“Since the war, prices have been down. I’m afraid things may have become…difficult for the tenants, our tenants.” He glanced up. “As I said before, I’d like to consult with some of them. Get a better sense of what is happening on my own land than I can glean from columns of numbers.”
So, he hadn’t been referring to her as hismistake.
She spread her fingers and exhaled. She was just as relieved for herself as she was now concerned for the tenantry. “Let us plan our visits as soon as possible, then. We can decide how to proceed after we know more.”
His face lit. “We?”
She smiled. “Allies, remember?”
She’d always found him attractive, but when his eyes glowed, he was irresistible.
“We can fight two wars,” she added.
He frowned as if thinking. “I’m not sure I’d call indecision on how to proceed in certain aspects of estate management a separatewaras much as another front. The important thing now is to devise battle plans—terrain assessment, logistical considerations, possible deployments, artillery locations.”
“You do know how to stretch a metaphor, don’t you?”
His smile turned cheeky, mischievous. “If we mean to plant our flag atop Harbury Hall, we need to proceed with stealth and intelligence.”
We.Our.
They’d been bandying about those terms all afternoon. Every time he said either word a tender place inside her expanded.
“You’d welcome my advice?” she asked.
He considered. “Actually, I believe I might be very much in need of your advice.”
The war for Harbury Hall appeared not to be the only one he intended to wage. He appeared to be launching a campaign, if not for her heart, at least for her friendship and affection.
Last night, when she’d ordered him from her room, she’d been protecting herself. Now, under the heat of his gaze, she understood protection was not what she truly wanted.
She wanted his attention, his desire.
He must have read something of the hope in her eyes because he drew back. Not fully apart, but enough to signal caution.
“While we figure out how to proceed, I think it best…” He looked down. His knee moved in a restless, repetitive fashion. “I’m trying to tell you I won’t come to your room tonight. Or again. Until invited.”
She frowned in confusion.
“You need your rest.” He paused. “Strength. For battle.”
She sucked in her bottom lip to keep herself from blurting out that she wanted him to come.
But though part of her did, another part of her agreed they should wait. This truce was too fragile. And whatever was happening between them, the energy felt too unpredictable.
Too dangerous.
There would be other nights. Many of them, hopefully.
“Thank you,” she forced.
“No, thankyou”—he leaned forward—“for giving me anotherchance.”
She became aware of her lips, aware of his warm breath fanning her cheeks, aware of a full-bodied anticipation of his closeness. She closed her eyes. For one, mad moment she expected him to place his mouth against hers.
Instead of a true kiss, however, his lips simply brushed her forehead. But as he pulled back, and her eyes fluttered open, the look of longing on his face left her tingling all over.
Chapter Four
