This time, his disinterest wouldn’t bother her in the least. It couldn’t. Because this time… she would be betrothed to someone else.
She wished the idea inspired a modicum of joy.
Nothing for it. Her only hope for securing her future was to marry quickly. And her only hope for ahappyfuture was to marry someone who truly wished to wed her. Someone whowantedher to be his wife. Who was overjoyed to be her husband.
Presuming any such man existed.
With a sigh, she rolled back her shoulders and headed toward the front door.
And smacked face-first into the cravat-adorned chest of mercurial viscount Lord Stonebury.
“Why, good morning,” Daniel said cheerfully. “Fancy running into each other so soon, in a castle this large.”
She jerked her head back to scowl up at him. “You seem to have positioned yourself a mere inch outside my bedchamber door.”
“Did I?” He gave her a sunny smile. “You know us city types. Always getting lost whenever we leave London.”
“If you’d like to get lost,” she said with little fire, “you might try the hedge maze at the rear of the property.”
“Try the…” His face lit up in delight. “There’s a hedge maze? When did Crowmere Castle get a hedge maze?”
“Hmm, I suppose you haven’t had a chance to drop by since inheriting your title…nine years ago.” She gave him a pointed look. “Things change so rapidly when it comes to centuries-old castles. Little wonder you couldn’t keep up.”
To his credit, Daniel offered no flimsy excuses to try to wave away his long, conspicuous absence.
“Will you show me?” he asked instead, his green eyes intense. “If only so I don’t lose my way?”
“You’re assuming I want you to come back,” she grumbled, to hide her reluctant pleasure at his company. But she nodded her assent. As he’d known she would. Blast him.
As before, she ignored his proffered arm. Not because she wished to be rude, but because touching him would feel too much like he’d come here forher. He’d had years to do that, and never bothered before. They both knew he wouldn’t even be here today if it weren’t for the bequests being read next week. Safer not to pretend otherwise.
When they stepped out of the rear exit, the sky overhead was not blue, but a foreboding swirl of mottled gray. A storm was coming in. By the strength of the wind, thunderclouds would arrive in the next hour or two.
But the biggest danger was the broad-shouldered, emerald-eyed rogue at Rebecca’s side.
“Should we go back indoors?” she asked.
“I’m not afraid of a little rain.” He gave his hat a jaunty tweak. “Are you?”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” she lied. The strength of her attraction to him terrified her.
He squinted ahead. “How long does it take to traverse the maze?”
She tilted her head to consider. “If you know the way, it’s half an hour to the folly in the center.”
He raised his eyebrows. “And if one does not know the way?”
She smiled wickedly. “Crowmere Castle loves to collect ghosts.”
“Vixen.” He gave a shudder that might or might not have been exaggerated. “You know how fervently I despise haunted castles.”
“Then I hope we don’t lose our way.” She blinked up at him placidly before darting forward and into the maze.
“Rebecca!” Loud footsteps tore across the grass behind her as he hurried to keep up.
She maintained her most innocent expression as the handsome, wide-eyed viscount nearly bowled her over, just a few feet inside the entrance to the maze.
“Why, how do you do, Daniel?” she asked in faux surprise. “Fancy running into each other so soon, inside a hedge maze this large.”
