She gave him a satisfied sigh. “Thank you for choosing him for me.”
Hawk’s thoughts strayed to Loretta and how she’d stood up to her uncle and had refused to marry Viscount Denningcourt. What she’d endured because of her uncle’s unforgiving nature. Hawk shook his head. “I didn’t choose him. I introduced you to him. It was always your choice. Even if contracts are signed, and you are standing at the altar in the church, you can change your mind about him and I will accept your decision.”
“I know that,” she answered innocently. “You have always wanted me to be happy.”
“And you are free to attend the Season even if you are betrothed. If someone else catches your fancy, I will understand. I’ll cancel the contracts and pay the forfeiture.”
“Thank you, Hawk. See, you are the most wonderful brother in the world. And I’ve decided I will attend the Season and dance at every ball as Miss Quick suggested. I will look the gentlemen over as carefully as they will study me.” She paused for a moment. “I think I have already given my heart to Mr. Quick.”
Chapter 21
A gentleman should always know when to offer a lady his handkerchief.
APROPERGENTLEMAN’SGUIDETOWOOINGTHEPERFECTLADY
SIRVINCENTTYBALTVALENTINE
As was so often the case in early spring, light-gray thunderclouds blended and swirled with darker ones as the winds swept them along. Loretta was sure there would be a shower before dark. Yet for now, she stood on the front lawn of Mammoth House watching Arnold give Farley lessons in handling two horses and a wagon. It was their second day of working together, and Farley was doing a little better today. She was pleased he’d asked her if Arnold could show him the proper care of horses. The animals didn’t seem to be as agitated with the new driver today as they clopped up and down the winding lane that led from the main road to the house.
She hadn’t yet written to her uncle to ask if Farley could stay. She hadn’t even asked Farley if he wanted to. Since the incident with the puppy, he’d been trying hard to benice and have a more accommodating and thankful attitude toward everyone. After they returned to Mammoth House she’d explained why trying to take the puppy was wrong no matter his reasons for wanting to do it. She believed he understood. She didn’t expect anything like that to happen again.
While she watched for the wagon to come back into view, two riders appeared on the lane. Loretta smiled. Paxton was back. She was always so much happier when he was around. She wrapped her woolen shawl tighter about her arms and waited, eager to hear what he had to say about his meeting with the duke and the earl.
Paxton dismounted and handed the reins to his valet, who walked away leading the two horses to the barn. In his usual style Paxton grabbed both Loretta’s upper arms and kissed each cheek, greeting her with a joyous smile that seemed to reach from ear to ear.
“I’m glad you’re back,” she said, smiling up at him.
“Me, too. I have good news. It’s settled. Lady Adele and I are going to be married. The duke is drawing up the contracts, and Uncle and I will return to London in two weeks to go over them.”
Now she knew why Paxton’s smile was so big. “Did you see Lady Adele while you were in London?” Loretta asked.
“No, just the duke. I told you we had a matter of great importance to discuss. After it was resolved to both our satisfaction, he told me that he’d talked with Lady Adele after we left Hawksthorn and she wanted to proceed with the betrothal.”
Paxton seemed happy, but as she looked at him, she thought about the duke and how she longed to look at him just one more time. Without hesitation she asked, “Did it make you sad when you didn’t see her? Did you have an ache in your heart when you left her at Hawksthorn?”
“What?” he asked, looking confused by her words.
“When you looked at Lady Adele for the last time before you left, did you have a burning desire to take her in your arms and sweep her away somewhere privately where you could kiss her until you were both breathless?”
Paxton folded his arms across his chest and said, “I think I might need to take a look at what kind of romantic poetry books you’re reading.”
Perhaps she’d said too much, but she had started this conversation and had to finish it. “It’s not poetry that has me asking you that.”
His eyes and expression gentled. “I didn’t think that it was, but I had hope.”
With that Loretta knew she hadn’t been able to hide her feelings about the duke from her brother. “Never mind about that. I’ve told you before that I want you to love and adore whomever you marry. I want you to have that excited, I-don’t-know-how-I-can-live-without-this-person feeling.”
Paxton looked around at the sprawling countryside before them and then settled his gaze on the wagon and horses heading up the lane at a jaunty clop. He then said, “Not everyone needs that turbulent wind-in-your-hair-during-a-storm feeling for the one they marry. I guess I’m one of them.”
“No, Paxton. Don’t cheat yourself. I want you to know what it’s like to feel so desperate for someone, you know your life won’t ever be complete without them.”
He turned to her again and leaned forward. “I’m sure it’s thrilling, but I have to want it, too, Loretta. It’s not enough that you want it for me.”
His words took her by surprise. How could Paxton not want to experience all the passionate sensations for the person he married? The kind of tempestuous yearnings that the duke had stirred within her?
“What about Miss Pritchard?” she asked. “You were excited about her when you came back from being with her. You wanted to see her again. There must have been some desirous feelings for her.”
Paxton remained calm. “For a time. She was a pretty miss who smiled at me, and I danced with her.”
