Page 37 of A Winter Scandal

A few minutes later, they were in the curricle and headed down the road away from the village. The day was cool and gray, without the pale sunshine of the day before, but, as promised, Gabriel had provided a heavy, fur-lined traveling rug and even a wrapped warm brick for her to put her feet on. With her bonnet and gloves, as well as her cloak, Thea was toasty warm. She brushed her hand surreptitiously over the soft fur; she had never seen a lap robe this luxurious. It would keep her warm even if it were a good bit colder.

Gabriel drove a matched pair of grays, and the well-sprung carriage and the smooth gait of the horses was far different from bouncing along in her brother’s trap or even the Squire’s roomy, old-fashioned coach. It was immediately apparent that Gabriel was an excellent driver—as well as a swift one. Thea felt a thrill of excitement as they moved down the road, the cold air rushing against her cheeks. She glanced over at Gabriel and grinned. He caught the look and returned her smile.

“You don’t mind the speed?”

“No! It’s exciting,” Thea answered honestly.

“Ah, a girl after my own heart.”

He turned his attention back to the road to neatly maneuver past a farmer’s slow-moving wagon without breaking the rhythm of the team. But after a few minutes, he pulled the pair back to a slower pace.

“How is Lolly doing with young Matthew?” he asked.

“Very well, so far. Matthew seems to like her. He is a pleasant child, I admit, but still, I think that speaks well for her. And she seemed quite competent at feeding and diapering him. She even brought some diaper cloth from her house, which I must say was sorely needed. I searched our attic the other day and came up with a few little dresses for him, but no diaper cloth.”

“We should purchase some cloth today. Is there a draper’s in this village?”

“It is rather too small for that, but there is a haberdashery there, and he carries a small selection of cloths and some sundries.” It was where she had thought of going to purchase the ribbons and lace, though she did not add that.

He nodded. “Very well. We shall add the haberdasher’s shop to our list of stops.”

The trip passed quickly, for they talked all the way over to Bynford. It was, Thea discovered, amazingly easy to talk to Gabriel. He asked her questions about Chesley and made her laugh with his observations about the town and its citizens. He told her about the village near his own estate and the people with whom he had grown up. Thea found herself revealing far more about her family and her life than she would ever have imagined telling someone she had known for only days. Their conversation strayed to books and from there to plays, and Thea was both surprised and elated when Gabriel related to her his most recent visits to the theater.

He glanced at her and laughed. “I think I should be insulted by your look of astonishment. I am not completely a barbarian.”

“No. Of course. I mean, I did not think you were. It is just, well, I have always heard that gentlemen …”

He raised a brow, waiting, then prodded, “What? That gentlemen attend the theater only to ogle the actresses?” When color filled Thea’s cheeks, he let out a whoop of laughter. “Really, Miss Bainbridge, I thought you were a naïve vicar’s daughter. That seems a remarkably cynical viewpoint.”

“Just because I have been in Chesley all my life does not mean I haven’t read anything about the world at large.”

“Mm. Sounds to me as if you’ve been reading London scandal sheets.”

“Certainly not.” She gave him a look of disdain.

“Well, I confess: I have gone precisely to ogle the actresses a time or two. But I have been known to actually attend a play for the play itself. I have even been to the opera to listen instead of eyeing the opera dancers.”

“Really, Lord Morecombe, it is scarcely appropriate to be discussing your conquests.”

“How unkind—I was discussing the times I was not looking for conquests.”

“It’s an inappropriate subject altogether.”

“And yet you brought it up.”

“I did not! I stopped before I said anything.”

He chuckled. “You thought it.”

Thea shot him an exasperated look. He was watching her, laughter lurking in his dark eyes, and she realized that she wanted, quite badly, to kiss him. She remembered the way his mouth had felt on hers, the honeyed heat, the fierce hunger. She froze, suddenly breathless, her nerves tingling all over with memory and anticipation. Something changed in his face, and his eyes went to her mouth.

“You are excessively tempting.” His voice was low and soft, no longer laughing. He shifted the reins to one hand and reached out to hook his forefinger under her chin. “How is it that that Quakerish bonnet makes me want to pull it off and kiss you?”

Thea sucked in a quick breath. “Lord Morecombe …”

“Miss Bainbridge …” His smile was slow and did peculiar things to her insides. “Don’t you think we could address each other a bit more informally? Is it your custom to call a man you’ve kissed Lord Morecombe?”

“Only when that is his name,” she tossed back.