And he had called me Arabella.
My heart pounded. Everything Kate had told me in the Roman Baths came flooding back to my mind. I could not face him while I was so confused, and certainly not while my hair was soaking wet.
“Please excuse me, Mr. Campbell.” My voice was abrupt. I didn’t look in his direction again, but sped off toward the stairwell. My face burned as I tugged the door open and started up the stairs. It swung shut behind me, and I was finally able to think clearly again.
I hadn’t expected to react that way, but I also hadn’t expected to see Mr. Campbell so soon.
I leaned against the wall to catch my breath.
Sunlight bled through the cracks around the door, illuminating the stairwell just enough to light the way to the top. But my legs felt suddenly heavy. I had only made it less than halfway up the stairs when the door opened behind me.
My heart leaped, and I whirled around to see Mr. Campbell standing there at the bottom.
Before I could object, he moved up the stairs until he was just below me. He took a deep breath, his eyes searching my face. “Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Why did you run away from me?” His voice was exasperated, but all I could think of was how clean he looked and smelled, and how I had just been bobbing around in sulfurous water. He didn’t seem to care though, because he was standing quite close to me.
“I was just at the Roman Baths,” I said in a quick voice. “I was making haste to return home and change.” I paused, a question burning in the back of my mind. “What are you doing here?”
“I hoped to see you.” His voice was low and gruff. I felt completely exposed by his gaze as it traced over my face. He studied each one of my features, a fire behind his eyes that I had never seen before. The heat trailed across my face, and I struggled to draw a breath.
One word managed to escape my throat. “Why?”
His brow furrowed. “Why do you think?”
“I don’t know.” I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. I was still leaning against the wall, and he was just as close as he had been in the garden the day before. I smelled the sandalwood soap he must have used that morning, and even the starch on his cravat. In the dim light, his eyes looked a darker shade of blue.
“I thought I might ask you to spend the afternoon with me again. We might read or paint together in my garden, or perhaps enjoy another picnic.”
I stared up at him, my suspicion growing steady in my stomach. Why were our outings never public? If he wanted all of town to know that we were courting, then would he not take me to Sydney Gardens again, or the circulating library, or the theater?
I didn’t answer for several seconds, and I felt the scowl deepen on my brow. “I-I have already made plans for this afternoon.” The lie fell flat, even to my own ears.
He gave me a curious look. “Did I do something to upset you?”
“No.”
He moved to the same step I was standing on. I inched closer to the wall.
I had nowhere to go.
“I can see that I have. You will hardly look me in the eye.”
It took all my concentration, but I managed to hold his gaze. A flutter erupted in my stomach, which was precisely what I had been avoiding. I could not trust my emotions. They would lead me astray. The deep concern on Mr. Campbell’s face was easy to believe. Surely he wasn’t so skilled an actor.
But Kate’s warnings refused to leave me alone.
“I’m confused, that’s all.” The confession slipped past my careful facade. “I don’t understand why you are courting me. I don’t understand what your intentions are.” My face burned. “Until I know you are serious, I don’t think I should continue courting you. I cannot tell if you are genuine or not, and it has been driving me mad.”
Mr. Campbell looked taken aback by my words. He was silent for several seconds before he moved closer. His hands lifted to my face, and he cradled it in his hands as he stared into my eyes. “I can assure you, if there is one genuine thing about me, it’s my feelings for you.” His low voice sent a shiver across my shoulders.
My heart pounded. His eyes glinted with sincerity in the dimness, a depth of emotion there that settled some of my doubt. The knots in my stomach loosened, and I released a shaky breath. I was suddenly horribly self-conscious of my wet hair and the scents that must have accompanied it. But Mr.Campbell’s hands were still holding my face. He had caught me in a vulnerable position, and I certainly didn’t want to leave until I learned what he planned to do about it.
“I told you I required a pineapple to know you were serious.” My voice was weak. “Why should I believe you?”
His thumb traced over my cheekbone, a trail of heat following the touch. A faint smile flickered on his lips, and I stared at it. “You are difficult to please.”
