Page 56 of Wild Lily
“Please do,” she said nonchalantly.
The woman knit her bushy brows. “Will you be needing them this afternoon?”
In too good a mood to be cowed, Lily grinned at her. “I doubt that, Nora. Do dry them out well, will you?”
“Yes, miss.” She ambled toward the door and when she opened it, there stood Marianne.
Lily waved her in. “Good morning.”
Marianne noted the items in Nora’s arms and waited until the servant closed the bedroom door. “Is there something wrong with your riding clothes?”
Preserve me from coincidences that give me away.“No.”
Marianne wrinkled her nose. “Wet wool smells.”
“Hmm. Yes. Perhaps it does.” She stood and straightened the belt at her waist.
“You’re being glib.” Marianne put her hands on her hips.
“Am I? I don’t know why.”
“I wish I did.”
No, you don’t.“Let’s have breakfast, shall we?”
“Where were you last night?”
“Here.”Tossing and turning, reliving kisses. “Sleeping.”
“You were not.” Marianne shook her head at her. “I was here. Iknow.”
Lily huffed. “Caught. Wonderful. Very well, I went out. Riding. And I had a marvelous time, too.”
“With whom?”
Lily pursed her lips. “No one.”
Her cousin hooted.
Lily felt her cheeks flame. She’d have to get better at subterfuge. Certainly to get out tonight, she’d need to. “You mustn’t let on. It was innocent fun.”
“And you got caught in the rain.”
“Yes. Yes, I did. I was cold. I was freezing. And the whole incident was glorious. So do not yell at me.”
Marianne’s face glowed in delight. “Why would I do that?”
Lily was flummoxed. It was her turn to put her hands on her hips and stare at her cousin. “Aren’t chaperones supposed to be dastardly?”
“And spoil your fun? I suppose. But if you like him—”
“I do.”
“I thought you didn’t. Not at first.”
Lily lifted her shoulders. “I was more afraid of—I don’t know—marriage, marrying the wrong man, being courted for Papa’s money.”
“And now you’ve given in?”
