“What sort of name is that for a horse?” She sounded truly horrified.
“What would you name him?”
“I don’t know. Onyx. Shadow. Night.”
“I preferred a name that would remind me how I should behave when riding him—should behave at all times, actually. I’m sorry if the gossip caused you any undue trouble.”
She glanced over her shoulder before turning her beautiful blue eyes on him. “She may be complaining but she was thrilled. My name has never appeared innewsprint before. We have that in common, you and I. This morning’s mention was a first for both of us. I’m considering clipping it out and saving it as a souvenir of my time in your country.”
“A souvenir is usually something that brings about a good memory. Am I to deduce that you want to remember our time together?” He kept his voice low, hushed so it wouldn’t reach the ears of her mother.
Miss Garrison was wearing a wide-brimmed hat that kept the sun from her face. Still her cheeks flushed pink, and he didn’t think it was from the warm day.
“It was enlightening,” she finally muttered.
For him as well, although he wasn’t going to admit that. He’d never known a woman who brought as much enthusiasm to something as simple as a kiss. Or at least all the kisses before hers had seemed simple enough. Hers, however, were complicated. They made him yearn for something intangible, something he couldn’t quite identify.
“I returned to the ballroom without encountering any trouble,” she said, dropping into sotto voce with just a tinge of guilt along the edge of her words.
“I know. I didn’t leave until I saw you enter, apparently without being accosted on your journey there.” There had been the slightest spark of triumph in her expression, and he’d felt a measure of pride at her success.
“I didn’t see you.”
“I’m quite adept at blending in.” He’d learned the skill at a young age in order to avoid his father’s notice.
“I did manage to locate the gents I should have been dancing with and apologized with the lie you suggested.Except for Lord Lawrence. I couldn’t find him until just a few minutes ago. He was most understanding.”
Strangely he felt a measure of satisfaction in knowing she’d chosen himself—or at least his kiss—over Lawrence, or at a minimum a waltz with him. It didn’t lessen his irritation that the man had approached her here, had strolled along beside her, her arm snugly held in the crook of his elbow. Whereas Rook was denying himself that pleasure because he found it so damned difficult to resist her.
“Is it wise to be seen walking together like this? Will we be written up in the gossip sheets again, do you think?” she asked quietly.
He released a frustrated sigh. “I should hope not.” Then he looked over at her, and found her studying him, and he had the odd sensation that perhaps she was striving to takehimapart. He offered a recalcitrant grin. “But if so, you’ll have another souvenir.”
Her smile was the sort for which men launched ships. Soft and teasing, warm and heady. He couldn’t recall ever having such a beatific expression cast his way. It was rather addicting.
“The ladies of New York will scarcely believe I made the gossip rags.”
Perhaps that was the reason she was considering cutting it out and saving it. He experienced a surge of anger because across the Atlantic she’d not been appreciated. She wasn’t odd and he didn’t give a tinker’s curse if she knew the force behind a thrust. He was more interested in the fact that her curiosity knew no bounds—that because of that curiosity he knew the perfection of her mouth moving over his and her taste. If he wasn’t so concerned with keeping his own reputation pristine,he might accommodate her by ensuring she was mentioned every day in the gossip sheets. “I don’t know that I’d like the ladies of New York.”
“They would most certainly like you.”
Do you like me?Where the devil had that thought come from? It was disconcerting. Didn’t matter if she liked him or not. Physically they were compatible. The kiss proved that. What more was needed for a quick liaison?
“Do you always take strolls with your sketchbook in hand?” he asked and was treated to her cheeks again going awash in pink. He didn’t know if he’d ever known anyone who blushed as much as she did.
“I was hoping to sit beneath a tree and do a bit of drawing, but apparently, according to Mama, doing so wouldn’t make me appear interesting.”
Devil take her mother. Although he suspected she’d consider her daughter interesting if she had a lord nearby fawning over her. He glanced back. “Mrs. Garrison, we’re going to take a respite by this nearby tree. We’ve a thousand chaperones wandering around if you’d prefer to continue to stroll about.”
Turning back to the lady, whose blue eyes were suddenly wide with wonder, he offered his arm because her wants far exceeded his. Still, when her gloved fingers landed on his forearm as lightly as a butterfly settling onto a petal, he felt as though she’d gifted him with the world.
When they reached the tree, she released her hold and he let go of the reins. His horse was well-behaved enough not to gallop off. Rook shrugged off his coat and began to spread it beneath the shade provided by the massive leaf-heavy branches.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“The ground is no doubt still somewhat damp from yesterday’s rains.”
“Oh, I hadn’t even considered that. Sitting on the grass was a silly idea.”
