He shrugged. “I merely find it intriguing that you called us strangers.”
“Why is that?”
His green eyes smoldered with quiet intensity. “I have thought it once or twice since your arrival, but there is something about you—something familiar. We have not met before, have we?”
“That would be impossible.” Reginald was rarely home. Since I had to be chaperoned wherever I went, that meant I did not get out mucheither. This was partly why my heart had felt for Augusta and her own missed opportunities. “I must look like someone you know.”
His jaw flexed. “I doubt there could ever be two of someone like you.” He straightened and stepped closer to me, setting off my equilibrium. In a lowered voice he whispered, “Either way, I might have thought us strangers yesterday, but after this afternoon, I think our acquaintance has moved to a much more familiar stage. Don’t you think?”
He drew back before turning and leaving me alone in the corridor with my heart pounding.
An image flashed before my eyes. My arms squeezed tightly around his neck, and my cheek pressed against his own.
“Oh, botheration,” I mumbled. That was certainly far more familiar than I had ever hoped to be with my employer.
Mother was likely rolling over in her grave.
I briefly squeezed my eyes shut, then forced myself to go into dinner. There was no way I was letting this man’s unnerving presence jeopardize my time here. I strode straight to my chair beside Augusta. It appeared Lady Camden was late. At least she had not witnessed the exchange between her son and me at the door.
Had he been trying to antagonize me, or was this his way of being friendly?
I pulled out my chair and maneuvered my wide skirts so I might sit. Augusta said something about her friends—the Lovelace sisters she had mentioned before. I did not hear the specifics. I was too busy analyzing every word of my interaction with Lord Camden. A moment later, Lady Camden entered.
“Forgive me for being late.” She swooped into her seat and held up a letter. “I received an invitation to take tea with your aunt, Lady Timbrell,the day after tomorrow. Augusta, you and Miss Lewis will plan on joining me.”
“Yes, Mother.” Augusta did not seem fazed by the invitation, so I assumed this was a regular occurrence.
“And Atlas . . . good heavens. We might be in the country, but I was under the impression that a gentleman still shaved before dinner.”
He fingered the scruff on his chin. “Oh, this? I had an unexpected bath and did not have the time to shave.” Lord Camden sent a smirk my way.
I barely resisted rolling my eyes.
The smallest giggle escaped Augusta, which she quickly covered with a cough.
Lady Camden made a noise of disapproval at both of her children before focusing back on her son. “I suppose you have another one of your mysterious errands tomorrow that will keep you from joining us at tea?”
Mysterious? I frowned thinking of the meeting I had made him miss and looked across the table at Atlas. He smiled guilelessly at his mother. “You guessed correctly.”
“You are rarely home anymore,” Lady Camden said, dipping her spoon into her soup. “I suppose I should be grateful that you are well enough to run about the countryside at all, but do remember that your family likes to see you once in a while.”
“I will remember that.”
What sort of mysterious meetings did a baron have? My curiosity piqued. Even though Lord Camden had claimed we were no longer strangers, I had no idea of his interests or passions. If I knew, perhaps I could think of a way to thank him in a manner he would appreciate.
I had made him miss his meeting and thoroughly embarrassed myself. My body might be safe from harm now, but my conscience was drowningin guilt. If I were to survive the next six months in such close quarters with this man, I did not want to feel indebted to him.
“Did you hear that the smithy in town was purchased by an Irishman?” Lady Camden asked her son. “And the next closest blacksmith is over thirty miles from here. What are we expected to do?”
My fork stilled on the braised lamb. My whole body went as rigid as a deer sensing a predator.
“There is no reason to travel beyond our town’s blacksmith,” Lord Camden answered. “I am sure this new owner’s work is as adequate as the last.”
Lady Camden huffed. “But he’sIrish. Must the whole town be overrun with them?”
The hair on the back of my neck seemed to stand on end.
“One owner is hardly our town being overrun with them,” he said.
