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She shook her head. “Just my pride,” she answered.
He smiled at that. “That will surely mend.”
She looked up at him, the stars twinkling in her eyes as her mouth curved into a smile. “I suppose it will. Thank you for your help. My pride would have taken a much greater blow if someone else had discovered me up there.”
“You’re welcome.” Oh, he liked this Tillie. She wasn’t telling him all the ways in which he was wrong, wasn’t rolling her eyes at him. Instead, she pressed against him, smiling her thanks with her arms about his neck.
“May I ask why you were out here? I didn’t even know you’d arrived.”
He started in surprise. How had he managed to forget? “I didn’t come in. I’ve set my telescope up in the south field.”
“Telescope?”
He nodded. “I’m an amateur astronomer and a major event is happening. I’d forgotten the most critical part of my telescope in the carriage, and I came to fetch it when I discovered you.”
“Say no more,” she cried, taking a step back. Despite his haste to return to the field, his first emotion as she pulled away was regret. “You must get your piece and return. Is there anything I might do to assist you?”
His second was gratitude. So few people understood how important a hobby could be. “Actually. I managed to make my way back to the house but returning to the field in the dark…”
Tillie nodded, a finger resting on her chin. “I’d escort you myself, but I’ve already broken several rules this evening. But I can fetch Marks for you. He will be able to lead you back without incident.”
“Thank you,” he replied, reaching for her hand without thought. She slipped her fingers into his even as his gaze travelled down her silhouette, illuminated by the candlelight from the house.
Her face turned to one side, the curve of her cheek and the slope of her chin capturing his imagination. He’d like to run his finger over them both, tracing the shape of her face.
The thought consumed him as he once again forgot why he’d passed by to begin with.
But she threaded her fingers through his, tugging on his hand. “Come on. The carriage house, as you well remember, is just over there. Marks will be there and so will your missing piece. Let’s get you back out to the field before you lose any more of this night.”
But he hesitated for another moment. “Tillie,” he said pulling her back. How did he tell her how much he appreciated her understanding?
His mother had been pressing him to wed as well. They were in much the same circumstance in that regard. Of course, it was far easier for him to resist as a man and a lord than it would be for Tillie as a lady. Besides, she had gone through three seasons. Surely, the pressure was mounting.
Then again, if there was any woman up for the challenge, she was.
“Yes?” she asked as she allowed him to pull her closer.
“Do you remember the time that Ben and I were working on our mathematics, and you came in and informed us we’d gotten our figures all wrong?”
She shook her head, and he could see it even the dark. “Is this a story about how abominable I am? I know. I’ve been made aware that people don’t like it when you tell them they’re wrong all the time.”
He grinned. They did not. And Tillie did do a fair bit of loudly educating other people. But that wasn’t why he’d mentioned the story. Actually, he wasn’t sure why he’d brought it up. Why he’d paused to remember until the next words slid from his mouth. “I really admired your intelligence.”
She started in surprise. “Really? You called me a hoyden that day.”
He frowned down at her. “Did I?”
She nodded. “I thought it rather unjust in that context. Though, to be fair, the time I put frogs in your bed, I likely deserved the name.”
He laughed at the memory. He’d been twelve and she seven and he’d not allowed her to go a frog hunt with him and Ben, so she retaliated with a hunt of her own. “You’ve always been so different.” He meant the words as a compliment.
His mother had foisted one proper lady after another in his direction and he’d considered each of them, but the truth was…
They’d lacked some spark.
But Tillie…
A warm glow flowed through him even as her hand pulled from his. “Don’t remind me.” She sounded hurt. “My mother takes care of that daily.”
He winced. “I didn’t mean—”
“Come, Lord Greenburg. We should go before my absence is truly missed. I’ll need time to change my slippers.”
And then she started toward the carriage house. Regret lanced through him. He hadn’t meant to offend her.
But she was correct.
The darkness was deepening, and his telescope awaited. Should he be concerned that the idea of witnessing a major astrological event had lost much of his appeal when compared to the gentle sway of Tillie’s retreating back?
