He shrugged. “Not as well as I’d hoped.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Is it your manner?”
Evidently affronted, he raised his eyebrows. “Are you casting doubt on my ability to charm a lady?”
“I can’t imagine where you’re going wrong.” She walked across the richly patterned carpet to him. “You are a perfectly presentable gentleman of means.”
Mr. Feather puffed out a breath and tucked his thumbs in his waistcoat. “Well, thank you for that, at least!”
“Are you aware that my father and yours put their heads together in this room last night, after everyone had gone to bed?”
“No.” His brown eyes widened, and he rubbed a thoughtful hand over his smoothly shaved jaw. “I wonder what they came up with.”
“Take it from me, it was nothing good,” Erina said with a frown. “I am to invite you on a walk after breakfast, up to Hangman’s Hill.”
“A hike? How delightful. I hate to think where the hill got its name,” he mused. “But it seems apt.”
Despite her apprehension, Erina had to smile at his disconsolate expression. “You’ll feel more like exercise after a hearty breakfast. Andyou can tell me all about Miss Beckworth whilst we walk. Perhaps I can help. A bit of jealousy might move things along.”
“Good Lord, no.” Mr. Feather shuddered. “I’d rather hunt lions than come between two women.”
Erina headed for the door. “There would only be one who was serious, sir.”
“Right now, I fear there are none.” Mr. Feather walked beside her to the breakfast room. “Does terrible things to a man’s ego.”
After breakfast, Mr. Feather and Erina entered the path that led to the gate opening onto the meadow. He strode beside her making little comment.
She breathed in the scent of sun-warmed earth and raised the hem of her gown, the tall grasses tickling her legs above her half boots. “We don’t have to go all the way up if you’d rather not, Mr. Feather.”
“Call me ‘Harry,’ as it appears we’ll be seeing more of each other.”
“I shall call you ‘Harry.’ But we are not betrothed. I have not agreed to the marriage.”
Harry raised an eyebrow. “Quite so. As I haven’t yet asked you to marry me.”
She glared then, ignoring his smirk. “Then let it be so between us.”
“We’d best go right to the summit. I suspect your father or mine, or both of ’em are up in that tower with a telescope trained on us.”
Erina laughed. “You may well be right.”
“I don’t mind a good trek.” Harry strode along beside her toward the hill in the distance. “But you walk very fast.”
“It’s the way I’m made, I’m afraid.”
“Nothing to apologize for,” Harry said. “A good friend of mine, Jack Ryder, is exceptionally tall and far more athletic than I am. Rides like the very demon. We still rub along well enough together.”
“Captain Ryder? I have met him.” Erina pictured the large man who’d given her a crick in her neck on the dance floor. He had a wonderful low chuckle and the bluest eyes. “I remember that he hadall the ladies in a flutter.”
“Handsome chap. He’s a good fellow. A brave soldier. But restless.”
“I heard his father, the duke, died.”
“Yes. Hit Jack hard. He’s gone off into the country on his horse. I’ll miss him.”
“What is his direction?”
“Northern England, but he’s heading for Ireland first.”
