Page 68 of Love Wasn’t Built in a Day

“What happened?” Hetty demanded, perfectly certain that something must have happened.

“Nothing! Stop treating me like I’m a silly little nitwit just out of the schoolroom. I’m older than you, Henrietta, and don’t you forget it.”

With that, Cilly surged to her feet and stalked off, leaving Hetty open-mouthed with shock.

She stood, watching her go in stunned silence, aware of Gideon moving to stand beside her.

“That was… diplomatic,” he said, and she heard the teasing note to his voice.

She slid a rueful glance at him. “I don’t do diplomatic, I do bull in a china shop, surely you’ve realised that by now.”

“I have,” he said, grinning at her. It was the sort of fondly amused expression that gave her hope that he was in as sorry a state as she was. For no other man would find her ham-fisted manner of caring for people amusing, of that she was certain.

Hetty groaned. “I’m such an idiot. I ought to know not to confront Cilly like that. She’s remarkably stubborn, but I’m not wrong and you know it. Something happened.” She turned to Gideon, folding her arms. “Your brother did something or said something. So you had better find out what it was, and whatever he is up to, stop him.”

Gideon blinked at her. There was such a daunted look in his eyes she suspected the idea of stopping Damian doing anything was akin to trying to hold back the tide. “I’ll try,” he ventured cautiously. Well, that would have to do, but she’d better ensure he knew how serious she was.

“If he ruins my sister,” she began, a warning note behind the words.

Gideon held up his hands in surrender. “Understood. My brother will not ruin your sister. My word on it.”

Hetty let out a breath, relieved. Gideon was to be relied upon, she knew that as certainly as she knew the sun would rise the next day. He was simply that kind of man.

Not wanting to let him go with those words ringing in his ears, she smiled at him. “Thank you. I’m sorry for cutting short our… our…I didn’t want to,” she added helplessly, not knowing what else to say.

“Neither did I,” he replied, dropping his voice. “And I shall count the hours until tomorrow.”

“Noon,” she told him, suddenly breathless at the way he was looking at her, as if he could devour her—or kiss her just as he’d said he wanted to, starting at her toes and not missing an inch of skin. Those words seemed to burn inside her, ready to burst into flame at the slightest provocation. As it was, her skin flushed with anticipation.

Gideon glanced around, looking up at all the windows that looked out over the terrace. No privacy here.

He sighed. “Until tomorrow, then.”

She nodded, watching regretfully as he bowed and bid her a good evening, but his fingers brushed hers as he walked away, and Hetty smiled. It was only once he’d gone that she realised, she hadn’t explained to him about her ingenious plan.

Chapter 16

Between the Tides

Hatherley Hall, Little Valentine, East Sussex, 4th August 1816

Cilly helped Hetty to lift the picnic basket into the back of the little dog cart before climbing up beside her.

Hetty picked up the reins, giving the little pony leave to walk on. She glanced at her sister as they made their way down the drive.

“Thank you for doing this.”

Cilly huffed and then relented, returning a crooked smile. “You’re welcome, I suppose. Only don’t make me regret it. If you get into trouble and it's discovered I helped you—well, I shan’t be pleased. Especially after your little outburst yesterday.”

Hetty winced, aware that Cilly was still annoyed by her clumsy attempt to discover what had happened between her and Rivington. She was certain something had happened, and she intended to discover what, but she was sorry she hadn’t handled it better. Cilly had refused to speak a word on the subject, though, and so Hetty had to be content that she was speaking to her at all.

“What will you do while I’m at the beach?” Hetty asked, a little troubled by this.

Cilly shrugged. “I shall go for a drive around. Just remember, you’ve an hour and a half. No longer. I shall be back on time,” she warned Hetty with a little wag of her finger.

Hetty returned a solemn nod, wondering if that was enough time for Gideon to kiss her from her toes to her—but no. She ought not be thinking of such things. They had important things to discuss, not the least of which was her plan to catch his thief.

The pony trotted along the shady path that led through Winsham Woods, and then along the road that followed the beach. She slowed him to a walk as they passed the building site, and they admired the progress being made.