Page 24 of Defying the Earl
“I wonder if the Ladies would permit it,” Bea mused.
“I could invite the three of you to tour with me and then you’d already be there.”
“Would you do that?” Beatrice thrilled at the idea. Perhaps the man wasn’t the dreadful beast she had been thinking these past two years. She tried to remind herself that this was all fake, they were just putting on a show to protect her reputation. Bea sighed a little. “I would enjoy seeing the inside of such an imposing building.”
“I will speak to my aunts upon our return to Town and we can set the date.” A grin spread across his face. “I’ve never taken guests before. Of course, I’m still quite new to the Parliament myself, but it is gratifying to have someone express an interest. I will admit to being envious whenever anyone has a visitor in the House.”
“Truly? Why would you be envious?”
Suddenly he appeared adorably bashful, not at all like the haughty nobleman who had entered a wretched wager abouther. Bea watched as the handsome man blushed over trying to answer.
“I haven’t really anyone to take an interest. My mother is a trifle difficult, my father and brother, of course, are passed, otherwise, I would be the one visiting, not the one seeking visitors.”
“But what of your friends?” Bea frowned, puzzled.
“I was terrible at keeping in touch while busy with my work when I was away; I am certain my aunts grumbled about that to you regularly.” He smiled over Bea’s light laugh and nod but carried on. “Of course, any of my old friends or schoolmates are pleasant when we encounter one another, but I wouldn’t exactly count them as very close friends now. There are a few, of course, that I would count as friends. Adelaide and his brothers have been much better at staying friendly with me than I have with them, to be sure. But Adelaide has his own seat and the others are much too busy to bother with stopping by Parliament for a chat.”
Beatrice laughed over his wording. “Well I am sure your aunts will be delighted to receive such an invitation from you.”
“And what of you, my lady, would you be pleased with such an invitation?”
Chapter Twelve
Nathan regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. Or rather their tone, he supposed. She had already expressed an interest in seeing Parliament and excitement at the thought of having a tour. He was just fishing for compliments like an insecure little debutante. What would she think of him?
And yet, despite his irritation with himself, he still held his breath awaiting her reply. Thankfully she didn’t keep him waiting long. Her light laugh, which reminded him of a gentle wind rustling leaves or some other such poetic nonsense, preceded her nod and gentle smile.
“I will be even more delighted, as I’m sure you realize,” she answered before busying herself with the table, pouring them each another cup of the cooling tea, and rearranging the sweets plate.
She was fidgeting. Nathan was both delighted and appalled to see it. Why was she fidgeting? Had he made her uncomfortable? She had been furious with him just days ago, to the point of giving him the cut direct, which ended up leading to this entire fiasco. Nathan was pleased with how well they had gotten along on their two excursions thus far, considering how things had started out. But why was she fidgeting? Was her compliance andgentle acceptance of the situation all a ruse? Was she really still furious with him? Or had her feelings cooled and then grown warmer in a different direction?
He couldn’t decide if that thought appalled or thrilled him.
She was beautiful, intelligent, and seemingly kind and gentle. He could certainly do worse than actually courting the girl.
But his aunts’ companion? And now? He was far from ready to take on a household. He had just barely come out of mourning and taken his Seat. He was still learning his role as Braxton. He didn’t need a wife and children complicating his life.
The voice at the back of his mind that whispered she might be of greater assistance than a detriment was to be firmly ignored.
With that determination kept firmly in mind, Nathan ensured it wasn’t very long before he had reckoned with the innkeeper and had Beatrice swept back up onto his curricle and they were quickly eating up the distance back to Town.
Silence descended between them for a short time before the young woman at his side started a gentle conversation about books and his estate and what he enjoyed about Town.
He still learned little about her but he again found himself telling her all about his club and his horses and the crops he was learning about at Braxton. It surprised him to note how well informed she sounded about crop rotations.
“How do you know about that, Lady Beatrice?” he asked with a slight frown.
“I don’t know anything in practice yet, but as I mentioned to you, I have been reading about all manner of things,” she replied with a light laugh. “It interests me. I would like to learn more.”
“I don’t know any girls who would do so,” Nathan said with a frown that caused her to shrug and laugh again.
“Probably not many would be,” she agreed in a pleasant but cool tone that left Nathan feeling that he had somehow insulted her. He wasn’t left to wallow in the sensation for long, though, as she asked another question that had him describing more about his adventures in Canada and the uncomfortable moment passed.
Before he knew it, they were pulling up in front of his aunts’ London address and he was hurrying around the back of his carriage to assist his passenger to alight.
“Thank you, Lord Braxton, it was a most pleasant afternoon.”
Nathan felt as though the chit were dismissing him, even as a slight shiver made its way through him at their close contact. It was as though she were trying to keep him at arms’ length both literally and figuratively.
