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Jude spared a look for her mount. "If I braid his mane, will you like him better?"
Her mare, a sweet, feisty girl named Cleopatra, tossed her head as if she knew she was the focus of attention. "It's only one braid!"
"She's lovely."
Marissa felt he was making some annoying point about her vanity, but she was distracted from her frown by the appearance of Harry and Aidan riding in. The men waved and nodded, as if they both agreed that Marissa and Jude were doing a good job of keeping up appearances.
Aidan's face looked younger in the warm sunlight, as it often did after a good ride. In London he never seemed happy.
"My brother," she murmured to Jude. "I'm happy you're a friend to him."
"What do you mean?"
"For a long while there, he only spent time with Harry, and that was begrudging."
"Ah. I suppose I have seen too much tragedy wrought from love. I did not find his story romantic, so he likes me."
Marissa nodded. The whole of the ton seemed to think Aidan nothing more than a dramatic figure to be used as a centerpiece at dinner parties. A young, handsome bachelor with a story that made the ladies swoon with sighed delight. The love of his life had been snatched from his arms by the cruel hand of death, and he mourned her to this day. What gentle heart could resist that story?
Aidan hated them all.
"You've been a good friend to him, I understand."
"Well, we have common interests. Between his ships and my father's investments, we often travel in the same circles."
"Really? Do you work for your father? I had no idea."
"I do. He enjoys dabbling in his own investments on occasion, and I enjoy having some industrious way to occupy my time. Idle hands make for the devil's work, you know." His gaze slid to her. "Perhaps you need more than stitching to keep you busy."
"Oh, aren't you clever?" She tried to leave it at that, but she found her body actually leaning toward h
is, curious to know more about this man. Marissa readjusted her posture and tried to look less fascinated. "Where do you travel then?"
"Well, France quite often, for obvious reasons. And all over Europe. Italy, Spain, Portugal. Constantinople was fascinating, of course."
"Constantinople? You've been there?" Well, there was no disguising her eagerness. She didn't even try. She could not imagine such an exotic place.
"I have." His eyes studied her, glinting with pleased assessment. "If we marry, I'd welcome your company when I travel. I'd be pleased to visit the Ottoman again."
She blinked several times, shocked and happy with his words. "Truly? I've... I've never considered.... Would I like it, do you think?"
His smile curved to a wicked angle. "You would love it."
She flushed at his words. The lone of them bespoke admiration and pride and a sure knowledge of her very nature. How could those simple words leave her flustered and overly warm? Marissa clutched her reins too tightly and shifted in the saddle. Cleopatra stepped nervously before relaxing into an easy gait again.
Marissa swallowed and urged her to a trot. She wanted to run, but the mare wasn't warm enough yet, even if Marissa was. She'd never been flustered by talk of travel before. Everything about Jude Bertrand was so very different. So unexpectedly intriguing. How did he make her need things from him that she didn't even want?
For instance, right now, she was staring hard toward the horizon, counting the seconds until she could push her marc to a full, hard run. The old church was only miles ahead, and she and Jude would be alone there. When they arrived they would dismount to explore the ruins. They'd disappear behind crumbling walls and overgrown orchards. Even a passing traveler would not be able to spot them.
Surely, he would kiss her, finally.
Finally.
Marissa reminded herself that she'd only known him for two days. And then she urged her horse to a gallop.
Chapter 8
Nothing.
