He stared down, marveling at her boldness. Even as he evaded her. Even after he explained about the bird shite. Even as . . .
The relative quiet of the bench was broken by a chorus of barking, and Lady Willow moaned. The thud of running feet followed, along with panting and someone hissing“Shh!”There was a squeal and then—
“My lady!” Her maid flung herself around the hedge with dogs spilling at her feet.
“She’s come, she’s come, she’s come, she’s come!” The maid jabbed her index finger back and forth in the direction of the house. “Mr. Fisk will bring the earl’s horse. He’s said,meet him by the pond.” The maid wadded her apron in her hands.
“Thank you,” said Lady Willow tightly, wading through dogs. To Cassin, she said, “I feared this might happen. This way, if you will, my lord. How lucky for you; now you shall see the pond.” She took his hand.
“Lady Willow,” he said, staring down at their joined hands.
“The pond is just ahead.”
“Lady Willow,”he repeated and stopped walking. She endeavored to trudge forward, but he pulled her back. She stopped herself just short of colliding with his chest and turned her face up. Her eyes were large and earnest and the most captivating shade of blue-green. Her pink mouth was parted with exertion. The breeze whipped her hair across her face. A scramble of thoughts raced through his head.
I’m sorry our goals do not align.
Take care posting solicitations for strange men.
How old are you?
Why are you not married already?
Instead, he said, “Your ingenuity and determination do you credit, but please . . . understand. I am not prepared to marry for the money.”
She blinked again and bit her lip, drawing his attention to her mouth. “Why not?”
He let out a noise of frustration. “Do you know, I have three sisters and a mother, and they come part and parcel with a crowd of female friends and relations—literally dozens of women of every age—and I have never met one of them as bold or demanding as you.”
“I am not bold and demanding, sir. I am desperate. Why? Why won’t you marry for money?”
“Oh.” He blew out a breath. “I don’t know. There is the small consideration of my pride. And the fact that we have only just met. Also, my very few years as earl have been riddled with what some might term ‘misguided leadership,’ and I am loath to add ‘married a stranger from a dockside advertisement’ to the list. Believe me, my lady, the answer to your question is long and complicated and unnecessary.”
She scoffed, “More evasiveness.”
“But I owe you nothing.”
“Why, then, are you still here?”
He opened his mouth to answer but closed it. He tried again. “I cannot think of any man in my acquaintance who would agree to your offer.”
Her eyes grew larger. “You’re speaking of your partners.”
“No. I speak of any gentleman.”
“I have two friends,” she said, forging on, “and our plan has always been to relocate to London together. If your partners are unmarried, my friends may extend the same arrangement to them . . . assuming the gentlemen are similar—that is, if the gentlemen are correct.”
“No gentleman is correct for this scheme. Theschemeis not correct.”
“Askthem,” she insisted, and he laughed again. So persistent, so . . . beautiful and persistent.
“I will prepare my mother for ‘callers,’ ” she assured him. “If you call again, you may expect no hiding or dashing about. Come tomorrow, if it suits you.”
“More boldness.”
The jingle of tack and a whinny rose behind them. His horse. Her Mr. Fisk. His five minutes were up.
“There are worse things than bold and demanding.” She took a step back.
