“Not if I can help it, my lovely Cilla. We were both caught in the storm, and because you were injured, we had no other choice but to seek shelter. Hopefully, when I relay the story to the dowager, she will understand.”
“I… I fear she will dismiss me from my duties as her companion.”
“No, Cilla. I will not let her do that.”
She prayed he could convince his grandmother that nothing happened—even though something had happened inside Priscilla’s heart, which she would never act upon. “I’m ready to go now.”
He moved toward her again, picking up one of the blankets. “The weather brought cooler temperatures, so I insist you wrap this around your shoulders to keep warm.”
As he pulled the blanket around her, she had to squeeze her eyes closed. Looking at him when he was this close made her imagine kissing him again. Frustrated with her inability to stop thinking that, she breathed slowly and deeply, trying to get her mind to come awake. And if that didn’t help… she would be tempted to scream.
“What is amiss, my lovely?” His finger tipped up her chin, and she looked at him. “Is your foot causing you more pain now?”
Her foot? Yes, she must blame her frustration on her ankle. “Indeed, my ankle is still very sore. We should leave so I can get it propped up again before the swelling returns. I pray your grandmother will understand that I need to stay off it for the rest of the day.”
“She will. She is very understanding when it comes to injuries.” He slid his arm around her, pulling her next to his side. “Let me assist you out to the coach.”
Perhaps she shouldn’t let him. After all, she was becoming breathless with his arm around her. But she focused ahead of her and slowly walked toward the coach. The rain had indeed stopped, but the ground was so very muddy. The driver sat on top, holding the horse’s reins, looking straight ahead. The footman held the door open and reached a hand out to help her. With his and Gavin’s help, she made it inside the coach.
She sighed with relief, but then realized she still had to ride with Gavin all the way back to the manor. Alone. As long as he sat on the other bench and kept his distance, everything would be fine. But after he had climbed inside, he did the very thing she hoped he wouldn’t do. She grumbled in silence. What was wrong with him?
The vehicle jerked into motion, bouncing her on the seat. She tried not to bump into Gavin, but it was impossible.
“Let me explain everything to my grandmother,” he said after a few minutes of silence. “Because none of this was your fault, and I need to let her realize that.”
Priscilla kept her attention ahead instead of on the caring man beside her. “I thank you, Gavin.”
He covered her hand with his and squeezed gently. “And I’ll tell her not to work you too hard these next few days so that your ankle heals.”
She glanced at their hands, silently willing him to remove his warm touch, but apparently, he wasn’t a mind reader. “I feeljust awful about spraining my ankle so soon after starting my employment.”
“Grandmother will understand that your horse was spooked and threw you off. I’m just grateful you weren’t harmed any worse.”
“I was humiliated at first.” She frowned, looking at him again. “I mean, it has been many years since I was bucked off a horse. Then to realize I couldn’t even stand…” She shook her head. “I’m usually not this helpless.”
“As I know very well.” He winked.
Once again, the pitter-patter of her heartbeat accelerated. Why couldn’t he return to being the cad she had first met? But she needed to confess something, only because it would be heartless if she didn’t. “I must thank you for coming to my rescue. Forgive me for not saying so sooner.”
His expression softened, which made his green eyes lighter. He smiled, causing flutters inside her belly.
“Thank you, my lovely Cilla. I know how difficult it was for you to say that.”
He truly had no idea how hard it was, but thankfully, he would never know why. She forced a smile. “Yes, well… knowing how I felt about you and how mean I had been, I’m just glad you didn’t decide to leave me there on the ground to teach me a lesson in humility.”
He chuckled. “No. I could never do that. I’m not that kind of man.”
She dropped her gaze to their hands again. Why wasn’t he removing his? And pray, why wasn’t she pulling hers away?
“I’m glad you wouldn’t have done that. Perhaps I have misjudged you all this time.” She peeked at him again. His gaze was also on their joined hands. “Gavin, you are not the man I met eighteen months ago.”
His eyes met hers. “I can honestly say I’m not that man anymore.”
The sweet, somber look on his face right now was genuine. She could stare at him all day. Thankfully, the coach came to a stop, jerking her out of her foolish thoughts.
He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “I hope we have finally made amends with our past. I would really like us to be good friends. Heaven knows I need one to confide in.”
His breath was warm, but his lips were oh-so soft—just like in her dream.Stop this insanity!“Indeed, I don’t have friends here, only your grandmother.”
