She expected Remmy to laugh, but when he did not, she peeked at him, not as an artist but as a friend, a woman.
His brows were lower than before, and his jaw worked from side to side. “Did she say something to you?”
“She called your brother an arse.”
He laughed. “Young Verity takes after her sister, then.”
Tessa shook her head. “She’s stronger than me. I was scared. She’s been alone and I thought she’d be… rather sad… like I was.”
“Not too sad, I hope. Not too alone.”
He wasn’t talking about Verity.
“No.”
“Tessa…”
“Hmm?” The curl of his hair across his temple wasn’t quite right. She angled the sketchbook differently.
She heard the footsteps across the gravel, but she didn’t look up. Neither did she look up when she saw the tip of his shoes below her sketchbook, near her skirts, felt the heat of his body.
He crouched beside her and lifted her chin. “I want everything to be right between us. I want you to tell me what you want.”
She didn’t know anymore. She wanted her freedom. Her sister’s happiness. Her parents’ love. And she wanted Remmy, but she didn’t quite know how.
And she couldn’t have all of that.
He smoothed a thumb up the line of her jaw. “You’restewing, sweetheart. I don’t recommend it. Should I kiss you? Will that make it better? You do seem to like kisses.”
She nudged his hand away. “Don’t you play the rake with me, Remmy.”
“I’m not playing the rake,” he said, standing, grinning with wolf’s teeth, “I’m playing the suitor.” He strode for the house. More precisely, he swaggered.
She ran after him, abandoning her sketchbook. “Just what does that mean?”
“I’m going to break my fast. Join me?” The look he gave her made her belly flip.
“Only because I’m hungry.”
“Ha. Very well. After that I’m going to practice on the pianoforte for a few hours. Set up your easel in the music room.”
“I will, but only because the light is good there.”
He turned on his toe and walked backward. “Tonight, after dinner, be my partner for cards?”
“It’s the only way I’m guaranteed to win.”
He spun back around. “Excellent. The entire day planned, you and I. I’ll have to talk with Mother about the seating arrangements at dinner, though.”
“Why?”
He stopped just before the door, and his gaze felt like the most intimate caress. That flip in her belly had become a volley of fireworks.
He winked then disappeared inside.
And only once she’d caught her breath again, did she realize he hadn’t answered.
I’m not playing the rake. I’m playing the suitor.
