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Was it his imagination or was there more color in Charlotte’s face now than there had been moments ago? He slid his fingers from her chin to softly brush her cheek. She held perfectly still.

“Then it is I who should apologize.”

She shook her head. “I guessed that you were about some important business.”

“Only the capture of Mr. Ryland would have kept me away.” He touched a curl, tucking it gently behind her ear. “Tell me,” he said softly. “How is it that you have been at Tribbley Hall for only a few days, and already I cannot imagine my life without you in it?”

“I … I do not know,” she said. “But I have been wondering the same of you.”

He slipped an arm around her and drew her closer. She came willingly, fitting into his arms as though she’d always been meant to be there. She raised her face, the look in her eyes telling him all he needed to know. One heartbeat passed, and then he lowered his head to claim her lips with his.

The heady scent of roses mingled with straw filled his senses, and from somewhere far away, a sheep baaed.

“Charlotte?” he murmured, as awareness of his surroundings slowly returned.

“Yes?” Her voice was little more than a whisper.

“When lambing season is over, would you allow me to call upon you in London?”

Her lips curved upward, and he barely resisted the temptation to kiss her again.

“I should like that very much,” she said.

“May I come every day?”

She laughed softly. “As much as I would love to see you in London every day, you would miss your work at Tribbley Hall too much to be gone for long.”

Marveling that she could know him so well, he shifted his head so he could see her more clearly. “Then I think I may need to persuade my mother and your grandmother to act as chaperones so that you may visit me here.”

Her beautiful eyes sparkled. “I do not think they will need much persuading. I have a feeling they have been working to that end all along.”

A memory surfaced of his mother standing in his study telling him of Mrs. Densley’s and her granddaughter’s pending arrival, and of a project she and her friend were undertaking.

He chuckled. “I believe you may be right. I shall have to thank them.”

Outside the barn, a rooster crowed. Charlotte gasped.

“What time is it?”

William was not about to release her to withdraw his pocket watch. “I imagine it is close to nine o’clock.”

She pulled away. “I must go before Grandmama arises and discovers that I escaped my room without permission.”

“Ah, I wondered how you came to be here so early.”

“If I am caught, I daresay she will place me in solitary confinement for the remainder of my stay.”

“She cannot do that. Snow would not survive.”

Charlotte looked aghast. “Do you really think so?”

“No,” he admitted. “Ralph would take care of him. But I’m not so sure that I would survive.”

A smile lit her face. “Then perhaps we should return to the house together and tell my grandmother that her host’s very life depends upon me being free to visit the barn at any time.”

William pressed a kiss to her forehead before offering her his arm. “That, my dear Charlotte, is the best suggestion I’ve heard in a very long time.”