After he greeted her grandmother, he met her gaze. “Would you care to show me this divine tree that you have selected?”
Drat. She had lied about selecting the perfect tree.
“I would be happy to,” she replied, rising. How hard would it be to find a tree in the woods?
“I assumed we would ride, and the servants would trail behind us in the wagon.”
“I am amenable to that plan.”
Colin’s smile grew. “Shall we?” he asked, offering his arm.
Arabella glanced down at his proffered arm, having no desire to be that close to him. “I assure you that I am more than capable of walking to my own horse unescorted.”
“I have no doubt, but it would be my privilege to escort you.”
“It would beyourprivilege, but I must refuse your assistance,” she said curtly.
Colin withdrew his arm, but his smile remained intact. “Duly noted.” He gestured towards the door. “Your horse should be waiting out front.”
“Thank you,” she replied as she moved past him. She just wanted to pick out this tree and be done with it. The less time she spent with Colin, the better.
Colin came to walk next to her, meeting her stride. “How is your headache?”
“I’m afraid it just started back up again.”
He chuckled. “You are a delight, Bella.”
Once she’d donned her warm things and they’d mounted their horses, Arabella adjusted the reins in her hand and scanned the woodlands, trying to think of the best place to select a tree.
Colin’s amused voice came from next to her. “Where to, my lady?”
She knew he was enjoying her obvious attempt at lying to him. Gesturing towards the woodlands, she said, “This way.”
“Lead on,” he encouraged.
Arabella kicked her horse into a run and didn’t bother to see if Colin was following her. As they entered the woods, she scanned the trees and tried to find one that would be sufficient for her grandmother’s saloon.
Her eyes landed on a pine tree a short distance away. She reined in her horse next to it and announced, “This pine would do nicely.”
Colin came to a stop next to her and gave her a skeptical look. “This is your perfect tree?”
“It is,” Arabella replied. “What is wrong with it?”
He dismounted his horse and stepped closer to it. “By my estimation, this tree is not even six feet tall.”
“It may be small, but it has character,” she attempted.
Colin placed his hands on one of the green branches. “The branches are lopsided, and there are gaping holes in the needles.”
“That adds to the allure of the tree.”
Colin turned back towards her. “You are horrible at picking trees, and I have no choice but to select another.”
“I beg your pardon!”
“This tree would frighten the orphans.”
Arabella pressed her lips together. “It’s not that bad.”
