“We could, though if I am honest, Miss Pembleton, I feel no pressing need to catch up to the rest of the hunters.” Lord Baine replied simply.
“You do not?” Emily’s heart sank.
Lord Baine shook his head. “No. In truth, it is not really a pastime I care for.”
“Oh.” Emily mulled this over, several pieces clicking into place. “Is that why you wanted me to accompany you? Because it would give you an excuse not to be in the thick of things?”
Lord Baine flushed slightly and nodded. “A little, yes. In truth, the events and socialisation of the last few days have left me rather tired and I craved a little change of pace. The thought of being caught up in the furor of the hunt was rather overwhelming.”
As Emily looked at him, she noticed the dark circles around his eyes, the crease in his brow. His shoulders were slumped. She recognised the same look that Jane could get when she was in a crowded place for too long.
Emily smiled kindly. “I understand.”
There was a beat of silence and then Lord Baine said, “I did mean what I said, Miss Pembleton. About this giving us a chance to get to know one another a little better.”
Emily felt a weight settle over her chest that surprised her. She was supposed to be marrying the man, getting to know him better could only be a good thing.I am being ridiculous, it is much better to spend time with him instead of being in the hunt.
Unbidden, an image of Duke Warren riding in the hunt flashed into her mind.I am sure he is having a delightful time.She pushed the thought away.
“Thank you, Lord Baine.” Emily replied hoping her voice sounded more warm and inviting than disappointed.
They lapsed into silence once more.How are we supposed to get to know one another if we can barely talk to each other?The sound of dogs barking and men shouting drifted over to them, and once or twice Lord Baine opened his mouth as if to say something, but did not.
Each time Emily found herself leaning a little closer to him, and each time she felt a stab of disappointment. The silence between them seemed oppressive and awkward.I should have stayed with the others, this is awful.
She shook herself and muttered. “You’ll never get a husband with that kind of attitude.”
“Pardon?” Lord Baine canted his head towards her.
Drat.Emily flushed and said, “I was wondering if you might share a little more of your childhood?”
Her mother had always said that you could learn a lot about someone through their upbringing. She had gleaned a little from Duke Warren, but that had told her very little about his brother.
Lord Baine looked thoughtful. “What would you like to know?”
“Well, what was it like for you growing up? Do you remember much of your parents at all?” Emily asked.
Lord Baine stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I do not remember much about my parents. Just a few things here and there, but I am not sure if they are even real. The memories I mean, I know my parents were.”
“Why do you question your memories?” Emily frowned.
Lord Baine made a vague gesture with his hand, as though he were thinking through his answer. “Not all of them, mostly the ones around my father. For example, I think I remember the sound of his laugh, but then I hear Luke laugh and the sound is identical and I wonder if maybe I am remembering his laugh and not my father’s.”
Emily nodded. “Perhaps it is both? After all, it is only natural that a son should take after his father.”
“I suppose you are right. I think it is more that for me it is impossible to think of childhood without thinking of my brother. Some of my earliest memories are of him.” Lord Baine smiled wistfully.
“Such as?” Emily canted her head towards him.
“The first time I rode a horse, it was not my father with me, but Luke. He was the one who was telling me what to expect, who was reassuring me.” Lord Baine laughed softly to himself as he recalled,“I was so scared, I cannot have been more than six or so, and the horse seemed truly enormous. Though I suppose it might have been a pony, now that I think on it.”
“That would probably have been the most sensible approach. But even a pony would seem huge to a boy of six.” Emily tried to imagine a small, scared boy approaching the largest thing he had ever seen.
“That is true. And I was not particularly tall for my age. Not like Luke. My brother has always stood taller than everyone around him.” Lord Baine gestured with his hand to emphasise the point. “I was actually rather insecure about it, but he told me that where he was tall, he was also just limbs and awkward angles. I was well proportioned, and that even if I remained the shortest man in the land, appearances were the least important thing a man could have.”
Emily found herself imagining a gangly Duke Warren, though even in her imagination the man was still scowling. She shook her head, dismissing the thought.Why am I picturing him?
She forced herself to focus on what Lord Baine was saying.
