Page 33 of His Spirited Lady
“Not really a wilderness,” Richard said. It always amazed him that people thought lumber men lived amongst their lumber. “We have a home in the city, on the corner of a quiet street.” Oliver had insisted on buying it, and then had insisted that he and Julia move in.
The wallpaper Julia had selected long before she and Oliver had married had begun to fade, especially where the sun came through the windows.
“A large one?” Miss Gerard asked, no doubt looking more favorably on Amelia’s impeding situation.
“Not estate-sized, but there’s plenty of room.” He placed his empty coffee cup in its dainty saucer. Julia had inherited a service like this from their mother. It was still behind glass, waiting on a special occasion, or on a user who didn’t tease about the small servings.
“And society?” Miss Gerard said. “What of that? Country life is fine for a short period, but one does need parties.”
Richard didn’t think anyone needed parties. Beside him, Amelia’s eyes twinkled over the edge of her teacup. Apparently, she didn’t either. Thank God.
He stopped himself. His lack of a real social life was not going to inconvenience his pretend fiancée.
“There are plenty of entertainments.” He decided to take Amelia’s advice and be more braggadocios. “And there are frequent parties in my set. Before I sailed, there was a small reception for our new governor so that he could meet the businessmen building the city.” He turned to Amelia. “When did you wish to ride,chéri? It’s getting late.”
“Late?” Raymond said as he walked from the sideboard to his chair. “I’m rarely up by this hour. The early to bed rule has never suited.”
Richard looked the length of the table. “I’ve never been one to stay indoors when I could be out with a lovely lady.” He placed his hand over Amelia’s. “And I do enjoy watching my betrothed on horseback. It was one of the first things that struck me.”
“In the interest of keeping my fiancé happy, I’m going to the stables.” Amelia stood. “I hope you all will join us. The countryside here is beautiful, and the day promises to be fair. We have a picnic scheduled for luncheon, so you’ll need to work up an appetite.”
“Some of us will have to work harder than others,” Miss Allen whispered as she walked past. “Though I never considered you one of those, Mr. Ferrand.”
Amelia took the arm he offered, staring as Fiona left the room. “What did she mean? Because I’m fairly certain it wasn’t—”
“It wasn’t food.” Richard’s face heated as he looked into Amelia’s earnest stare. “I’ll tell you later.” It was a lie. If he ever spoke of sex with her, it would be the end of him. If he didn’t strangle on the words, her father would shoot him.
“I won’t let you forget that.” Amelia led him from the dining room and toward the stables. “Don’t think you can distract me with pet names.” She looked up from under her lashes, a slight quirk to her lips. “Chéri?”
“I thought using it would help prove our attachment.” He was unaccountably pleased that she’d liked it.
“It’s a fine idea. Too bad there isn’t an endearment for Richard. I suppose I’ll have to stick to the standard ones. Oh!Mon bûcheron.That would work, wouldn’t it?”
Her lumberjack. In English, it was sweet; in French, not so much. It also wasn’t true. He hadn’t felled a tree himself since well before Oliver had left Quebec. “It makes me sound like a horse. Why not stick to the standard ones?”
They emerged from the house, and the sunlight caught the dark gold strands in her hair. She secured her hat and slipped on her black kid gloves.
“Cherethen?” Her smile tilted up at the corners as she stared up at him, shading her eyes with her hand.
He nodded. “I like that just fine.”
Dear God, help him. He liked it a little too much.
Chapter Nine
“Ihad forgottenhow lovely Oakdale is,” Cousin Jasper said.
Amelia had selected her favorite spot on the estate for their picnic. Large oaks shaded the riverbank, and soft moss provided a perfect mattress for their blankets. The narrow river bent in front of them, the water gurgling and splashing against boulders it had battled for years while on its way to the village. “You should visit more often,” she said.
It seemed the thing to say to family.
Above them on the ridge, under the supervision of two grooms, the party’s horses nickered and snuffled against the grass, glad to be rid of their riders. Below them, the water and the smooth river stones beneath it tempted her to wade. If she hadn’t been raised here, had only visited, she’d still miss it.
“Grandfather keeps me busy between London and Ramsbury,” Jasper said. “Not to mention Father’s estate in Lambourn.”
Ah yes. It wasn’t enough that Jasper would inheritherhome. Eventually, he’d be a baron, an earl, and a marquess all rolled into one. “However do you manage?” Amelia murmured.
“I’m lucky that Ramsbury and Lambourn are near to one another.” Jasper reclined on the blanket, his long legs encased in buff breeches. The sun glinted off his blond hair and his black riding boots. “God only knows what Uncle Augustus thought about inheriting someplace so far flung from his family.”
