“My debut? But that’s six years ago.”
“I know.” He returned his attention to her and she saw the pained look in his eyes. “Remember when I told you how nervous you made me that evening?"
How could she forget? He’d shocked her with the confession. “You said you’d never seen a woman more dazzling.”
He nodded. “As a result, I became a clumsy mess whenever I saw you.”
“It always felt as though you were angry with me for getting in your way.”
“You’re not entirely wrong. I was angry with you, but not for getting in my way, Emily. I was angry with you for having such a crippling effect upon me. And for the way you reacted.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “You never gave me the chance to make amends.”
“Only because you made me angry as well. You ruined more than one of my gowns and, given the fact that it kept happening, I believed you did it on purpose. As a result, I wanted nothing to do with you, Callum.”
“And now?”
“You do not strike me as someone who’s overly nervous.” She narrowed her gaze. “Ever since asking me out for that walk in the park, you’ve been nothing but composed. It makes me question whether or not what you’re saying is true.”
He rocked back on his heels and turned his gaze sideways before he resumed walking at a moderate pace. Emily followed, keen on knowing if he would say more.
They followed a path that cut straight through the middle of the rose garden and led toward the folly. Callum removed his hands from his pockets and clasped them behind his back.
“Everything changed for me when we started interacting because of Peter,” he told her. The comment was followed by a swift glance in her direction as if to ensure she’d heard him. “He gave me a purpose that forced my self-consciousness into the background. I finally managed to speak with you without feeling as though my brain was filled with wood filings and my mouth with wads of cotton. I was able to relax, especially through our exchange of letters, while getting to know you on a more personal level.
“This made it so much easier when I called on you at your home and later when we went for our walk. It gave the impression that we’d become friends, and that, in itself, removed a tremendous amount of pressure. I no longer viewed you as a goddess-like woman I constantly failed to impress. Your responses to my letters and the conversation we shared when I brought you the flowers, proved we not only had much in common but that we were certain to get along. It calmed me.”
“I just wish you’d have told me about the book,” Emily said. “Why didn’t you?”
“There were numerous reasons.” He frowned as he stepped onto the grass that led to the folly.
Emily sent a glance over her shoulder. They’d walked quite a distance from the house and if they kept going, they’d soon be out of view. She stopped, unsure of whether or not it was wise to follow.
He halted as well. “First of all, you should know that the man who wrote those words is not the same man who stands before you today. That said, the truth is I simply didn’t think of it. The book was written before the summer. A lot has happened since then and besides, I didn’t expect it to have the impact it’s turned out to have.”
“You didn’t think I’d read it?”
A quick shake of his head informed her this wasn’t the case. “I didn’t give that any thought as I didn’t know you were the book reviewer. But mainly, I didn’t expect to form an attachment with you and for you to read it immediately after.”
“This has nothing to do with our being engaged.”
“Are you sure about that?”
She stared at him. “I would have been upset by it regardless.”
“Probably, though not for the same reason as you are now.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Because of what happens next in the book.” He gazed at her for a second and then his lips parted. “You didn’t read past that scene, did you?”
“I must confess, I had no wish to.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and when he looked at her next, his eyes were filled with regret. Stepping toward her, he reached for her hand. His fingers were warm. The touch of them sent an electrical charge up her arm.
“The chapter breaks and we see Miss. Parker’s perspective as she discusses Mr. Dalton with her sister.”
“That makes no sense at all,” Emily said. “Miss Parker isn’t the heroine, nor does she have any relationship to her.”
“It isn’t written from her point of view,” Callum explained, “but as an exchange Miss Partridge overhears. In it, Miss Parker has her own strong opinion of Mr. Dalton. The scene is intended to set up another romance that’s meant to unfold in the next book.”
