“Well,” she shrugged, “that’s your job, isn’t it?”
One of his eyebrows arched in skepticism. “Yes, but after yesterday afternoon, I’ve been waiting for the time to speak with your father.”
“About what?”
A blank expression changed his features. “About courting you. Don’t you remember? You were going to come...last night, so I could...?”
“Oh, that.” She flipped her hand in the air as impatience grew inside of her. “Well, I suppose everything worked out for the best, anyway.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She turned toward the flowers and ran her finger along the edge of one of the petals. “Prince Ormond is going to court me.”
He hitched a breath. “And...you feel this is a good thing?”
She threw him a glare over her shoulder. “Of course,” she snapped. “He is a very sweet man. I think he’ll make a fine husband.”
His jaw tightened, and he fisted his hands at his sides. However, his expression didn’t appear to be anger. Through the smile, she could see his emotional struggle.
What was his problem, anyway? They were friends. Nothing more. So why was he giving her the disapproving look? She wished he would stop it, because if this kept up, she would assuredly throw him out of the house and not think twice about it.
###
RYDER WAS SPEECHLESS...which didn’t happen very often.
Who was this woman? And more importantly, why had she suddenly lost her memory? Did she not recall their kiss?
He didn’t know how to act with her right now. His heart was crumbling, and yet at the same time, he wanted to shake some sense into her. In all of the years he’d known her, she had never once acted like a simpleton. She was headstrong, but she never flip-flopped back and forth on her choices. If she hadn’t wanted him to court her in the first place, she certainly would have told him yesterday after their kiss. In fact, she wouldn’t have kissed him at all.
This wasn’t like the girl he’d been friends with for so many years, and her drastic attitude change worried him.
He inhaled and released it slowly. Whatever he did, he couldn’t upset her. Not until he discovered her reasons for acting this way.
The temperature in the room seemed hotter than he’d remembered. Had someone stoked the fire in the hearth? A bead of sweat ran down the side of his face from his hairline to his ear. He quickly wiped it off.
Little by little, his heart was breaking, but he must be strong and stay in control.
He swallowed hard and tried to smile, although it was tearing him apart inside. “I’m just surprised to hear that you and the prince hit it off so well...and so quickly.”
She shrugged. “Yes, well, I found him to be quite interesting, even though my parents do not share my opinion.”
Ryder folded his arms, wishing he could shrug off his uniformed jacket and cool down. “I only got a glimpse of him when he and his mother entered the palace, and well, I must say, he appeared rather clumsy. He even stumbled most of the way up the palace steps.”
“Perhaps he was anxious to meet me,” Clarissa stated tersely.
“Yes, I’m certain he was.” He stepped closer and brushed his fingers across her arm. “Any man would feel anxious to meet such a lovely woman.”
She rolled her eyes and pushed his hand away. “Oh, Ryder. Stop saying such things.”
As he studied her, the stiffness in her body gradually began to relax. Only a minute ago, she had looked like a wild cat ready to pounce. What he needed to do was continue with the sweet talk. Perhaps if he could turn on his charm, he’d get her to unwind a little more and open up to him.
“Why?” He stepped closer. “Don’t you believe that I think you’re lovely?”
She tilted her head. “I think my title makes you think I’m lovely.”
He shook his head. “For as long as you’ve known me, do you honestly believe I have seen you as a title? You know I’ve always treated you like a normal person, and I’ve never judged you.”
Anger slowly left her expression. “Indeed. You are correct.”
