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He laid the book on the grass near her foot. Her bare toes curled quickly beneath the yellow fabric. Jude stared for a moment, wishing he'd noticed her naked feet sooner. "I think Wendell is a bully and Chloe a bit soft in the head. But Danielle makes the story worthwhile."
Her eyes lit. "Truly?"
"What did you think of it?"
"Well." She tugged a piece of grass from the lawn and twirled it. "My fingers itched to slap Chloe into some sense, and I yearned for Danielle to give Wendell a good set-down. But it gets much more lively when the handsome gentleman moves in next door."
"Oh, my. A handsome gentleman. I'll have to keep reading then."
She plucked another blade of grass. "I have news. One of the guests heard talk about me, but I think Edward convinced her that Mr. White and I only argued."
"And what of Mr. White? Will he spread tales when he realizes your feelings haven't changed?"
"I don't know. I hope not. It cannot flatter him either."
"I'm sure he'll leave his own name out of it."
Marissa shook her head, and one tendril of her hair escaped the braid to caress her face. "I'm hopeful he isn't so spiteful. And I'm certain there will be no other ... consequences. And if there aren't.. . what will you do?"
"Me? I suppose I will simply go back to being a bachelor."
"I would not have hard feelings between us."
When she dropped the second blade of grass, Jude reached idly for her hand, aware of her surprise when her fingers twitched against his. But she didn't pull away. "There will be no hard feelings on my part. I accept you on your own terms, Marissa."
"That's odd. For a man."
"Perhaps." He stroked his thumb along her palm, and her fingers curled as if to keep him close.
"It is very strange that you know such an intimate embarrassment about me. I'm at a disadvantage."
"Ask me anything then. I'll answer truthfully."
Her sharp glance made clear that she'd been hoping he would make that offer. When he slid his fingers in between hers, she responded by holding tight.
"So... your mother is a companion."
"Yes."
"That must mean... the household must have been unusual. Did you live there?"
"In my early childhood, yes. And then I sometimes
spent summers with her later. It wasn't so strange, really."
"Oh."
She stared down at their hands, her cheeks delightfully pink.
"Is that what you wished to ask me?"
"I just..." Her words came quickly, as if she were afraid to breathe. "I just thought you must have associated with them. The women."
"I see. Shall I tell you the story of how I lost my innocence, then?"
"Yes! That's what... yes, it only seems fair!"
"I agree. Well, I was far younger than you. Only sixteen. As you suspected, she was a friend of my mother's."
