He was becoming too enticed by her, after just this short amount of time. He liked seeing her smile, he liked to tease, and he liked the way she made him feel. So, he had to stay away. Friendship was acceptable, but flirtation was going to lead him to disappointment and hurt.
Passing the drawing room on his way out, he saw a neatly angled auburn head. She looked perfect, sitting in front of a dainty writing desk, and he felt cumbersome and oafish even coming into the room.
“I will give my apologies now as I will not be staying for dinner.”
She rose and he wondered if that was disappointment on her face. “Information gathering?”
“I do my best thinking in the open air. I’ll try out one of Stone’s thoroughbreds, then head to the inn for the gossip.”
Pursing her lips, she nodded. “Good idea. The landlord does know everything and seems to have many fingers in many pies. I like him tremendously so send him and his wife my regards.”
“I will. I…I have a question…” Lucas hesitated. There was something he kept meaning to ask but hadn’t worked up the courage so far.
“Hmm?”
“It’s just you…when you talk to me, you never look at my burns. People always do, you see. Their eyes always slide. They just can’t help it, and yet yesterday during dinner, and all day today, in the carriage, you haven’t. So, either you can’t bear to look or–”
“I just don’t see them alone, Lucas,” she interrupted. “It would be like staring only at your eyebrow or chin. They are just a part of you.”
Opening his mouth, nothing came out, so he merely nodded and walked from the drawing room.
“I just don’t see them, Lucas.”
The words echoed in his head all the way out of the door and all the way to the stables. He’d never heard anything sweeter, neither the words nor his name on her lips.
