Page 33 of Lord Appleby's Gorgeous Imposter
She was confounded. “We were four women in that carriage with you. Mama, yes. But who would know we three girls?”
He nodded. “Two who looked exactly alike…”
“Charmaine and me. But Diane was the one who was different. Not blonde, but with copper hair.”
“None of you wore fine clothes,” he said.
“On the contrary—Charmaine wore her pearls,” Viv said with distaste.
“And sat on her gold Louis,” he added, “like a queen on her throne.”
“She didn’t have all her gems,” Viv said, bitter about her sister’s never-ending greed.
“She kept harping on that. Even your mother did not pine for jewelry that day.”
“No. Just my father. That’s all she wanted.” And would never have him near her again.
“I am surprised,” Tate said with a frown, “you have not gone to the house before this.”
“No. I—I’ve been busy. It takes time and energy.”
He stared at her with sorrow in his gaze.
But he did not ask once more why she did this. For that, she was grateful. The assurance of his presence flowed over her. “I do want to go to the house, Tate. If you come with me, we can recall more than if going alone.”
He took up her hand and put it to his lips.
She grew melancholy. “Do you think the majordom will let us in?”
“I do. A friend of mine whom you have not met rented the house months ago. He knows the current caretaker.”
She nodded, eager now and relieved to go. “So too does one of my maids.”
Tate drew her closer. “We are resolved, then.”
His hold on her sent rivers of remembrance through her, of other days and nights when he had touched her. All in friendship. “We are.”
He stood, her hand still in his. “Tomorrow, then? After we ride?”
She laughed, happy he would join her and thrilled he did not let go of her hand. She got to her feet. “Why not?”
“Why not, indeed.” He stood too near, his scent too alluring.
She sought to recall her training as Charmaine. Her older sister would never allow a man she did not want so close. “On…on second thought, not after we ride. All of that is so public.”
“You worry others may hear of it?”
I wonder if my shadow may find it interesting.“Yes. Gossips will read of it, remark and make us into lovers.”
“We know who we are,” he murmured, and those memories of long ago rose up to draw her gaze to his lips, her fingers to curl in want of him. “We will appear to be two old friends who make a journey together to the past.” He put his other hand to her cheek. “The present can be so much more fulfilling than the past.”
She pulled back. “Can it?”I find it more terrifying.
“To be together once more, it will. Give us the chance.”
“Why?” To be with him once more created so many problems. She could not succumb to his charm, and she took a step around him.
He caught her wrist. “When I went to find you on the estate last June and you were gone, I left a letter. You did not answer.”
