Page 14 of A Second Chance for Love

Oona looked up to find him watching her, and her face heated—meaning her cheeks would be flushed. It was a reaction she absolutely despised but could do nothing about.

“Do you think we will encounter more snow?” she asked. After all, there was nothing more harmless than discussing the weather.

He gazed out at the flat gray day and shrugged. “It is cold but the sky is clear. Of course nobody can know what it’ll be like in seven hours. Don’t worry,” he said with a faint smile. “I shan’t endanger your health. If it begins to snow heavily we shall take shelter.”

“I’m not worried; I was just thinking this trip must be important if you are willing to brave such unpleasant weather.”

“It is,” he said.

“I never asked where we were going.”

“No, you didn’t.”

Oona sighed and he gave a low, amused chuckle, but seemed disinclined to share their destination.

“Well, if you can’t tell me where I am going perhaps you might tell me whether it will be a big party, a small party, a—”

“There will only be five guests, plus our host.”

“Who are the other guests—or is that something you can’t tell me, either?”

“You won’t know any of the other guests.”

“Why? Because I am an impoverished drudge at a modiste shop?”

“Ex-drudge,” he corrected with his standard smirk.

“Very droll.”

“You won’t know the other guests because they are men of business,” he said.

Oona frowned. “Men of business and their mistresses?”

He shrugged.

“I feel as if you don’t want to tell me about this house party.”

“You are very astute.”

“Very well. Can you tell me how long we will be there?”

“Three nights at the party, the rest is travel.”

“Goodness, that seems a long way to travel for such a short visit.”

He smiled—the smile that made her palm itch to slap him. And made other parts of her itch, as well. Oona ground her teeth; her body’s reaction to this man was extremely unfortunate and she would need to be vigilant over the next few days.

“What are you thinking to turn you such a charming shade of pink?” he asked.

“You’ve bought my person, not my thoughts,” she snapped.

His eyebrows rose, but he said nothing, which only made her feel like a shrew.

“I apologize, that was uncalled for,” she said, ashamed at how grudging her voice sounded. She tried again. “You appear to have done well for yourself.”

“Thank you.”

“Will you tell me how all this,” she waved a hand to encompass the sumptuous coach around them, “came to pass?”