Tristan stared as she proceeded to rotate her ankle.
Her slight wince snapped him out of his daze. He shook his head. “Are you all right?”
“I believe so. It hurts only a little.” She gave him a timid smile. “Thank you, sir. Your help is much appreciated.”
Relieved, Tristan stood and offered his hand to help her rise. The moment she took it, a shock of awareness rushed up his arm. He drew a sharp breath to steady himself only to realize that she looked as dazed as he felt. Was it possible she’d experienced the same inexplicable pull as he?
He studied her appearance. Dressed in a practical gown now marred by dirt and a ripped seam, she must be a maid whose acquaintance he’d not yet made.
Unsure of how to proceed when he didn’t know her identity, Tristan released her and quickly confessed, “It was the least I could do since you’d not have been stuck had it not been for me.”
She tilted her head, her eyes curious. “Oh?”
“I dug that hole in the hope of catching a rabbit. In other words, I am the man you just expressed a desire to murder.”
Lilli’s pulse was racing so fast she could scarcely catch her breath. A short while ago she’d been ready to give the person behind the hole a thorough tongue lashing. Now, all she wanted to do was drown in the most gorgeous eyes she’d ever encountered. The warm and welcoming coffee shade made her toes curl in her half boots while the velvety huskiness of her rescuer’s voice caused her skin to tingle.
He was handsome beyond compare, his features the sort made for every manner of romantic musings. Sooty lashes blinked at her with sensual slowness while full lips parted with both concern and wonder. Heavy brown locks fell over his forehead, tempting her to reach up and push them aside.
She resisted but…
Lord help her, the moment she’d caught her first proper glimpse of this man, it was as though she’d been reborn. Gone was the stagnant state she’d resigned herself to in recent years. Instead, her body had come alive with the sweetest sense of awareness she’d ever known. It was a craving unlike any other, for him to be near her, to touch her and ease the yearning deep in her heart.
It was without doubt the most wonderfully inappropriate feeling she’d ever encountered. Yet it was over much too soon when he pulled her upright and let her go. She swayed, a little unsteady on her feet though not because she was hurt but rather because he’d managed to weaken her knees.
Good heavens.
If she wasn’t mistaken, the stone was already working its magic, for it had clearly brought her a man toward whom she responded with interest instead of indifference. Apparently, her brother had brought a friend with him after all. Of course, she’d yet to make this friend’s acquaintance, and although it wasn’t proper for them to introduce themselves to each other, Lilli decided she’d had enough of social etiquette. But first, she ought to respond to his comment.
“As I’m sure you can imagine, I was rather put out when I said that.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Complaining made me feel better.”
“I suppose that explains the cursing.”
Heat flooded Lilli’s cheeks. “I don’t suppose you can forget what you heard?”
He laughed, the sound so deep and full–bodied it instantly filled her with warmth. “Not very likely, I’m afraid. But you need not worry. Truth is, I found it both charming and educational.”
Lilli’s brow creased with skepticism. “Really?”
“I’ve heard men say one should go to the devil, but never that one should–”
“Please don’t remind me,” she groaned, both mortified and oddly at ease at the same time. “I’d hate for you to think ill of my parents for failing with regard to my upbringing.”
“I’m sure that would be impossible,” he said, the sincerity in his voice diving deep beneath her skin until she feared she might actually sigh with pleasure.
Idiot.
“I appreciate your saying so,” she told him. When he added nothing further, she decided to say, “I realize we ought to be formally introduced by a mutual acquaintance, but since there is no one else here to see to such matters, perhaps we could make an exception?”
He gave her a quizzical look. “Considering our positions, I see no reason for us to adhere to such protocol.”
It was Lilli’s turn to be baffled. “Our positions? Surely it is that very thing which denies us the chance to exchange names without supervision. Why, being alone here together is scandalous enough I should think.”
His eyes sharpened and then they narrowed. He studied her with an increased degree of intensity. “Who are you, exactly?”
Lilli drew back on account of the sudden firmness in his voice. She produced a nervous laugh. “Lady Lilliana, of course. Who else would I be?”
Her new companion stared at her for a long moment before eventually closing his eyes on a sigh. “Of course.” He shook his head and muttered something beneath his breath before executing an elegant bow. “Mr. Tristan Henley, at your service.”
