“It’s nothing. Forget I mentioned it.” The smile that followed looked slightly forced. Callum cursed himself. In staying away, he’d apparently given the wrong impression. He tried to think of a way to reassure her, but before he could find the right words, she asked, “So what have the two of you been doing this past week?”
“Nothing much,” Peter said. He jutted his chin toward Callum. “He’s been busy.”
“I see.” Lady Emily smoothed her skirt over her knees. “Hopefully with something more fun than tending to estate matters.”
He relaxed in response to the sly gleam that lit up her eyes when she met his gaze. This teasing banter felt better – more like them – comfortable and relaxing. “Unfortunately not. How about you?”
She took a deep breath. “The Earl of Millfield stopped by the day before last. He came without his mother this time and thankfully refrained from staying longer than an hour.”
“A potential suitor?” Callum forced the words out from behind gritted teeth. He’d not spared Millfield much thought when Lady Emily mentioned him stopping by with his mother. But if he’d returned without the marchioness, his intentions were clear.
“Mama and Papa have insisted I take him seriously but the very thought of living with him for the rest of my life is very off-putting.” She shook her head. “As expected, Mama and Papa would like to see me married. Thankfully, they also desire to see me happy, which is why they’ve assured me they won’t force my hand.”
“So you intend to deny Millfield the chance to court you?”
“It’s already done.”
Callum breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I believe you made the correct decision.”
She gave him a puzzled look and it occurred to him that he might have revealed too much.
“Really?” she asked.
He cleared his throat. “I mean, you obviously weren’t very keen on the man. After managing to avoid marriage as long as you have, it would be a shame for you to wed for the sake of wedding alone.”
Heidi yapped with playful enthusiasm and Peter’s responding laughter drew Lady Emily’s attention away from Callum for a second. She smiled, then collected her teacup, and said, “Marriage is the done thing. I believe that’s the primary incentive for most people.”
“It won’t be mine,” he told her without really thinking.
Her gaze snapped to his. She tilted her head and her expression, which had been curious at first, gave way to surprise. “You want a love match?”
“My mother has married for love twice now, so I know it’s possible.” When all she did was stare at him as though he’d just arrived from a different planet, he asked, “Are your parents aware that you and I have been spending time together?”
“Yes.” She drank from her cup as though she were trying to hide behind it.
This was interesting.
Could it be that he had misinterpreted her response toward him? Was it possible she might have more of an interest in him than he had believed? What if she was just as afraid of rejection as he was?
It was a topic that warranted exploration.
“And have they not questioned the reason for this?”
Her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. She lowered her teacup and brushed some invisible fuzz from her skirt. “They asked if we were courting. I told them we weren’t. Which is true. Is it not?”
“It is,” he confirmed, for what else could he say?
“We’re friends, you and I.” Her gaze was suddenly so intense it pierced him to the core. “I would never attempt to trap you, Your Grace. I like you too well to force you into a marriage of convenience with me.”
He didn’t like what her comment implied. The idea that she believed they’d be unhappy together was more upsetting than he’d thought possible. “I see.”
Needing to shift his thoughts to something besides Lady Emily and the havoc she’d brought to his very existence, Callum excused himself and went to join Peter. He didn’t care if it was considered improper for a duke to lie on the floor while a boy and a dog took turns leaping over his legs. All that mattered was the distraction it offered, however fleeting he knew it would be.
* * *
Emily watched Stratton play with Peter and Heidi while trying to pinpoint the moment when everything had gone sideways. They’d had a wonderful walk in the park, a lovely trip to the fair, and now this. Her heart sank. It felt as though there was an ocean between them and she couldn’t figure out why.
Again she wondered if she might have said something wrong.
