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“Nor that, as you just heard.”
His gaze held intensity. “I repeat … they must be blind.”
Her heart fluttered foolishly again. Perhaps she was coming down with something. “It is not to be wondered at, not when I have rarely left the village, and the village contains so few men of marriageable age.”
His brow furrowed. What was his purpose in this conversation?
Yet such speculation would prove hazardous to her earlier determination not to think on him. It was best to steer this conversation onto safer grounds.
“Your interest in my matrimonial chances is flattering, but I believe you have come to a decision about Mannering.” She submitted to his gestured invitation to continue to walk along the road. “A decision that, according to Lady Bellingham at least, means that you might be casting out lures for your own matrimonial chances, should you indeed be staying.”
“I wish people would disabuse themselves of such a notion. I have only the desire to prettify Mannering up to a standard that will make it easier to sell.”
“You still wish to leave?”
“I would have preferred to depart by the middle of next week, but it seems the house will delay me a few days more.” He led the horse behind him as they strolled.
“Leaving you to skulk through the bushes, praying not to be seen?”
“You have the right of it, ma’am.”
A chuckle escaped.
“What is it now? I should not have thought this was a laughing matter.”
“Forgive me. But I continue to be amused that a hero should find himself in such a predicament.”
“You would not be so amused if you were the one facing all manners of invitations.”
“It must besohard.” She paused at the turn that signaled Mannering’s drive.
“I was right,” he said. “You are a minx.”
She gave another choke of laughter.
“Do you do that often?”
“Do what often?”
“Make that most delightful sound.”
“I think,” she said with sternness, “that if you don’t wish to be seen and wondered over, then you had best mount your horse and ride away. But wait,” she said, as he seemed inclined to obey her immediately. “How exactly do you plan to stay invisible for the hordes of workers bound to come your way?”
“Ah. Yes, well, I had wondered about visiting some friends near Coldstream who also attended the Walcheren campaign with me.”
“And thus avoid exposure here.” She nodded. “I wish you well, sir.”
“Thank you. It should only be for a week or so, as I am told the clearing and cleaning should not take much longer than that.”
“Once you see the place readied for sale, you’ll return to London?”
“My plan precisely.”
She bolstered her smile and willed it not to fall. “You have my good wishes, then.”
“And you, Miss Stapleton.” He nodded.
And as he mounted and rode away, she couldn’t help but wonder wistfully what her life could’ve been if he’d decided to stay.
