He blinked and murmured a drawn out, “No,” before adding, “When I spoke of potential danger, I was merely considering a sprained ankle or some other minor injury. Not once did I imagine either one of us plummeting to our deaths.”
She scrunched her nose again in that adorable way that he’d grown so fond of. “I am sorry. It was not my intention to be quite so dramatic about our adventure, but I have recently been readingThe Dark Secret of Mistletoe Forest—”
“And you imagined ending up at the bottom of a pit with only a ghost for company?”
She gaped at him. “Have you read it?”
“In case you were not aware, I have had a surprising amount of time on my hands since returning from the war.” He shrugged. “As it happens, I found it to be an amusing read—undoubtedly one of the most unpredictable books that I have ever encountered.”
“I find it vastly entertaining myself,” she said. “Especially the part where the hero descends into the pit to save the heroine by tying the harness from his horse together with his jacket, shirt, stirrups and saddle.”
“A touch unrealistic, I suspect, but the fact that this amused you tells me something else about you,” he said.
“And what might that be?” She gazed up at him, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Well, some might say thatThe Dark Secret of Mistletoe Forestis one of the stupidest books in existence—a mockery of English literature. But since you do not, I can only conclude that you appreciate the satire behind it and that you also have a splendid sense of humor.”
The smile that spread its way across her face, like the first rays of sunlight brightening the sky at dawn, stole his breath. She was without a doubt the most exquisite creature he’d ever encountered. “That is one of the best compliments I have ever received,” she said. “Thank you.”
Dipping his head in a bow, he turned back toward the stairs. “Shall we proceed?”
“Oh, indeed we shall!”
Richard counted fifteen steps before they reached another plateau. “Do you hear that?” He whispered the question.
“It sounds like water.”
Moving closer to the sound, Richard noticed a series of torches, held in place by iron sconces that had been mounted into the rock wall. Taking one down, he held it to the flame of his lantern, then used it to light the rest of the torches until the cave was perfectly illuminated, allowing them both a clear view of the space they were now in—an area at least twenty paces in width. Looking up, Richard saw that a thin waterfall flowed out from between a crack in the wall. He followed the movement until it dove behind a ledge at the opposite side of the plateau, splashing against a larger body of water below.
Crossing the area, he peered down, confounded by what he saw. “It looks as though there is an underground river down there.” He glanced toward the left where a gradual slope appeared to form an embankment. “I can even see a boat.”
She was beside him in an instant. “I thought you were joking,” she said. And then, “This is without a doubt the best adventure I have ever had. Shall we see what else we can find?”
Richard laughed, the sound so foreign to him that he startled himself with it, which resulted in something of a croak. He heard Lady Mary draw a sharp breath, and then she said, “I gather that it has been a while since you found something amusing?”
He nodded, increasingly aware of how much he enjoyed her company.
“In that case, I feel remarkably lucky to have had the good fortune of sharing this moment with you, and one day, when you are ready, I hope to not only hear your laughter, but to see you smile as well.”
“I must confess that as much as I would like that, I cannot help but fear how you will react.” His throat tightened around his breath until his chest ached and his heart felt uncomfortably heavy. He’d never been this honest, this open, with anyone.
“I know,” she said as she reached out and took him by the hand, her fingers wrapping around his. She looked at him with imploring eyes. “But we cannot go on like this forever. Not if we are to have a future together.”
“I am aware of that.”
She nodded, her gaze shifting to their hands. “Then you must face your fears at some point and trust that I will accept you for who you are.” She paused a moment before saying, “And I must do the same.”
He frowned at this. “What do you mean?”
A shy smile traced her lips. “You are not the only one who is afraid to show your true self. There is something about me that you may not be willing to accept.”
This surprised him. Indeed, he did not believe it. Nothing about her would ever deter him from wanting her in every conceivable way. “I take it that you are not referring to your fondness for opera, for I already know about that.”
She dropped her gaze. “You are right. There is something more.”
He didn’t like the sound of that—the not knowing what sort of stain might tarnish his view of the lady whom he’d come to hold in the highest regard. “What is it?” he managed to ask.
“I will tell you as soon as you are ready to show me your face. One truth in return for another, to test the depth of our affection and whether or not we have a chance for true happiness together.”
