“My goodness, the Hadley House gardens are large, aren’t they, my lord? Confusing, as well. I vow we’ve been walking in circles this past half hour.”
Despite his admiration for her, Finn found himself leaping at the chance to rid himself of Lady Honora’s company. “May I escort you back to the house? I don’t want to exhaust you on the first day of the party.”
“Yes, of course. Whatever you think is best.”
Finn was guiding her around the circular pathway and hurrying her back toward the house before the words had even left her lips.
Miss Somerset had made it clear she couldn’t distinguish an honorable suitor from a rogue, and someone had to keep an eye on Wrexley. Or perhaps it made more sense to keep an eye on Miss Somerset. An extremely close eye—
“Oh, my goodness. I don’t think that’s quite…”
They’d just emerged from the garden, and Lady Honora had come to an abrupt halt with a little cry of dismay. She was staring at the wide expanse of lawn on the south side of Hadley House. “Oh, dear. I daresay this was my cousin’s idea.”
Finn followed her gaze, expecting to see Wrexley and Miss Somerset still at bowls, but what he saw instead made him freeze.
Miss Somerset was dashing across the lawn, heavy handfuls of her skirts clutched in her fists to free her legs, her feet bare. Half of her fair hair had slipped from its pins and was tumbling down her back. Even from this distance Finn could hear her shrieks of breathless laughter as she ran toward Wrexley, who was standing at the other end, leaping in the air, cheering her on, and making a great deal of noise. When she drew closer, he held out his arms to catch her, and she flew into them with one last gleeful cry.
Lady Honora made a distressed sound in her throat. “Oh, dear. My cousin can be…he means no harm, Lord Huntington, but sometimes he forgets propriety.”
Finn’s lips pressed into a hard line. Wrexley hadn’t forgotten a damn thing. Miss Somerset might be hidden from the ladies assembled on the terrace, but anyone who happened to be walking the grounds or in the garden could see her easily enough, and it was no bloody accident. If Lady Hadley’s guests were shocked by Miss Somerset, it was because Wrexley meant for them to be.
“Shall we go see what they’re about?” Finn took care to keep his voice even, but behind his lips his teeth were clenched.
Lady Honora murmured her assent. Finn escorted her across the lawn, but he hardly spared her a thought. His attention remained fixed on Wrexley, who’d released Miss Somerset as soon as he’d steadied her on her feet. Damn good thing, too, as it might be the only thing that kept Finn from dragging the man back to London by his neck.
But Wrexley still stood far too close to her, and as Finn and Lady Honora came up behind them, Finn could hear him speaking to Miss Somerset in a wheedling tone. “Oh, go on, one more race, and I’ll run against you this time. I’ll even give you a start on me.”
“You insult me, my lord, if you think I need a start to beat you.” Miss Somerset attempted to speak in a stern tone, but she was laughing, and it came out flirtatiously, as if she were teasing him. “Anyway, I’m not worried about losing. I’m worried about someone seeing us. I must look a fright.”
“Not at all. Just the opposite, I assure you. I’ve never seen you look as fetching as you do right now.” Wrexley’s voice dropped to a husky murmur. “Besides, who’s to see us? There’s no one about—”
“Look again, Wrexley.I’mabout. I hate to interrupt your game, but you and Miss Somerset have run your last race for today. Or any other day.”
“Oh, Honora, and…Lord Huntington.” Miss Somerset’s eyes went wide when she saw him. She touched a hand to her hair, her eyes sliding closed when she discovered it had come almost entirely loose. She tried to tuck the long curls back into the pins, but she soon realized it was beyond repair and gave up, biting her lip with mortification.
Wrexley, however, didn’t look in the least concerned. “Good afternoon, cousin. Huntington. Where did you two disappear to? You’ve been gone for ages.”
“We haven’t been gone above half an hour.” Finn’s jaw ticked as he slid his gaze from Wrexley to Miss Somerset and back again. “Twenty-five minutes too long, from the look of things here.”
Wrexley shrugged. “Pity you missed the races. It was grand fun, and I would have been delighted to offer you a start as well, Huntington. I’d wager it’s the only way you’d catch me.”
“On the contrary.” Finn stepped closer, close enough so he loomed over the other man. “I’ve caught you already.”
Both men fell silent, staring at each other, the tension between them growing thicker with every moment as each of them refused to look away.
“I’m fatigued, cousin,” Lady Honora said at last, her voice unnaturally high. “Escort me inside, won’t you?” When Wrexley didn’t reply but continued to stare at Finn, Lady Honora grasped his arm and gave it a tug. “Now, if you please, cousin.”
A beat of silence passed, and then another, but at last Wrexley broke the stare with Finn, and glanced down at Lady Honora. “Of course, Honora. As for you, Miss Somerset,” he turned to her, took her hand, and raised it to his lips. “I can’t recall ever spending a more enjoyable afternoon. We’ll have to race again. Soon.”
Wrexley shot one last parting smirk at Finn, then led Honora across the lawn, onto the terrace, and into the house.
“I, ah…well, I suppose I’ll go make myself presentable before tea.” Miss Somerset began to sidle toward the house, but before she could take two steps, Finn’s hand closed around her arm. He didn’t say a word, but he drew her aside, into the shade at the side of the house, where they were hidden from anyone who happened to be strolling in the garden.
“Keep still, if you please, Miss Somerset. This will only take a moment.” He held her arm and swept his gaze over her, from the bare feet he knew she hid under her skirts to the top of her head, where her hair fell in wild disarray over her shoulders. “Let me see. No slippers, skirts hiked to your knees, cheeks flushed, and hair loose from its pins, hanging in a tangled mess down your back. Have I missed anything?”
He almost laughed when her chin shot up. That hadn’t taken long.
“Yes. I’ve also ripped the hem of my gown.”
