Page 35 of The Pleasure in Persuasion

Frederick smiled at her and shook his head. “There is no need for apologies.”

But that was all he said, and then a pensive silence fell between them, as thick as fog. Lily pressed her lips together to keep from filling it and turned her gaze up to the moon above.

Fortunately, the torment lasted only another few minutes before they arrived at the inn and Mrs. Fairleigh met them at the front door.

“Thank you so much for watching the inn tonight,” Gran said to the woman. “Everything went well, I hope?”

“Oh, yes. No trouble whatsoever, and I enjoyed the change of scenery,” Mrs. Fairleigh said, a warm smile plumping her perpetually rosy cheeks.

A few minutes later, the woman left them, heading off in the direction of her cottage which was just up the road from the inn.

“Thank you again for walking us home, Mr. Darrington,” Gran said to Frederick. “I am going to bed now. Lily, will you lock up?”

“Of course, Gran. Sleep well, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

She watched her grandmother slip inside and then turned to Frederick with a smile. “Well,” she said brightly. “Good night. And thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Lily. Good night.”

He turned to leave, and Lily settled on the bench beside the door, reluctant to turn in just yet and see the evening draw to an end.

“You’re not going inside?”

She looked up to find Frederick still there, watching her, and she shook her head. “Not just yet. I think I’ll sit here and enjoy the night air a little while longer.”

He stood there, utterly still, his expression serious, as if he was looking at every angle of a thoroughly tricky problem.

And then he took a step towards her. “May I join you?”

Surprised, she cocked her head to one side. “Your sister will wonder where you are.”

He nodded. “Yes. She will.”

Lily hesitated, holding his gaze, enjoying the subtle shift of power. She’d wanted more time with him, yes, but she couldn’t resist the urge to make him squirm a bit.

Childish?

Absolutely.

But she’d never claimed to be perfect, and even good girls had their pride.

Finally, silently, she extended a hand toward the empty seat beside her.