Page 42 of The Wise Daughter
A rush of wind outside made a low howl and rose against the window, sending an unwelcome draft her way. Nora pulled her hand from Aaron’s grasp and rubbed her arms.
“Did you know that while I was pulling you from the river, my father was gambling away his horse in a game of cards?”
She turned away from his look of pity and stared through the window, its pane darkened with night. Was it foolish to hope Aaron would declare right then that he would never gamble, that he never indulged in the horrible habit? His silence chilled the warmth that had flooded her moments earlier.
“Aaron, who did Mr. and Mrs. Hansley think you were going to marry?”
“Don’t let their speculations worry you. It really doesn’t matter. People have been playing matchmaker for me since the day I was born.”
“I’d still like to know.”
“You’re not jealous, are you?”
“No!” She realized she had answered too quickly. “I’m only thinking of our current predicament. If there is a young woman who feels slighted by you, she or her family might feel you owe them something.”
“So this has everything to do with the thieves? Nothing to do with how you feel about me?”
He stepped closer, wrapping a gentle hand around her arm. She inhaled deeply before answering him.
“Aaron, you can’t ignore anyone who might feel wronged by you or your father. Someone might feel justified in stealing from you to reclaim what they feel you owe them.”
“And just to be clear, it has nothing to do with your feelings?” He placed his other hand on her other arm and faced her. “You’re not the only one who understands the small, unspoken communications we all display.”
She glanced up at his green eyes, steady and searching. “I am not displaying any unspoken communications.”
“You are. You most certainly are.”
She felt like a skittish rabbit in an open field. There was nowhere to hide, not even from herself.
“Well,” she huffed, “why is it you are so capable of–” She couldn’t bring herself to say it.Of making my limbs go slack, or sending me into a flush from head to toe?“You know what I’m referring to. You have this effect. You must have practiced on other innocent females.” Oh, how her cheeks burned!
“What?” His eyes widened, and he pulled back slightly.
She bit her lip, wishing she could make herself stop, but it was too late. “You reach for me and take my hand with much too much confidence. You seem to know exactly what you are doing when you look at me in just the right way.” She stopped, unsettled by the ridiculous grin that rose to his lips, spreading first from the right corner to the left. She crossed her arms, and his hands dropped though his warmth lingered on her skin. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
He shrugged. “Only that I’m flattered.”
“Oh, good heavens!” Nora covered her face and turned away.
“I had no idea, Nora. I never know what you think when I… when I make an effort.” His touch returned. Gently, he turned her around. “I studied abroad at schools for boys. I traveled around the continent by myself with hired servants and aging tutors. I visited museums and vineyards. I lazed about in libraries and met with scholars who sometimes hosted me, not a one younger than sixty. I’ve been to few balls and few parties. I don’t know how to court a woman, Nora, not really. Everything I do is a guess, a shot in the dark based off life’s observations, silly notions, and–” He spoke emphatically. “A deep desire to please you.” His hand rose to her cheek. “And by some miraculous twist of fate, my blundering guesses have not all been for nothing, it would seem.”
His fingers curled to the back of her neck, his thumb tracing her jaw. Her heart stumbled with awareness as her own desires fought her pride.
She could not kiss him when she felt like an idiot.
“Well, you can remove that foolish grin off your face. I haven’t forgotten that there might be a young lady roaming the countryside who feels wronged by you. I need to know more about her in case it is relevant–”
“Nora.”
“Aaron.” She folded her arms, refusing to be drawn in by him.
He dropped his hand from the back of her neck. “Must we talk of that now?”
“Yes, we must. I need to know as much as I can, especially if there is another lady.”
“I don’t think this line of thought is helpful. Do you know how many ladies set their caps at a single duke?”
Nora stiffened. “I’m sure I have no idea.”Oh dear. Perhaps I am jealous.
