “At least I’m not one to give upwhen things get too difficult.”
Harry swiveled to face her.“I only meant that we should merelyappearto agree with our parents. Togive us more time.”
She gazed thoughtfully into his browneyes. They were kind eyes, patient, humorous. Some woman would belucky to marry Harry. “Yes, that seems the only option left tous.”
They emerged into sunlight and walkedunder an arch of white clematis leading from the formal gardensonto the lawns.
Harry offered her his arm. “Shall wego in and face them?”
They walked into the house where thelast of the guests, anxious to continue their journey beforenightfall, were about to depart. Erina joined her father to bidthem farewell as their carriages lined up on the drive. Soon thelast vehicle rattled away, and the house settled into its familiarsounds, the clunk of the grandfather clock in the hall, the creakand rattle of timbers. Mice scuffling behind thewainscoting.
Half an hour later, Erina and Harryjoined Sir Ambrose and her father in the library. The men drankwhiskey whilst she sipped Madeira. She selected one of the smallcakes on the platter. They had missed luncheon, and she was hungry.She offered the plate to Harry, who winked at her and tookseveral.
“You two young people seemto be getting on well,” Sir Ambrose said with a satisfiedsmile.
“We have become firmfriends.” Harry smiled at her. “Have we not, Erina?”
“Yes, very good friends,”Erina echoed, earning a suspicious glance from herfather.
“Excellent,” Sir Ambrosesaid. “Your father and I have decided to place an announcement ofyour engagement in the newspaper Friday next.”
