Page 11 of The Gentleman Was Right
It wasn’t as if she’d forgotten the lessons Basil had taught her. She was aware that charm could be fabricated. And that beauty could be used as a distraction. She knew it as well as she knew that her skin would burn an unholy shade of red if she didn’t wear a bonnet on a sunny day.
Still, she did not rise to her feet. And she found herself responding to his question about the village. “There is an assembly tomorrow evening. If you wish to make an advantageous impression, you should attend. Everyone from the village and the countryside will be there.”
“Socializing, dancing, punch, biscuits?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.
“I would assume so. Tis a celebration, I believe. Held each year. I can’t quite remember the reason, but the villagers are teeming with anticipation.”
“It’s a stroke of luck that I have the opportunity to meet them all at once, and I’d be delighted to escort you both.”
She shook her head. “Tis a kind offer. But as I said, we truly must be on our way sooner rather than later.”
Even after she said the words, she remained seated.
She couldn’t seem to force herself to leave.
It was ironic, because she’d had no trouble walking away from Basil.
Sometimes life made absolutely no sense.
Edward leaned forward. “I’d consider it a great favor if you’ll remain long enough to accompany me to the assembly tomorrow. It always eases the way if there is someone to perform introductions, and as you said, I’d hate to make a blunder during my first week here.”
“You hardly need our assistance to charm the villagers.” People were going to trip over each other in their attempts to make a good impression on him, and they were unlikely to notice if he was nervous or uncomfortable. Not that she thought he would be either. He hadn’t exhibited the slightest discomfort when she and Isabelle had invaded his bedchamber, so he could obviously handle himself at something as innocuous as an assembly.
He chuckled. “Charm them, sure.” He sobered slightly. “It’ll be odd if you leave immediately. It’ll be hard for me to explain why you left. People will speculate. They’ll say you hate me, or that I drove you away. I think you’d agree that’s not a great first impression.”
She wrinkled her nose. He was right.
How inconvenient.
The only reason she’d lingered so long in the cottage was because she and Isabelle hadn’t harmed anyone by staying. It was unacceptable to her sense of fairness that she might harm his reputation by leaving. She aimed for a pleasant expression as she said, “We’d be delighted to accompany you.”
Somehow he managed to brighten even further. She wasn’t sure she’d ever encountered anyone so determined to be cheerful. Even so, she couldn’t stop her lips from curling upward. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be grinning fully.
How was it that his joy seemed to leap across the room and seep into her?
“Now that we have our plans sorted, you can tell me why you’re hiding in this remote coastal village.” He propped his foot on his knee and raised a single brow.
“Ha.” Her smile disappeared. Of course he’d resume his questions as soon as she agreed to stay. “I’ve already given you what you wanted, you can’t have my reasons too.”
He laughed as if he were amused by her unwillingness to tell him. “Shall I guess?”
“I wouldn’t bother.”
“Why not?”
“Because it does not concern you.”
“But you’ll tell me if I get it right?”
She shouldn’t. “Absolutely not.”
He tapped his finger against his chin. “You’re running away from someone. Your husband?”
“I am unmarried.”
“Your father?”
“Our father is dead,” she responded stonily.
