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She swallowed. Would he try to kiss her again? She’d confess only in the deepest recesses of her mind how much she’d enjoyed their kiss after the cheese roll. But it had been forced on them. She supposed either of them could have cried off. But it made her wonder what it would be like if Freddie kissed her willingly…of his own accord.

“Shall I run backward, do you think?” he asked, his voice sounding tighter than before.

One side of her mouth ticked up. While that would be amusing, it might prove harmful. She had no desire to use her jointure already. “I would not advise it,” she whispered.

He nodded, but his eyes stayed trained on hers. “As you are the expert, I shall take your advice.”

“I’m not the exp⁠—”

“You’re doing it wrong,” Evie complained at Ari, her words seeming to break the spell that had captured them.

Freddie cleared his throat and took a step back.

Pippy’s hands fell from his arms. She sighed. “Are you ready?”

“There’s no time like the present.”

He turned his back to her as she let out the string. It pooled on the ground at her feet. “Start running,” she called.

He lifted the kite above his head and ran away from her. She allowed herself a moment to watch his lithe form as he jogged across the grass. He was indisputably handsome. But handsome did not guarantee a good husband—no matter what some of her friends had claimed. Yes, Freddie was handsome. But he was also a good man—kind, attentive, thoughtful. And he made her laugh.

A hoot of excitement and tug on the string brought her back to the present.

Freddie stood in the distance, staring up into the sky as their kite sailed high above his head. A huge grin split his face, taking Pippy back to their estate in Allonby as she watched Freddie and Lias plan the adventures they would take when they came of age.

“Well done,” she called to him as she let out a little more string. The kite sailed higher. He jogged back to her, and she felt him at her side.

“You were right. I did not have to run far.” There was a lightness in his voice that she loved.

She looked over at him, holding tightly to the spool in her hands. “The wind is strong today.”

“How did you get yours up?” Ari whined fiercely into the wind.

“Perhaps you should share your secrets with them,” Freddie said and tipped his head toward his sisters.

“I do not wish to offend your father,” she said. “He was giving them directions.”

“Either they did not heed his counsel,” he said, “or he does not know what he’s about. I’d guess the latter. I’d never thought my father one to fly kites. He’s far too busy lecturing for such frivolity.” Freddie pushed out his lips slightly in thought.

The string lurched in her hands, and before she knew what was happening, the kite dove toward the ground.

“Goodness,” Pippy cried as she hurriedly wound the string, trying to prevent the kite from hitting the ground. It would surely shatter to pieces coming from such a height. She lifted her arms above her head. “Oh no!” she cried out. “My arms aren’t long enough.”

Freddie stepped to her side. “Let me help you.” He took the spool from her and lifted it high above his head as he wound the string around the stick quickly. The frantic movements of the kite subsided, and it held steady in the air.

Freddie handed the spool back to her.

“Thank you for your help.” She blew out a breath. “Are you certain you’ve not done this before? You handled that as any proficient would.”

“I’m certain it was luck.” He shook his head and bowed. “But I’m always at your service, my lady.”

She smiled back at him. “Thank you, my lord.”

He dropped to the ground and stretched his legs out in front of him. “You seem to have it in hand. Perhaps I’ll take a little nap.” He lay back. Intertwining his fingers, he rested them on his chest and pulled his hat forward over his eyes.

Pippy stared at him, for a moment wishing she did not have the kite to look after. What would it feel like to snuggle up next to him? To feel his arms around her?

They shared the same bed each night. Yet, she had no notion what it was like to be near him. They each said their good nights and then stayed on their own side—never so much as a toe crossing the invisible line separating their sides. She’d often thought what it would mean to cross the line, but she wouldn’t be the one to cross it first. It wasn’t something a lady did.