“Do not be such a prude, Roswell,” Anette chided lightly. “It is perfectly acceptable to discuss those topics, at least outside of the drawing room.”
“I’m afraid to ask, but have you discussed mating rituals of animals in the drawing room before?”
Anette shrugged one shoulder. “I have and it did not go over well. Mother was rather furious with me. She even created a list of polite conversational topics that I must adhere to when we have company.”
“What is on the list?”
“It is the same boring topics that everyone cares to discuss. Quite frankly, I do not care about the type of ribbon that is in another lady’s hair.”
Roswell leaned back in his seat and he loosened the hold on the reins. “I thought you wanted to write a love story.”
“I do, but there is so much more that goes into writing a book,” Anette said. “What will they talk about when they are taking a tour of the gardens?”
“I would imagine the same things that you and I are discussing now.”
Anette shook her head. “No one will want to read a romance book that focuses on herbs and their medicinal purposes.”
“You would.”
“True, but I find all things interesting.”
Roswell bobbed his head. “I agree, wholeheartedly. I have never met someone who is as inquisitive as you.”
“You speak as if that were a bad thing.”
“Not at all,” Roswell said. “It is your mind that I find particularly fascinating. I never quite know what you will say next.”
Anette smiled. “Frankly, sometimes I don’t even know what I am going to say.”
“Ah, that makes so much more sense,” he said, returning her smile.
Her smile dropped, knowing this would never do. She couldn’t let him back in and give him the power to hurt her all over again.
Roswell gave her a concerned look. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Not at all, my lord.”
“If you don’t tell me what I did wrong, I can’t fix it.”
“Don’t assume you can fix everything.”
“You underestimate me, then.”
This was a mistake. She should never have gone on this carriage ride with Roswell. The walls around her heart were starting to crumble and she couldn’t let that happen.
He wanted friendship, nothing more. So why did her treacherous heart leap at the mere sound of his voice?
Anette glanced up at the sky and noticed a lone cloud. “I think it might rain.”
Roswell followed her gaze and teased, “That doesn’t look like a rain cloud.”
“Rain clouds come in all shapes and sizes and you shouldn’t dismiss a cloud so easily.” What nonsense was she spouting? It was clearly not a rain cloud but she had been hoping he knew nothing about clouds.
She continued, knowing that she sounded utterly ridiculous. “Perhaps we should return home before the weather turns. I would hate to be caught unaware out here.”
Roswell chuckled. “You used to lie better. What happened?”
Good heavens, he had seen right through her… again. “I’m out of practice,” she replied.
