Thankful for the change in conversation, Bray pulled on the reins to slow the horses. He surveyed the terrain, which was lightly dotted with trees and tall shrubs. “We’ll go past them and move around to the other side. We’ll find a place that can shield you from your sister’s view. If you can recognize her from this distance, she will know you, too.”
“That’s a good idea. They don’t seem to be sitting too close together. What do you think?”
“I think they look as if they are talking and enjoying something to drink, which is what we wanted to see.”
Bray maneuvered the horses and chaise around the park until he found a place near a patch of tall spindly shrubs that looked as if Mother Nature had forgotten to give them their spring coats. It was a good place to watch Miss Gwen and Mr. Standish and not be seen by them. There was no one else in the vicinity because the bushes were barren and offered no shade from the sun. They would have more privacy than if they tried to find the sunshade of a tree.
Bray set the brake, jumped down, and reached back to help Miss Prim descend the steps.
“I’m afraid I don’t have a blanket or a basket filled with refreshments.” Bray swung his cloak off his shoulders. “But I have this to sit on, and it will work as well.”
“I don’t want to ruin your cloak or for you to get cold, Your Grace. I don’t mind sitting on the ground. I’ve done it many times with my sisters.”
“Perhaps you have, Miss Prim, but you will not sit on the ground with me. And no, I will not get cold. I find that whenever I am in your company, I am usually hot.”
“Hot with anger because I’ve usually said something that has riled you.”
“I will not make a comment concerning that.” He spread his cloak near the shrubs so that there was a barrier on that side of them. He then helped her to sit down and made himself comfortable beside her. She reopened her parasol and let it rest on her shoulder.
“Comfortable?” he asked.
She nodded. “Tell me, what made you decide we needed to follow Gwen and Mr. Standish today?”
I was aching to see you.
“You didn’t seem so concerned last night,” she added.
“Today I felt it was the right thing to do.” Not that he had ever been noted for doing the right thing. “I know that Mr. Standish already has two fathers angry with him over wooing their daughters last fall during some house parties and then not offering for their hand. And for now, I am Miss Gwen’s guardian, and it’s my duty to look after her. Besides, I knew you would be worried about her, too.”
She gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you for caring.”
Did he care or was it just an excuse to spend some time with Louisa?
“Though, I have to say that Mr. Standish was the perfect gentleman when he had tea with us before they left for the park.”
“As I would expect him to be.”
Bray looked at Miss Prim’s face and smiled warmly back at her. Without a doubt, she was the prettiest young lady he had ever seen. Her eyes were bluer than heaven. Her lips were a delicious shade of pink, and he was thinking he’d love to feel them beneath his once again. He wished she didn’t have on the matronly brown bonnet. He loved looking at her golden blond tresses.
“Have you ever been on a carriage ride with a man, Miss Prim?”
“No, I can’t say I have.”
“Watch how quickly this can be done.”
Bray looked from his left and then to his right. There were other people sitting on blankets scattered within sight of them but none very close. He grabbed hold of the handle of her parasol and slid it down her chest until the canopy touched her bonnet. He then lowered his head underneath it and placed his lips on hers. He meant only to give her a quick kiss, but the moment his lips brushed hers, desire soared through him and he lingered, letting his lips rove softly and for much longer than he had expected. It was difficult to leave her sweetness, but he finally raised his head and gave her two more quick kisses before he lifted the parasol back to its original height and moved away from her.
“Now, Miss Prim, you know why a gentleman wants to take a young lady for a ride in the park.”
“Yes.” She moistened her lips. “I also just learned another use for the parasol, Your Grace.”
Bray gave her a satisfied expression. “I don’t think parasols were ever intended for keeping the sun off a young lady’s face. You have your bonnet for that, right?”
She cleared her throat. “Well, I’m happy to say that Gwen isn’t using her parasol right now. They seem to be enjoying their refreshments.”
He looked over at them. “She’s probably drinking chocolate with a little brandy in it, and he is drinking brandy.”
Miss Prim’s brow furrowed. “Gwen has never had brandy. It’s very strong.”
