“Shh...” He moved from the corner of the coop and came toward her. “Is there some place we can talk in private?”
“I don’t think so, Mr. Dorsey. Our pantry isn’t enclosed as the one in the manor’s kitchen.”
His gaze narrowed on her as a frown touched his features. “Lyndsey, is something amiss?”
Her heart tugged with the betrayed emotion and she shook her head. “Please leave. I have a headache, and I’m going to lie down.”
She turned, but he grasped her arm. “We really need to talk. I think my aunt knows about us.”
Panic filled her, but then she suddenly recalled what her sister had said about Aunt Beatrice calling Lord William’s name. Lyndsey glared at Adrian. “I don’t understand. How could your aunt possibly—”
“Shh...” He placed his hand on her mouth. “Please. It won’t take very long. Where can we meet?”
She pushed his hand away. Their first kiss had happened after he touched her mouth. She couldn’t let that happen again. “Well, we certainly cannot meet anywhere around my family’s farm.” She tried to make her mind work as she rubbed her throbbing temples. “Do you know the pond that’s not more than two miles east of here?”
“I don’t know this area very well.”
She pointed toward the west. “Head in that direction and you’ll run across it. I’ll meet you there shortly.”
He smiled. “Don’t be long.”
They carefully stepped out of the chicken coop. He hurried to his horse and mounted it. She quickly checked for her family’s whereabouts to make sure they couldn’t be observed. She couldn’t possibly tell her Pa what happened last night, which meant he should not catch sight of Adrian right now.
As soon as he was hidden by the trees, she hurried into the house to change her clothes. The dress she had on was one she wore when she did her chores. She didn’t want to meet him smelling like sweat, hay, and laundry soap.
After changing into one of her day dresses, she quickly brushed her hair. Just as she thought about winding it in a coil, she decided against it. What was she doing? Why was she trying to impress him when she would never forgive him for making her feel this terrible? However, she would meet him at the pond, but she would tell him her feelings.
And no matter how hard he tried – because she suspected he would – she wouldn’t let him kiss her.
SIX
Adrian paced in frontof the pond as thoughts swirled in his head.What am I doing?He’d started out this disguise with the hope of getting to talk with some of the ladies Collin found interesting, and to see if they were good enough for his brother. And yet, he justhadto kiss one of the women – and enjoy it – and now guilt overwhelmed him.
Every time he talked to Lyndsey, a lie would blurt out of his mouth. If roles were reversed, he would never forgive a woman if she’d done that to him. And he wouldn’t blame Lyndsey if she hated him.
But he couldn’t tell her yet. There was still so much to talk about, and so many more kisses before he could confess what he’d done. He really wanted to get to know her better, even if it meant she’d never forgive him once the truth was out. Indeed, he was the worst kind of rogue. And he would deserve her wrath.
