Ignoring the three stony-faced men flanking her, he stepped forward, took her hand in his, and placed a swift kiss upon her gloved knuckles.
“Your Grace,” she murmured, allowing a smile to curve toward the pink blush now filling her cheeks. “I must apologize for my entourage. It wasn’t my intention to invade your home like this, but my parents were otherwise occupied, and when I asked my brothers if they could spare the time, they all insisted on coming along.”
“It’s quite all right,” Matthew assured her even though his stomach was now tied in a knot. Proving himself in front of Miss Townsbridge’s parents was one thing, but her brothers? He’d rather eat crud. “They’re just being protective.”
“And nosy,” she told him slyly.
Matthew grinned. He’d been right to look forward to seeing her again.
“I thought you said he always scowled,” the youngest Townsbridge, whom Matthew believed was called William, told his oldest brother. The middle brother - James, was it? - promptly stepped on William’s foot. “Ouch!”
Miss Townsbridge rolled her eyes, sighed, and swept her hand in her brothers’ direction. “Allow me to introduce Misters Charles, James, and William Townsbridge.” She made a face at them - the sort that seemed to warn they’d better behave. Matthew pressed his lips together while she gestured toward him next and said, “His Grace, the Duke of Brunswick.”
Matthew dipped his head toward his hopefully soon-to-be brothers-in-law and exchanged a few more pleasantries with them before addressing the only person present in whom he had any interest. “Would you like refreshment before we take a closer look at the folly?”
“Perhaps after?” Miss Townsbridge peeked past him at the part of the garden she could glimpse from where they stood. “I’m rather eager to get started.”
“As you wish,” he said and offered his arm. Her interest in his project pleased him more than he would have expected.
“The fish was excellent by the way,” she told him as they took the few steps leading down to the neatly trimmed lawn.
“Truly?”
Miss Townsbridge nodded. “I actually brought you a piece so you can try it. Your butler had a maid deliver it to your cook.”
Warmth crept under his skin on account of her thoughtfulness. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“It only seemed fair considering all the trouble you went to in order to catch it.” Her lips twitched. “In fact, I am almost relieved to see you looking so well.”
“Why Miss Townsbridge, do I finally sense a bit of remorse over the spill I took?”
“It can’t have surprised you.” He raised an eyebrow and she added, “You were wrestling a large, slippery carp while standing in a lake. Your fall was expected, but yes, I would have felt slightly bad if you’d also caught your death.”
It was impossible not to find humor in her dry wit. So Matthew rewarded her with another one of his reacquired smiles. “Only slightly?”
“Well,” she said with a prim little sniff. “Anything more would suggest I might care about you, and that, my dear duke, would only go to your head.”
Matthew’s chest expanded with pleasure. He genuinely liked her. So much it almost seemed a pity to marry only to try and avoid her.
But what choice did he have? She was the woman he wanted, the one he’d spent two years selecting. He couldn’t walk away now - didn’t want to. But neither could he risk the threat she posed to his heart, for if there was one thing he could not ignore, it was how easy it would be to love her.
He clenched his jaw and tried to rid himself of that terrifying possibility. All he had to do was romance her a bit. Just enough to convince her to change her mind. It shouldn’t take long. Certainly not as long as it would for him to develop those dangerous feelings he’d sworn he’d never fall prey to again. As long as he focused on his goal and kept a clear head, he’d be fine.
#
“DID YOU REALLY BUILDthis yourself?” Sarah asked as they drew closer to the folly. She’d only glimpsed the left side of it from the terrace due to the coniferous trees flanking the edge.
“It’s not complete, but yes. No one else has placed a single stone.”
Pride filled his voice, as well it should. Sarah wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it hadn’t been this perfectly crafted wall made to look like it was centuries old. Uneven along the edge, as if some of the stone had corroded with time, it rose up to join with an overhead arch.
Like a child eager to explore, she let go of his arm and passed underneath to a neatly paved courtyard containing a pit filled with firewood at its center. Partly melted candles were placed in nooks around the periphery, promising a magical escape after dark.
“I’m quite impressed,” Charles said, speaking to Brunswick as the men joined her. “You clearly put a great deal of thought and effort into this.”
“All it’s missing now is the last bench,” Sarah said, noting that only three had been completed.
“My plan is to start on that next,” Brunswick said while leaning one shoulder against a pillar. His gaze followed Sarah as she continued observing the structure.
