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He shook his head, but his gaze did not move from her face. Pippa felt a pull toward William with an invisible force. She walked the three steps back to him and paused close enough to see the light and dark flecks of blue in his eyes and the flaring of his nostrils. He was so still, but his inner turmoil was evident in his unsteady breathing.
“Have I done something to anger you?” she asked.
He tucked his chin, clearly taken by surprise. “No.”
“Your nose is reacting as if you are mad.”
A smile split his mouth, and he chuckled. Whatever had made William temper his breathing a moment before had now fled enough to relax his shoulders. He reached for her cheek and brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, but the wind was a stronger force than he, and her hair was soon dancing along her forehead again. William’s large hands wiped over her temples, moving the hair and holding it back as he framed her face with his hands. “When will this blasted wind cease?”
“Never, of course. Welcome to the Devonshire coast, sir.”
He chuckled again, and his gaze dropped to her lips.
Good heavens, Pippa had never felt such deep anticipation and the dropping of her stomach simultaneously. She pulled her lips in-between her teeth, and William’s eyes snapped up to meet hers.
The rain continued to fall and William released her face, stepping back and drawing in a deep breath. “You will be at church tomorrow?”
“Yes, and I believe you are coming to dinner following the service.”
He gave one nod. “Until tomorrow.”
Pippa’s gaze was drawn to the stormy ocean again. “You do not intend to fish tonight, do you?”
William looked up sharply. “Why do you ask?”
“It will be too dangerous, I fear.”
“No,” he said, smiling. “I do not intend to fish.” He swallowed hard and looked toward the sea again, and Pippa turned to leave. Her gown was soaked through, and if she did not hurry to dry off and warm her body, she was certain to catch a cold. Not that she was terribly worried about that, but she didn’t want anything to get in the way of the Blakemores coming to dinner.
“Good evening, fair Pippa,” William called.
She lifted her hand in acknowledgment but continued to hurry toward Camden Court as the rain fell in earnest and a smile danced on her lips.
