Molly peeked her head inside."Everything okay?"
"Fine."
"Are you alone?"She threw her gaze toward the en suite bath.
"Yes," Claire confirmed.
"Damn!"Molly entered and closed the door, joining Claire on the bed.
"Is this gonna take long?”Claire asked.“We're going for a walk."
"You have no idea, do you?"Molly asked with a smirk.
"About what?"
"If you could just step back and see what I see."
"Step back and see what?"Claire asked.
"He's crazy about you.My God!"
Claire rolled her eyes."Oh Molly, quit being so dramatic."
"The man cannot keep his eyes off you.He’s smitten.Smitten, I tell?—"
A knock interrupted Molly.Claire hopped off the bed and made fast steps to the door.
"Ready?"Jay asked.
Claire turned back around, shooting Molly an annoyed look."That depends."
"I'm leaving."Molly stood and quickly brushed past them, giving Claire a pinch on the elbow as she slipped by.
Jay shrugged."Again, was it something I said?"
They set off along a network of trails Claire knew like the back of her hand.She and Molly had spent years exploring the sprawling woods surrounding Hamish’s estate, a place that looked as though someone had lifted it straight from the pages of a period novel.If Jay had worn a ruffled shirt and riding breeches, Claire might have believed she was strolling beside her very own Mr.Darcy.
"Fitzwilliam," she said aloud without thinking.
"Fitz-who?"Jay asked.
"What?”Her cheeks burned.“Oh, sorry, never mind.”
"Some chap you used to roam these woods with once upon a time?"he asked, his tone a touch snarky.
"Not exactly.He's a character from a book.I was just thinking?—"
"About Mr.Darcy?"
"Very good, Mr.Avery," she replied, impressed and a little surprised.
"I read more than scientific journals, you know."
They continued along the trail while Claire pointed out the different flora growing across the estate.In the hour since leaving the house, they had covered a great deal of ground.Clouds had rolled in during that time, casting a menacing shadow across the sky.In the distance, Jay spotted two buildings.
He pointed."What's over there?"
"That was a church at one time.It's probably over three hundred years old.It caught fire way back when.There's nothing to it really.It's just a shell."
