Page 19 of Scandalous Heiress
If she agreed with him, she might insult him.As he had her.So she waited.
“This is awkward.”
Indeed.
“I was a bit off last night.”
“Off?”She barely suppressed her guffaw.
“There is no excuse for it.I was preoccupied, unsettled.”
She would let him drift.
He lifted his hands.“I was an ass.”
She grinned at his apt term.
He cocked a brow.“I’ve hit a chord, have I?”
She acknowledged that with a nod.
He snorted.“I see you are treating me to my own medicine.”
“Discretion is salve itself.”
“So true.And I see the errors of my ways.”
“Good.”She rose from her chair to head to the sideboard.
She heard him push back his chair and take a few steps.He came to stand behind her.So close, she could inhale the fragrance of grass and hay, the woods where he’d walked or ridden.She moved along to choose her bacon, her egg.
“Miss Hanniford,” he said in a duly apologetic tone, “I’d like to make amends.Have a suitable conversation.”
She looked over her shoulder, and there he was, too near.His cologne of bergamot mixing with the sweet aromas of crushed chlorophyll and spring breezes.She swallowed deeply, returning to consider the potato dish before her.“And what would you like to discuss?”
“You.”
She whipped her head around to face him once again.“Hardly an intriguing topic for one so well traveled and educated.”
“You hoist me on my own petard, Miss Hanniford.I was rude to you last night.Ridiculously so.”
“Unworthy of you, I’d say.”She wanted to chastise him for being so nasty to her, when all night long she’d seen nothing but how jovial he was with his children and his mother.Loving, kind.“I didn’t merit your lack of manners, sir.”
“I agree.And I’d like to change your impression of me.More, I’d like to hear about your views of laudanum and soothing syrups.I’d like to know more about your family.And you.”
Why?She delved into his gaze, searching for that answer.He’d hurt her.She’d no intention to let him off lightly.She did not suffer fools.So she carried her full plate back to the table and allowed him to assist her by pushing in her chair.
But he sat down next to her.
Turned full to face her.
His cologne, the grasses, his nearness swamped her.
She’d not allow any man who did not like her to discomfit her.There were so many eligible men out in society who would give their right arm to sit beside her at dinner.Many who had proposed titles, houses, jewels and undying love.This man had wasted the chance to even be civil to her.So why she should be attracted to him ate at her good nature.“I’d like to eat my breakfast, sir.”
“Do, please.I simply want to say that I am very sorry for last night.If you’ll permit me to attempt a conversation.”
That burned the porridge.“Doyou talk?Do you use more than one word answers?I have no evidence of such, sir.I have only your indifference and it grated on my nerves.I did not sleep well thinking I could have changed it all.Drawn you out.Amused you somehow.But I conclude I am not to blame.Nor am I without charms.Or so my family and friends would say.”
