“I can make it work,” Lord Gallant concluded as he turned toward her. Their faces were inches apart.
She tilted her chin upwards, allowing her eyes to lock with his. “I look forward to it,” she whispered back, taking a quick, calculated look at his lips before letting her hand glide down his upper arm as she brought it back to her own lap.
The surprise on the duke's face was apparent, but so was his interest. Slowly, he inched his gloved hand to hers, lifted her fingers up toward him, and kissed the back of her hand.
Well done, she congratulated herself.Now the relationship will finally progress.But as Lord Gallant walked away, she wondered if that was truly what she wanted.
Spain
Every Tuesday, Mother had a group of her friends over. The children all played in the yard while the matrons exchanged news and complained about various going-ons. The first Tuesday, Luke had made the mistake of staying indoors with the women, but he quickly realized the real fun to be had was outside with the children.
Personality-wise, Manuel was a male version of the young Clara Merritt—popular, constantly surrounded by his peers, and ready for any adventure. The dark-headed boy led the pack of little ones in games and mischief. If he were still a child himself, Luke probably would have clung to the edge of the fence and hoped to be left alone, but it was different now.Hewas different now, and he no longer felt the need to stay in the shadows. He did not care what thesechildren thought of him. In fact, he did not care what anyone in Spain thought of him. He had no reputation to maintain, notonto please, no responsibilities to perform, and no woman to impress. Luke was not a prominent lord here, just the son of a country couple, and that was freeing in a way he could not possibly describe.
“Hermano!” Manuel yelled in excitement when Luke appeared, carrying baby Isabella. “Donkey!” It was not an observation, but a request. So, setting the baby on her blanket under the tree, Luke got down on all fours and gave the children donkey rides.
This was a favorite game, and having expected them to ask for it, Luke wore the same pair of faded trousers every Tuesday morning. The knees had long since worn through, but Mother had been ecstatic to patch them. “I never did get to fix any of your clothes as a lad,” she gushed. “It is high time you ruin a pair of trousers.” And ruin them he did.
He was on his seventh or eighth donkey ride that morning, when a hearty laugh sounded from above him. Luke cranked his neck, arching his back with two children still atop it, to see the cause of the sound. A beautifully tan woman with a sharp chin and long wavy black hair tied back with a kerchief looked at him. He was still coming to understand the Spanish fashion, but from the look of it, she was more wealthy than any of the Spaniards he had met thus far. Large, golden earrings adorned her ears, and matching bangles circled her wrists. Her dress was boldly red and full, and swished as she walked toward him.
Luke quickly slid the children off and stood, dipping his head in greeting. The woman did not reciprocate his polite gesture. Instead, she sauntered right up to him and brushed dirt off his shirt sleeve. The baron took a step back in surprise, but the woman stepped with him, now reaching her hands up to adjust his cravat. She was a good two heads shorter than Luke, so her hands were nearly straight overhead.
“Uhh!” Luke exclaimed in fear as he gently pushed her hands away, rushed over to the blanket and picked up his baby sister. Though, if he was holding her for her own safety or his, he could not say.
“Are you the English lord I heard about?” she asked in a heavy accent. She tossed her hair with the back of her hand, her look undeniably flirtatious. At least she kept herself at a respectful distance this time.
Luke had absolutely zero desire to speak with her, but he could not outright ignore her question. “Probably,” he muttered, slowly gathering the children around him as a tiny human fortress.
The social little Manuel saw no danger. “¿Quién es usted?” he asked, pointing up at the sultry woman, heading in her direction instead of toward the huddle.
Oh no!Luke lamented as he pulled the baby closer to his body.
The woman smiled, forcefully sweet, down at the boy, but her answer was obviously directed to the gentleman as she responded in her educated English, “I am Valentina Guardia Flores.” She curtsied. “I have come to invite your brother to the festival.”
Manuel rolled his eyes in boredom, and Luke made a great effort to not do the same. The boy quickly abandoned the woman, and unfortunately, Luke’s living shield joined him, leaving the baron—and the baby—to fight for themselves.
“I …” Luke stuttered, looking around frantically for rescue. Then, who should be seen, but John, just visible on the horizon as he returned on his grey mount. “John!” he cried in desperation, “John!”
Thankfully, the man pushed his horse to a gallop, and reached them in only a matter of seconds. “Who is your friend?” John asked as he dismounted.
“This is Miss Flores,” Luke whispered back, his eyes wide with fear. “Miss Flores,” rather than look at her, his face lowered to his shoes. “This is my friend, John Merritt, Viscount Lord Rollins, the future Earl of Faversham."
Valentina did not seem to care one bit about John’s presence. Odd. Most women forgot all about a lowly baron when John showed up. “Good day, señor.” The woman curtsied. “I am trying to convince your friend here to attend the festival tomorrow night.”
John laughed, loud and merrily. “Good luck to you! Lord Maxwell is not fond of socializing.”
“I see,” Valentina tilted her head as she squinted up at Luke. “How would I persuade him?” She gave John a conspiring look, as if the two were old friends, not acquaintances of less than a minute.
John shook his head. “I am afraid I do not know the answer.”
Luke sighed in relief.Sometimes, I do not give him enough credit,he thought.He really is a good friend.
Then John finished with, “His mother will know how to convince him, perhaps you should go inside and ask her.” Valentina decided to do just that.
Useless, Luke reprimanded as John rode to put the horse away,utterly useless.
Chapter 23
Unwanted
