Yours is, too.
He opened his mouth wide, spreading his lips back, and turned his head from side to side. “Care to examine my teeth?”
She snorted but proceeded to lean forward to examine them. “Your teeth are bright, white, and perfectly aligned. Quite a fit set, actually. I see no problem.”
He tried not to look at the décolletage she displayed when leaning forward. He cleared his throat and glanced toward the front door. “I have no limps or injuries. And the only scar I’ve managed to earn is one from putting out a fire that was consuming my cousin Harriet’s dollhouse when I was ten years old.”
“Oh, dear. However did your cousin’s dollhouse manage to catch fire?”
“She tried to light the tiny fireplace with a candle. It was a near ruin. I spent most of my summer holiday rebuilding it for her.”
Sarah glanced down into her teacup. “That was kind of you.”
Leaning forward, he showed her the small scar that spanned between his thumb and forefinger. She touched it and immediately pulled her hand away. “I’m sorry, Mr. Forester. We might be quite alone together in this hunting lodge, but that doesn’t give me leave to behave like a hoyden.”
“You’re far from a hoyden, Lady Sarah.” The scent of lilies filled his senses.
“You don’t think people will speak ill of me? If they don’t believe my story, I mean.” Her frightened eyes searched his face. “You don’t think Lord Branford will cry off?”
Christian leaned forward and touched her shoulder. “I wouldn’t think ill of you even if I knew the truth. And if you were my betrothed, I wouldnevercry off.”
She gave him a tentative smile. But there was something in her eyes he couldn’t read. “You do know the truth,” she murmured.
“Precisely.” He moved away from her and settled back into his seat. “You care far too much what others think of you.”
She eyed him over the rim of her cup. “Perhaps you haven’t cared enough, Mr. Forester.”
He inclined his head toward her. The lady was astute. He’d give her that.
She glanced away, shook her head, and cleared her throat. “My apologies for changing the subject. Tell me, what, in your expert opinion, is the reason you’ve been relegated to a friend of every young lady you’ve fancied?”
His grin was unrepentant. “Why, my lady, that’s what I was hoping you could tell me. For I cannot for the life of me discern the reason myself.”
“You’re handsome, eligible, connected to the Quality, have a steady income, seem nice enough, and have good teeth. There is no reason I can think of why you haven’t made a good match yet.”
“Precisely what my cousin tells me.” He rested his wrist atop his head.
Sarah was busily tapping her cheek in thought. “Perhaps it’s the ladies you’re choosing to court. It sounds as if they all had other gentlemen in mind before they met you. That’s interesting, isn’t it?”
Christian narrowed his eyes. “It’s true. I suppose I never thought of that.”
Sarah took another small sip of tea. “Is there anyone else? Anyone you fancy?”
He swallowed and looked away into the fireplace. He slowly shook his head.
“That may also be part of the problem,” Sarah said. “Ladies like to feel special, singled out, as if the man who is courting them is interested in absolutely no one else.”
Christian set aside his cup. He stood and picked up the poker and nudged the burning logs in the fireplace again. “Ah, I see. Does Lord Branford show interest in anyone else?”
“Indeed.” Sarah laughed. “Himself, and I’m afraid there’s no competing with the strength of that particular affection.”
Again, Christian admired her sense of humor.
A singularly loud snore from Fergus II tore through the room. Sarah glanced over at the little dog. “I suppose it’s past time to retire. I’ll take Fergus to bed with me if it’s all right with you. I’ve got quite used to sleeping with him since I came here.”
Christian jabbed at one of the logs.The bloody dog’s making more headway with a woman than I ever have.“Perfectly all right with me.”
She nodded toward the bedchambers. “The room I’m in… it’s all right for me to remain?”
