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“And you thought you’d search this area of the woods on your own?” she pressed.
“Splitting up seemed a good idea.”
A good idea to help him find the perfect log? Or a good idea to help him avoid certain people?
“Well,” Grace continued, willing to let his solitude slide for now, “I feel I ought to warn you that Lord Brown is even more determined to win today’s match between you two than he was at billiards last night.”
“I must confess,” Lord Weston said, resting a hand against the nearest tree. “I had no notion he was so competitive.”
“No, nor I.”
“Tell me, then, are you as eager to beat me as he is?” The smile that lit his face sent warmth straight to her heart.
“Generally, I am not.” She couldn’t help but smile in return. “Least ways, not competitive enough to avoid speaking with the enemy for a moment.”
He placed a hand on his chest in feigned horror. “Oh, so I’m the enemy now? Is that it?”
Grace laughed softly. “Well, youdidlose at billiards last night. And a refined lady such as myself could hardly be seen with someone who can’t shoot a ball straight.”
“I barely missed a single shot.”
“It was still enough to lose, my lord.”
He reached for her hand, unexpectedly taking it gently in his own. ”You don’t need to ‘my lord’ me.” He gave her hand the softest squeeze. “Please.”
Good heavens, if his gentle words and soft touch didn’t send her heart into a furious gallop. What was he doing to her? Surely a gentleman so far above her own station did not usually show such familiarity. How, then, was she supposed to respond? Should she insist on continuing the formality their differences in station demanded?
Before she could manage a response, Lady Katherine’s sharp tone reached them.
“I do not like Lord Weston going off on his own. I am sure we ought to find him.”
Lord Weston took hold of Grace’s arms and pulled her down, even as he dropped to his knees in the snow. The look on his face was utterly delightful. His eyes were wide and his jaw was tight, as though being found by Lady Katherine in that moment would be the most terrifying and horrifying thing ever. Grace bit down on her lower lip to stop the giggle that his expression, and the relief at not needing to respond, pulled from her.
He tossed her a sideways scowl, but one that was struggling against his own smile.
“I think he went more this direction,” Lord Andrews replied.
“Come then,” Lady Katherine said, “I am sure he will be most happy to see us again.”
Their footsteps faded off, traveling further west.
Lord Weston let out a sigh of pure relief.
“I do believe youarehiding, my lord,” Grace said, unable to stop her enjoyment at finding him thusly from slipping into her tone. Who would have guessed the forever-silent, serious-looking Lord Weston would be so fun to tease?
He pressed his lips into a straight line and gave her a flat stare. “Have you ever had to hunt for a yuletide log with her before?” He suddenly took hold of Grace’s arm, clutching it to his chest. “Oh, Lord Weston.” His voice was high-pitched and grating. “I just know you’ll find us the perfect log for this Christmas. Oh, Lord Weston, you are so good at this. Oh, Lord Weston, how do you spot logs so well?”
Grace laughed, though she tried to keep it quiet, even as he gave a shudder and dropped her arm. She felt the cold against her at the loss of his touch immediately. More still, her fingers almost tingled with the wish to reach for him again. Which was odd. Thankfully, she managed to curb the strange impulse.
“You must forgive me,” Lord Weston continued, returning to looking between the branches at the direction Lady Katherine and Lord Andrews had taken. “I should not speak so ill of Lady Katherine.”
Grace tucked her now cold arm up closer to herself. “She can be...persistent at times.”
He gave a mirthless chuckle. “That’s one way to say it.”
“Then, youarehiding?”
Lord Weston’s gaze dropped to the ground. When he lifted his head again, not only was there a small smile there, but he was also a bit red in the face. Grace could not remember ever seeing a man blush, let alone an earl. Yet she found it incredibly charming.
