Page 34 of Married to the Rake

“Farewell, Brook.”

He ignored her comment and moved past her to unlatch the gate and swing it open, motioning for her to enter. She moved past him and he followed after her. Perhaps that kiss in the bookshop was making him too bold but he could not help himself. The last thing he wanted to do at present was leave Chloe. If that meant traipsing along enemy ground, so be it.

She made a noise of annoyance and picked up her pace.

“Miss Larkin, are you trying to rid yourself of me?” He moved swiftly to keep up with her as they traipsed through ankle-length grass toward her land.

“Most certainly. If my father finds you here, he shall shoot you.”

If her father found out he had kissed her, he would do worse than shoot him. He’d probably be hung, drawn, and quartered.

It had been a reckless move—perhaps one he regretted. They were hidden away and no one would find out about the kiss but he suspected he would remember it for a long, long time. Her inexperience had been clear, especially when she had gone rigid in his arms but once he had helped her relax, by God, it was clear Chloe Larkin would become an expert on kissing very swiftly. Apparently there was something to be said for being a bookish wallflower. If other men realised these wallflowers could be so passionate, they would all be snapped up within moments.

They came upon the stile that indicated they would be stepping onto Larkin land. She stopped in front of it, turning around, and folded her arms across her chest.

“I never took you for a coward, Chloe.”

“And I never took you for a fool.” She ran her gaze up and down him. “Why are you doing this? You know we can meet at night, when it is safe.”

He tugged off his hat and sunk his fingers through his hair before placing it back. “Perhaps because I want to spend more time with you.”

“But why?”

He had not had much time to think on it but his instincts never led him wrong. He had likely known it since he had first come upon her in the bookshop those weeks ago. “There is something between us, Chloe. I wish to see where it leads,” he said frankly.

She blinked at him several times then twisted on her heel and clambered awkwardly over the stile, her skirts catching on the rough wood as she went. She stumbled down to the ground on the other side and continued walking away from him.

Following quickly, he made easy work of the fence and caught up to her. “Do I not even get a response?”

She stilled and faced him. “You should go home, Brook. It is too dangerous to be here.”

“Did you hear what I said? I have feelings for you, Chloe. I think you have feelings for me too.”

Her lips parted and he heard her draw in a shaky breath. She closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them, they were full of determination. “I had thought that perhaps all the gossip was incorrect. That you were a better man than people had said. I must have been wrong.”

“Chloe—”

She began marching away from him again, cutting across the fields that would take her directly to the house. The very tips of the building could be seen and before long they would be viewable from the windows. Brook could not bring himself to care. He did not blame Chloe for not trusting him—after all he was the ‘enemy’ and his reputation was not one of a pure virgin. However, he had hoped she knew him well enough now to know he was not being insincere.

He caught up with her again, this time placing himself firmly in front of her. She put her hands to her hips and glared at him. “If you are spotted here…”

He shrugged. “Let them see me. I am not ashamed.”

“I do not think you will be ashamed. But you might very well be dead.”

Brook smirked. “I’m much faster than your father. He will struggle to shoot me.”

She made a frustrated sound. “Go home, Brook. We can still plan whatever it is you wish to plan just go home.”

He shook his head. “Not until you stop ignoring what I just said.”

She dropped her arms to her side. “Fine. If what you have said is indeed true—that you have feelings for me—it does not matter. I am a Larkin, and you are a Waverley. That is all there is to it.”

“So your argument for us not being together is our families?”

She nodded.

“I think you are simply making excuses. I think perhaps you are scared, Chloe. For once in your life, you are unable to hide behind your books and in libraries.”

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