“No, but now that it has, I will do my dam—duty and my best to be good at them.” His brow wrinkled, and his head tilted a fraction. “That was only a small slip of the tongue.”
She lifted her eyebrows in a knowing way. “I suppose I can say you caught yourself in time—this time.”
He shifted his position and asked, “What kind of notes will you be studying?”
“Things I had planned to do in the coming weeks. I doubt you’d be interested as none of them included you appearing in my life and wanting me to help you be a better gentleman, but I will manage.”
He sucked in a low chuckle. “Being with me today hasn’t been all bad, has it?”
She couldn’t lie. “No. It hasn’t.”It has been pleasurable.Brina gave herself an internal shake. That was dangerous thinking. She needed to avoid getting too comfortable with him. “I enjoyed the ride over here and the chocolate. Tell me, do you really want to know my plans or are you only wanting to avoid reading poetry?”
He seemed to debate that, then said, “Both.”
“Fair enough.” She unfolded the paper. “The top of my list is to start a weekly art class at the girls’ school. Julia and Adeline have agreed. I don’t know how much you know about the school, but the students are being taught how to read, write, and add their numbers as well as theseamstress trade so they can earn a living for themselves and their families one day. I think it will also be nice for them to have an appreciation of creating beauty with paints as well as fabrics. Lyon, Adeline’s husband, gave the school a pianoforte and they love singing. I hear them every morning. So, this will be another way for them to express themselves that doesn’t have to do with a form of labor.”
“I can see this idea makes you happy.”
“It does. The girls are eager to learn all that’s put before them. It’s refreshing to talk with them. I received so many flowers recently that I took some of the bouquets over to the school for the girls. One of them reached out and touched a rose. I could tell how much she appreciated the velvety smooth petal and delicate beauty of it, and I thought, she needs to learn how to paint a flower.”
“I suppose the more good things one can be exposed to, the better life one will have,” he offered as an observation.
“Yes,” she agreed, heartened that even this rake thought her idea a good one. “I feel the same way. I was going to spend some time this afternoon getting things ready for art lessons, but now, I’ll do that another day.”
“What else is on your list?”
“I have some weekly things I do for the Sisters of Pilwillow Crossings. I help with their charitable efforts. And I want to walk around town and look at some buildings.”
A gust of wind whipped around the tree and she pulled his scarf higher on her neck. The earl suddenly stood up and reached for her hand. “Let’s move around. I can see you’re getting cold.”
Oddly, she hadn’t noticed the chill. She took his handand rose. Even though his gloves had been off for some time, when his fingers closed around hers, she felt their warmth, but quickly slid her hand out of his grasp.
“Strolling downtown is something we can do together,” he said but made no move to start walking, so they stayed in front of the tree.
“I’m afraid you would find it quite boring. I won’t be doing it to admire the architecture. The girls will need a place to open a seamstress shop one day. They will have to do an apprenticeship with someone first, but I want them to eventually have their own building. It’s never too early to start looking for options in different sections of Town. Not only that, I’ve noticed there’s a small building directly behind the abbey. I want to look into the possibility of buying that for the sisters one day. So, you see,” she added with confidence. “I simply won’t be able to see you every day.”
“What would that building be for?”
“A chapel. They don’t have a real one—well, that’s not to say it isn’t real. Of course it is, but it’s only a small room inside the abbey. I thought a larger space for their relics, prayer books, and gatherings of quiet reflection time would be nice.”
He stared into her eyes for a long time, as if he were taking stock of her. His eyes and the way he looked at her were tender, as they had been when they spoke about Stewart.
“I’m not sure I’m at all comfortable with the way you are staring at me, my lord.”
“I was trying to merge the soft, compassionate lady you are now with the bold and magnificent lady who had the command of everyone in the ballroom last night.”
Her breaths became shallow and short. “It wasn’t my intention to make our conversation so public. I meant for only you to hear me.”
“I heard you, and every man there was wishing he was in my shoes and had the opportunity I have.”
She was caught under the sensual spell he was casting over her and wondering how she was going to break free. “What do you mean?” she asked quietly. “That’s ridiculous. No man wants to be told he can’t drink, swear, gamble, or indulge in other manly pursuits. Most of all you.”
He moved closer to her and lowered his head toward hers. “No, but every man saw and felt your raw, determined passion. It’s in a man’s nature to be drawn to that, to want to seize it for their own and possess it.”
Brina felt a flush rising in her cheeks. “You talk nonsense at times, my lord. You should pay calls on other ladies and not be so fixated on me.”
His gaze swept up and down her face, lingering on her lips for a few seconds before capturing her eyes again. “You are the one I want. I knew it the moment I saw you walking down the street with the girls marching behind you.”
Perhaps the earl had already read the romantic poets. His intense gaze, his genuine expression of wanting her were beguiling, and she had to somehow fight them.
