“Now, was it a left turn or a right turn at the tree that looks like a grumpy old man?” Emily frowned at the tree in front of her.
“Lord Peter says it is a right turn.” A voice sounded from behind her, full of quiet amusement.
Emily jumped, clutching a hand to her chest as she whirled around to face him. “Did no one teach you not to terrify young ladies in forests?”
Luke grinned at her. “I see no young ladies. Just a woman.”
“Oh haha.” Emily bent down , scooped up a handful of leaves and threw them at him. “I think it is only fair you give me a gold coin.”
Luke darted out of the way, but not quickly enough. Leaves covered him, and he blew one off his shoulder.Even with leaves covering him he is handsome.
What is wrong with me?
“Whatever for?” Luke folded his arms across his chest.
“For scaring me of course!” Emily laughed.
“I was simply giving you helpful advice. If anything, you owe me a coin.” Luke held out a hand expectantly.
“Well you are out of luck, I can only offer you clues. Natalie has our coin purse.” She replied, and then reached a hand towards him, plucking a leaf from his hair. “And now you definitely owe me a coin, for I have saved you from looking a fool.”
“I should point out that I would only have looked a fool because you threw leaves at me.” Luke shrugged. “Besides, perhaps I think I would look rather dashing with a leaf in my hair.”
“I can put it back if you like?” Emily offered, winking at him.
He laughed. “I think I shall decline your offer.”
“It is nice to see you like this.” She said, feeling a warmth spread through her as she looked at the joy in his face.That is what I wanted to give him, to have him relax a little.
“Like what?” Luke canted his head towards her.
“This.” She made a gesture that took in all of him. “Relaxed. Happy. You seem to be enjoying yourself.”
Luke paused for a moment, as if considering her words. His smile remained in place, and he said, “I am. It has been… Well, it has been some time since I have been able to just…”
“Let everything go?” Emily suggested.He puts so much pressure on himself.
“Yes.” Luke nodded. “I have been Duke Warren for so long, I had almost forgotten what it can be like to just be me.”
“What do you mean?” Emily asked.
“Most of my dealings, outside of my brother, are with members of the ton. They see my title first, and that suits me. That is how they should see me after all.” Luke ran a hand through his hair, leaving it mussed. “But here, well, when you are surrounded by people of equal rank who are open to accepting you as one of them… I can just be myself.”
Luke the Duke.Her words seemed to hover between them, and Emily wondered if they had really called each other by their first names. If when she had been on the edge of delirium, they had been that intimate.
“You also seem to be enjoying yourself.” Luke said, after a moment.
“I am. And it is mostly because of you.” She said without thinking. “Actually, it is all to do with you.”
“Me?” Luke’s voice was soft, and as she met his gaze, she realised exactly what she had said.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Me?” Luke repeated, his heart thundering in his chest.
He saw Emily’s eyes widen, and a smile broke out across her face, part embarrassment and part something else that Luke could not quite place. He felt something deflate within him.
“You are talking about our lessons.” Luke murmured.
