So he made do with driving Carina back to her house and bowing politely over her hand in farewell. He should never see her again, for he had come far too close to kissing her and was well aware she would have let him. Only quite suddenly his amusing pursuit of the tugboat captain’s intriguing and beautiful daughter had become too real. He could not call himself her friend,beher friend, and behave like that.
He was not a man much given to self-awareness, let alone to curbing impulses. Foster could testify to that, if he still lived. So could a string of women who had been only too willing to accommodate him. Carina was different.
Thinking about exactly why she was different churned him up too much, so he waited only until she had closed the front door before climbing back into his curricle and driving on to the Black Lion.
From there, he finally went to the harbour to make inquiries about passage abroad. The West Indies intrigued him. He doubted he would be pursued there, and there was money to be made. If there really was to be war with the United States, there was no point in going there. But once across the Atlantic, a whole array of possibilities opened up...
He decided to mull it over before booking. Tomorrow would do, after he had kept his promise to Jasper. The trouble was, Jasper’s daughter continued to fill his thoughts, waking and sleeping.
He knew from experience how to get over such obsessions. Take the girl. A few nights of passion and the novelty would wear off.
Only he couldn’t do that to Carina, an unmarried, respectable girl. She was no sophisticated matron looking for excitement, no ladybird looking for a “protector”. And the truth was, his obsession was only partly physical desire. There was a tenderness, an intense liking that was unfamiliar to him.
No, he wouldn’t touch her.
But during the night, he woke in a sweat, his heart thundering, for he had dreamed of Carina with delicious carnality and the alarming knowledge that he had married her. That idea kept him awake until it was time to rise and fetch Jasper.
Having dropped the captain at the harbour once more, he couldn’t yet make himself book his passage. For his dream still haunted him.
Hecouldmarry Carina...
FOR THE SECOND MORNINGin a row, Carina waved her father off with Lord Durward. Papa had been self-consciously sober and clearly very tired when he had come home last night, and he had fallen into bed almost immediately after dinner. If he wasn’t exactly cheerful in the morning, he at least got up in time and went. Carina was happy with that.
As she went about the mundane business of her morning, she began to look forward to seeing Durward again, not with silly expectations or self-righteous outrage but with understanding.
The man was a flirt. A rake. It was his nature, and just for a moment, he had forgotten that Carina was his friend. That was what had confused him, had made him draw back. If she was angry with either of them it was with herself for being silly and wanting what she could not have. Yet again, he had looked after her.
He would not, could not, stay. Unless his duelling opponent recovered, an outcome for which she prayed for both their sakes. But she would happily bask in what time she had with him. Because she rather thought she loved him. Foolishly, deliriously, even knowing that it was hopeless.
So, she sang as she washed the dishes and cleaned the house, living for the day, and yet surrounded by hope, for him and for her father.
It was after midday when a knock sounded at the door. Her heartbeat quickened and she felt a blush rise to her face. Surely it would be Durward—Travis—calling to take her for a drive or a stroll... She wished she had changed her old gown. She checkedquickly that her hair was not escaping its pins and hoped there were no dust smudges on her nose.
She opened the door, the beginnings of a smile already tugging at her lips.
Not Durward. Lady Mansel.
“My lady,” she managed. “What an unexpected pleasure. Please come in... May I take your pelisse?”
“No, I can’t stop,” Lady Mansel said regally.
Of course not. The surprise was to be summoned in person. Carina led her into the parlour, where Lady Mansel looked about her and sniffed. Carina found herself glad she had just cleaned it, so that even if the room was faded and a little bare, it was spotless.
Lady Mansel sat before she was invited, perching on Papa’s favourite chair with her back rigidly straight.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Carina asked. She really did not want to go to Mansel Manor again, but beggars could not be choosers.
“Not today. In fact, I have come to help you before it is too late. I saw you yesterday.”
“You did?”
“With Lord Durward. In his curricle.”
Carina felt her face begin to burn and willed the flush to rise no further. “Oh?” she said carelessly. “I’m sorry. I did not see you. His lordship kindly brought me home from the market.”
“So I believe. My dear child, you have been seen in his company several times. I am aware you have no mama and no friend to advise you on the ways of the world so as your employer I feel it my duty to warn you.”
“Warn me of what?” Carina asked stiffly.
