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“Do you?” He jerked a narrowed-eyed look at her, and she pinched her mouth shut. She never seemed to say or do the right thing when Lord Kentwood was near. She fisted a hand at her side. Would he ever come to like her? Gracious, she’d even settle for tolerance.

Freddie gave his father a pinched-lipped stare.

Pippy looked away. She did not like being the object of contention between the men. But she supposed that could not be helped—not when she was the reason for the contention.

“I’m certain when we find our spot, she’ll settle down enough,” Freddie said in defense of his sister.

“I should hope so,” Lord Kentwood said. He looked up to the sky. “I don’t think we have much time before a storm blows in.”

Pippy looked up. She wasn’t sure what he was seeing. All she saw were blue skies.

Freddie also turned his gaze upward. “I wondered about that myself.” It was the first time she’d seen the men agree on anything. Odd that it was about the weather.

“Why do you suppose a storm is coming?” She leaned in and asked, not wishing to add something else to Lord Kentwood’s displeasure. “Is it because of the wind? It’s been windy most of our time here. But there’ve been no storms.”

He tapped the back of her hand that was resting on his arm. “It’s the warmth, rather than the wind. Often, it grows warmer before a storm rolls in.”

Pippy frowned. Was that true? She’d never noticed. When she was younger, she’d been occupied with myths and legends rather than weather patterns. And as she’d aged, she’d focused on learning to be a proper wife. Perhaps she would have had more success with the weather.

“This should do,” Lord Kentwood said as they came to an open space. The trees were not close enough to pose a risk to the kites, should they come down suddenly, as kites were wont to do.

Ari bounced on her toes. “Come, Evie. Let out the string so I can let it go.”

“Kite flying is not for the impatient, Arabella,” Lord Kentwood reiterated with a hint of frustration. But his daughter paid him no heed. She tugged at the string until Evie let out an exasperated sigh.

“You’re going to break it if you keep tugging like that,” Evie called. She looked over to them. “Tell her, Pippy. She’ll listen to you.”

Lord Kentwood grumbled something Pippy could not hear. She had no doubt it was something disapproving.

Freddie turned his attention to her. “I confess, I’m not proficient in kite flying. I believe we’ll have to rely on your experience.” He handed the kite to her.

A gust of wind pulled at the kite, and she held the frame tighter. “We flew kites only a few times when I was a child. I’d hardly call that knowledgeable.”

“That is more times than I can boast. Now.” He rubbed his hands together. “What is the best way to start?”

Would it disappoint him if the activity failed miserably—as it was sure to?

Her gaze flicked over to Lord Kentwood. Thankfully, he seemed occupied with his daughters.

She relaxed, happy not to be under his scrutiny for once. “When I was a child, we would run with the kite above our heads until the wind picked it up and carried it.”

Freddie looked out in front of them, his head nodding slowly. “That sounds as solid a plan as any I can think of.” He turned back to her. “Do you wish to run or hold the string?”

Pippy looked at the spool in her hand but glanced sideways at her father-in-law. What would he think of her if she ran with the kite? He would surely think it unbecoming. “I’ll hold the string, if you don’t mind.”

He came over and took the kite from her, their hands brushing. Did she imagine he kept his there for longer than necessary? Did he enjoy the warmth that passed between them as much as she did—even in the warmer weather?

Surely she was the only one imagining such things. “I’ll let out a fair amount of string, and then you run. It’s windy enough, I can’t imagine you’ll have to run far.”

He squinted down at the kite. “How do I hold it?”

She reached over and pushed his hands above his head. He surely would have understood if she’d simply explained it. But she had so few excuses to touch him. Shouldn’t she take every one that came her way?

Their eyes connected and held.

“If you hold the kite up above your head like this,” she said quietly, “the wind should grab hold…”

He nodded slowly, his eyes dropping to her lips.