“Aye?”
“Between now and the next time we meet, will you do something for me?”
“And what might that be, my lady?” The mischief in her eyes filled him with leeriness.
“Try to learn how to smile.”
He frowned. “Learn how to smile?”
“Yes.” She pointed at his face. “The opposite of what you are doing at this very moment.”
“I know how to smile.”
“Do you truly?”
“I do.”
“I have never seen you smile.”
“I reserve my smiles for special occasions.” Actually, he couldn’t remember the last time he had smiled—but then again, he had never paid that much attention to it.
She rolled her eyes and made a face. “Well, then, while we are apart, learn to be more generous with your smiles. I would like to see one someday.”
Barely restraining a groan, he tipped a resigned nod. “I shall do my best, my lady.”
She stole a glance at the house, then got on tiptoes and pecked a quick kiss to his cheek. “See that you do.” Then she rushed up the steps, her cloak billowing behind her. “Be safe,” she called out, then waved and went inside.
“Heaven help me,” he said, staring after her. How could she possibly draw him ever deeper under her spell each time he was with her? Shaking free of the daze, he launched himself up into the saddle. “Come, Spartan. Malcolm has the lead, and we canna be having that, now can we?”
The horse’s resounding snort fogged in the brisk air, then he took off with a ground-eating gallop. They soon caught up to Malcolm and his mount trotting along at a leisurely pace.
“About time,” Malcolm said. “Did ye kiss her?”
“I did not.” But the memory of her hurried kiss to his cheek set Duncan ablaze, keeping him warm on the cold, wintry day. “’Twould not be proper.”
Malcolm shook his head in disbelief. “The two of ye are meant for one another. Where would be the harm in one little stolen kiss?”
“One kiss from Lady Merry would never be enough.”
“Fair point.”
They rode along in companionable silence that Duncan knew would never last—and it didn’t.
“Are we bringing Mother?” Malcolm asked.
“What?”
“I think Mother would enjoy some time in London. Are we bringing her?”
Sensing his brother was once again scheming, Duncan braced himself for whatever Malcolm was about to put forth. “Did she ask to come to London?”
With a shrug, his brother adopted an impossible-to-believe innocence. “She might have.”
“As poorly as ye lie, ye should find other ways to launch yer trickery.” Duncan squinted against the cold wind that made his eyes water. “Why did she not ask me?”
“Ye know why, Duncan. She still blames herself and doesn’t wish to burden ye in any way.”
“Having ye conniving for her is burden enough. Stop doing it and have her speak with me directly.” He wished they could all just pretend life with his father had never happened. He didn’t blame his mother for his sire’s cruel ways. Every man’s actions were their own, and only that man should stand in judgment for them. Not only that, but he could remember the one time she had tried to spirit them all away and escape his father. She had paid dearly for that courageous act. It had nearly cost their mother her life. “I will speak with her.”
