He almost seemed to shake himself, then nodded at the window. “The weather, lass. How much snow do ye see?”
She wanted to call him a liar but held her tongue. After all, they had only met yesterday, and once they parted, they would probably never meet again. That realization made her sad. “It’s hard to tell about the snow without walking in it to test its depth. By the way, where will you go from here?” She knew it was none of her concern, but she didn’t care. She wanted to know. After all, she might like to write to him. The prospect of never seeing him again troubled her. “Were you going home? Where might that be?”
“Galkirk is my family seat. Northwest of Gretna Green.” He resettledhis footing, shuffling in place as if uncomfortable with the conversation. “Malcolm and I were headed there.”
“I see.” But she really didn’t. She didn’t know all that much about the Scottish Lowlands other than Middlebie, where Lady Middlebie lived. “During the off-season, if you ever find yourself in the Lake District, do stop in at Broadmere Hall. We would be most honored to receive you, and should you ever visit Mayfair, Broadmere House is on St. James’s Street. You and your brother would be welcome guests at either place.” Thank goodness Serendipity was still asleep. If she witnessed such forwardness, she would surely have a choking spell and topple off her judgment perch.
He didn’t comment on the invitation. Not even a politethank you.His aloofness to her offer for him to pay her a call disheartened her. She sensed with a sad feeling of finality that she would never see this man again.
Turning back to the window, she wiped the fog away and allowed herself a resigned sigh. Apparently, a deeper friendship with the moody Lord Kirkston was not to be.
“Malcolm often goes to London,” he said after the stretch of silence between them became almost too heavy to bear. “I rarely make the trip.”
“I understand, my lord.” She would not beg him for his company. “I merely wished to make it known that the invitation was there.”
“And I thank ye for that, lass. Truly, I do.”
Again, she wanted to call him a liar. Instead, she nudged Serendipity. She was tired of trying to coax Duncan out of his mood, which shifted directions with the unpredictability of a rising windstorm. “Seri, time to collect ourselves. If Jasper thinks the roads are passable, we must make arrangements to lease a carriage.”
With a barely audible groan, Serendipity pushed herself upright and sat there blinking like an owl as she rubbed her neck. “What is the hour?”
“Dawn or a little after.” Merry propped her chin on her fist and stared out the window at the blinding whiteness of the new day, not seeing a thing. Why did Duncan not wish to come calling? Apparently, their rescue was an annoyance he was eager to be shed of. It wasn’t as though they had blocked the road. He could have kept riding.
She flinched at the unreasonableness of her shrewish thoughts. No, Duncan was not cruel. He was just oddly melancholy and had managed to push her into an unpleasant mood before she had even had a decent cup of tea.
The marquess nudged his brother. “Wake yerself and order breakfast before too many others do the same. I am going outside with Jasper to see if travel is possible.”
Jasper was already on his feet, yawning and stretching. “Them Suffolks can handle a good, heavy snow as long as we get a sturdy carriage.” He scrubbed his forehead while aiming a tight-jawed scowl at the floor. “And I know the roads better now that we be back in England. I can handle them in this weather.”
Merry turned from the window and seated herself properly on the bench. “We trust your judgment, Jasper. Have a look and let us know what you feel is most prudent.”
“Yes, my lady.” The man bowed and hurried out, leaving Duncan standing there glowering at Merry.
“I shall add my assessment to yer driver’s, Lady Merry,” he said with the stiffness of wounded pride.
“And my sister and I shall ultimately decide what is best for us to do, Lord Kirkston.” He had turned her uncharacteristically sour with his thinly veiled refusal of her polite invitation to come calling, and she could not—no, shewould not—let it go. How dare he be so pompous after making her believe they might enjoy a lovely friendship, maybe even more?
Good heavens, where had that inclination come from? She primly shoved the thought away. No, Lord Kirkston had made it quite clearthat she was of no interest to him.
Duncan snorted, shrugged on his heavy greatcoat, then stormed outside, leaving Merry with Malcolm and Serendipity. They turned and stared at her as if she had sprouted a second head.
“Merry?” Serendipity reached over and covered her hand with her own. “What happened?”
Malcolm jumped up from his seat and bowed. “Excuse me, ladies. I shall go and order our breakfast.”
“Coward,” Merry said under her breath. “Just like his brother.”
“Last night, you and Lord Kirkston were on a first-name basis. He even called youlassseveral times. Did he behave inappropriately after I fell asleep and left you unguarded?”
“Left me unguarded?” Merry wanted to laugh, but didn’t do so for her sister’s sake. “You consider an inn’s common room that is bursting at the seams with nosy witnesses asunguarded? I assure you, sister, I was still well chaperoned.”
“Then what happened?” Seri asked with a loving quietness that reminded Merry of their mother.
Merry shrugged, hating herself for behaving like a fractious child that had been denied a toy. “I invited him to visit Broadmere Hall or Broadmere Townhouse, and he as much as refused to come calling.”
Serendipity eyed her for a long moment. “What exactly did he say?”
“He said that Malcolm often travels to London, but he does not.”
