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All too soon, the end of the drive came into view and with it a plain carriage, the driver sitting in wait. He stopped, and she did as well. “Remember Miss Smith. ten o’clock precisely.”
“I shall remember, my lord.”
“See that you do.” He looked down to see her looking up at him, blue eyes showing some of his own reluctance to part ways.
Before he could stop to think, he bent the inch or so required to whisper in her ear. “You asked me a question earlier, Miss Smith. And the answer to your question is this: I have few ideas of what might be involved in a perfect meeting with a lady, but after today I shall count the meal and the talk we shared as near to such a scenario as I can imagine.”
With that, he released her hand and turned back to the house, moving as quickly as he might while still retaining his dignity.
If Hetty gave any reply, he did not hear it.
* * *
For far too many moments, Henrietta was too stunned to respond. By the time she’d gathered her wits, the Marquess had disappeared, vanishing back in the direction of his house. She entertained the idea of following him, demanding to know what he had meant by such a declaration, then discarded the notion and turned to make her way to the carriage.
She hardly knew what she said to John, nor even what he might have said to her. Her mind was too full of the Marquess’—of Daniel Thynne’s—last words.
‘I have few ideas of what might be involved in a perfect meeting with a lady, but after today I shall count the meal and the talk we shared as near to such a scenario as I can imagine.’
The words echoed round in her head, chasing away any further thoughts and making her heart pound in her chest.
She had been sure he would think her impertinent, perhaps even ill-mannered, with all the questions she had asked of him, and with her refusal to stand silent and demure like a young lady was meant to, particularly one of a lower station. Doubtless, he was only indulging her so she would continue to model for him, to serve as inspiration for whatever it was he was working on.
There was also the other comment...the one she had made after his teasing question about berries. At the time, she’d only been interested in maintaining her ruse. She was well aware, through Sarah, that fruit was a luxury of sorts, usually only had in the spring and summer months when even the poorest laborers might avail them of the bounty of blackberry thickets and strawberry fields. She’d felt that Hetty Smith would have no preference, and she certainly was not going to tell him of her fondness for lemon tarts—a treat that Hetty Smith could not afford.
It was only after she’d issued her rejoinder that she’d realized what else she had implied. She had once, many years ago, listened to some of the rather less decorous conversations among the elder ladies of the ton, during which one or another had mentioned a ‘man’s berries and twigs’. She’d only later learned what it meant and had been rather shocked that such a thing was discussed in polite company, even in oblique reference.
She’d seen the moment he had recognized the inadvertent double entendre. A startled glance, a low flush starting under his collar. She’d thought he’d call her impertinent, perhaps even dismiss her that very instant. But he had only finished his meal and declared his intentions to walk her to her carriage.
And then he had said those words. And worse, she knew he had meant every word. He was too solemn to have spoken such words in jest, and even had he not been, she had seen enough of his wry and subtle humor to be sure there had been none in his voice or expression.
The words repeated themselves once more in her mind. With a soft cry of frustration, she buried her head in her hands.
This was not how things were meant to be going. She was meant to be finding a way to introduce Eva to Daniel—to theMarquess, she corrected herself inwardly—in a way that would encourage a relationship between them.
She was not meant to be entertaining foolish notions regarding the very man her friend had requested to be matched with.
Had I known it would be this complicated, I would have sought another ruse to employ. At this rate, it shall be far more challenging than I anticipated, matching the two of them.She sighed again.I am beginning to wonder if this wager was at all wise.
No, I am beginning to wonder if this is a wager I truly wish to win.
CHAPTEREIGHT
It was all Daniel could do to suppress a groan of frustration at his own folly as he strode back into the house and made his way to his work room.
God’s breath and stars above, what has gotten into me?
He had actually flirted with her. Caught up in their game and not wishing to come off second best to the girl. He’d actually given voice to the ridiculous thoughts in his head.
Oh, there was no question the young woman was engaging and strikingly beautiful. Hetty Smith was a vision worthy of his best work yet. That she’d wit and spirit enough to complement her physical beauty was unquestionable, and all the more pleasing to him.
But for all of her excellent qualities, she was still a servant. And a young woman engaged in his employ. Different as their stations were, posing undressed as he had asked was certainly well over the line and into scandalous territory. He did not regret it, not in the least, having enjoyed the display, and the challenge of recreating it in stone. However…
No matter how engaging Hetty Smith was, she was in his employ, and he was not the sort of man to take advantage. He knew well enough that it was not uncommon to engage young women in such a way, but he had always thought such behavior boorish in the extreme and had no intentions of stooping to such a level. He’d sooner look up discrete service or a Madam if such desires became too pressing.
He was paying Hetty Smith to be his model, his inspiration, nothing else.
He let his eyes roam over the marble before him. A part of him yearned to continue the work, but without the presence of his muse, such an undertaking felt less fulfilling than it otherwise might.
