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“So you only just arrived?” Smith asked, as he set his saddle on a crosspiece in the lean-to.
“That’s right,” Parker answered as he continued his long smooth strokes over the horse’s back.
Lord Smith nodded. “Good thing. You wouldn’t want to return home wed to the wrong sister.”
The brush stopped, Parker straightening. For a moment, his chest constricted. Millie could be his. But then he gave himself a shake. Not like that. That wasn’t the man he’d been working so hard to be. “Good thing.”
“Can I confess that I’ve always admired Lady Millicent…” Lord Smith’s gaze strayed to the cottage again. A handsome man, he was second son to an earl, Parker believed. A spare. Did he have an inheritance?
Parker actually felt a bit of sympathy for the man. If Parker wasn’t good enough for Millie as an impoverished earl than a second son hadn’t a chance in the world. “You needn’t,” he said in reply. “My guess is half of England will feel the same after her first season.”
Which was the truth. And reminded him that despite his best intentions and his maybe-someday dreams, Millie was likely to be engaged by next summer.
Long before he was able to turn his earldom around, if he ever could.
She was going to be an incomparable while he was barely passable.
* * *
Millie had been pacingin her room for the better part of two hours.
The storm had passed and their small party had returned to the house, where everyone had retired for an afternoon repose.
She clucked her tongue. There had been so little that had been restful about today and certainly not this sojourn to her bed chamber.
Her thoughts had been filled with her breakneck ride, their dash for the cabin, the way Parker had held her in his arms, the fact that their lips had almost pressed together.
She wasn’t certain what she was more ashamed of: that she’d nearly allowed him to kiss her or that she wished to do so again.
The feel of his long, lean body pressed to hers… Her eyes fluttered closed. The press of his hand at her waist and the excitement that had sizzled through her at the closeness of his mouth… Her closed hand pressed to her lips.
She shouldn’t have allowed it. Any of it. She was a terrible sister. Drawing in a large gulp of air, she left her room, beginning a search of the house.
By all accounts, Parker was likely still in his own chamber but she had to try and find him. Talk to him about what had happened and explain.
What?
Did she tell him that she was weak where he was concerned because he made her heart beat at twice its normal speed?
Or that her brain ceased working whenever he was near?
She stopped in the hallway, considering her words.
She drew in a deep breath, calming her thoughts. Worrying was pointless, she most likely would not find him.
She’d peeked into the smoking room, and she checked the stable. His horse was in its stall so she knew he wasn’t out for a ride.
The sitting rooms were empty as well and she was nearly ready to give up when she finished her search with the library.
Sitting at the large desk, he hunched over a ledger as his quill scratched along. Her breath stalled as she stopped in the open doorway. While she found it easy to lecture herself in her room, it was far harder to ignore his pull as she stood in front of him.
As if he sensed her, his head came up and then he straightened in his chair. “Apologies. Did you need the library? Your brother said it would be fine if I used it. It has so much natural light even with the cloud cover.”
“Oh no.” She held up her hands. “I didn’t come for a book. I…” She paused, not entirely certain what to say. Hadn’t she just practiced in the hall? “I came to talk to you.”
He stood, coming around the desk and approaching her. “Of course. Is everything all right?”
He reached out his hands and as he reached her, she found herself slipping her fingers into his. Neither of them wore gloves and the feel of their skin sliding against each other… Her stomach flopped. “Everything is fine.”
