“I expected you to be older, or that is to say, I thought you would look much older. Not so tall and, well, never mind. Getting back to Master Heron, I didn’t want to hit him.”
Seth’s brows rose skeptically against the chilling wind that blew his hair across his forehead.
“That is I meant to say, I didn’t want to hit him in the face. I aimed for his shoulder.”
“In that case, it’s a good thing you aren’t one of the king’s guards. He may well be missing an eye if you were in his palace.”
More snickers of laugher wafted past Seth. He didn’t mind that the lads thought it amusing he’d caught a shot meant for them. What interested him more presently was the rather bold lady standing in front of him. Truth be told, he was a bit amused by her too. Was she a guest? A neighbor he’d never met?
Though he intended his comment in jest, as the boys obviously knew, the lady didn’t. His innocent remark got her back up in a hurry. She gave him what he was sure she considered an effective stare of disapproval.
“My aim is quite good, my lord,” she declared, taking issue with him. “You merely stepped in front of my throw and took the shot.”
It intrigued him that she didn’t take kindly to his statement about her tossing ability and was courageous enough to let him know it. Other things about the stirring beauty attracted him as well. By her speech and the cut and fabric of her clothing he knew she wasn’t a servant or even a poor relation to anyone at Hurst.
Be that as it may, it was best to tamp down his rising interest in her. She could be spoken for. He hadn’t been informed if there would be other guests in residence at Hurst for a Christmastide visit. Perhaps someone from the Heirs’ Club had landed himself an upstart chit. If so, she was gorgeous for sure, probably full in the purse, but obviously lacking some social manners.
He sensed she didn’t have the countenance of a married lady, but what young miss would have the poise and self-confidence to continue a conversation with a marquis after she’d splattered him in the face with a wad of snow? That fact alone begged him to keep their conversation going for the moment.
Seth turned toward the boys again. They were properly dressed in their coats, gloves, and hats, but playing in the freezing cold when there was no sunshine to help warm them was courting a disaster he didn’t want to deal with. He looked around for his valet who was nowhere to be seen. Seth’s hopes for a few masculine pursuits while at Hurst were fading fast. He could see now it wouldn’t be wise to leave his nephews alone with his valet all day and all evening too.
Seth spoke to the seven-year-old. “Heron, why isn’t Tabard with you?”
“He’s in the house, Uncle. He told us he’d be busy getting your clothing ready for this evening’s dinner and for us to find a comfortable place to read our books until you arrived to give our lessons for the day.”
“Hmm,” he said, the biting cold nipping at his uncovered fingers. “So then how is it you ended up outside and with no books?”
Heron’s dark brown gaze slowly rolled up toward the sky and down to his feet, yet he remained mute. His younger brother watched him and did the same.
“Excuse me, my lord,” the lady said, stepping closer to Seth. Then as if to win him over, she flittered her eyelashes in the most becoming way and he momentarily forgot his purpose. “Please don’t scold them. They are delightful little fellows, and I must admit that it was my idea they come out here.”
Somehow he didn’t doubt that in the least. And it appeared she had already won over the lads because neither of them were willing to lay the responsibility for their errant behavior on her. That was noteworthy as well.
“You two go inside and warm yourselves by the fire,” he told the wide-eyed youngsters. “I’ll see you shortly.”
Heron reached over and playfully pulled Fallon’s hat down over his eyes, laughed, and took off running toward the house. Fallon struck out blindly at his older brother before shoving the woolen headpiece up his forehead. Yelling for Heron, he chased after him.
“They are not to blame for being out here instead of waiting as instructed. I saw them sitting on a bench along one of the upstairs corridors, quiet and reading. I started talking to them and eventually asked if they’d like to come outside and play in the snow with me.”
“And apparently Fallon and Heron did so without asking permission from me or Tabard?”
Suddenly she seemed a bit perturbed, worrying her gloved hands and her full bottom lip. He had a feeling there was something more she wanted to say but was hesitant. Why?
He should just simply dismiss her from his thoughts, not concern himself further about her or what happened and head back inside where it was warm. Especially since it was bloody cold outside and he’d neglected to put on his cloak, gloves, or hat in his haste. But he was hesitant too. He wanted to learn more about this unconventional lady.
With her directness, not to mention her aim, she had captured his interest, and he wasn’t ready to leave—no matter who she was. And he wanted to know what it was she wasn’t saying.
“Am I correct the lads didn’t ask permission before coming outside?” he prompted.
“Yes,” she answered on a sigh of exasperation. “I’m afraid I made the unfortunate mistake of suggesting they ask their mother if they could play outside.”
Seth went still. “You didn’t.”
“I had no way of knowing their mother had passed,” she defended quickly. “I knew the Marquis of Wythebury and his nephews were coming, but I was never told their parents weren’t coming. I was quite mortified when Heron told me she was in heaven with the angels.”
Sincerity glowed in her large, expressive eyes that were such a light shade of blue it was almost as if he were looking through them. Her mentioning their mother must have been a shock to Heron and Fallon. They seldom talked about their parents anymore. They were adjusting quite well to their loss. So, despite the frustration he felt, he could forgive her that error. He couldn’t fault her if she hadn’t known about his sister’s death.
Taking in a deep swallowing breath, she continued in a soft penitent tone. “So, naturally.” She paused and looked down at her hands before saying, “It’s so difficult to admit, but after they told me about their mother, I assumed their father was here with them.”
