Page 9 of Snowbound with the Scoundrel
“Not at all,” she said, her voice emerging slightly breathless.“Why do you ask?”
He made a circular gesture toward his own face.“You’re a bit flushed is all.”
“Oh.”She could hardly say,it’s because I’ve been staring at your arse for the last quarter of an hour.She cleared her throat, blushing even harder.“Er, speaking of your cloak…” She tried to hand it back, but he held up a palm in refusal.“It’s all right,” she insisted.“We’re inside now, and we’ll be getting underway soon.”
He shook his head as he pulled on his jacket.“It’s not going to get any warmer in here just because the carriage is moving.”
Clarissa bit her lip.He was right.Still, she hated the fact that she’d been unprepared almost as much as she hated being beholden to someone, much less to Rupert Dupree.“I cannot in good conscience deprive you of your cloak for such a long duration.”
He shook his head.“I’d a thousand times rather I go without it than you.Did you know that you turned blue earlier?”
She started.“Did I?”
“You did.So, let’s have no more talk of you going without that cloak.Old Rupert will be all right.”
Clarissa swallowed back the bile rising in her throat.She could notbelievewhat she was about to suggest.“Perhaps we could… sit next to one another.”
He twisted his lips to the side.“I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“You wouldn’t,” Clarissa hastened to reassure him.
“Because what I did earlier… That was just desperate measures and all that.As I mentioned, you were turning blue—”
“And I appreciate what you did.I must confess that, although I was too proud to ask for assistance, I was not doing well and was beginning to grow concerned.”She cleared her throat, then forced herself to say, “Thank you, Mr.Dupree.This time, as I am already warm, I feel confident that it would be sufficient to sit next to each other in a more… customary manner.”
He frowned, studying her for a beat.“If you’re sure…”
“I am.”
He slowly moved from the rear-facing seat to the forward-facing one where Clarissa sat.The seat wasn’t wide, but he was careful to leave a good six inches between them, which was all that the carriage allowed.Clarissa handed him the edge of his cloak, and they settled it across themselves like a blanket.
They were both wide awake and staring at each other awkwardly.“So…” Clarissa began, casting about for a topic.
“So,” Rupert replied cheerfully.
“I noticed your locket earlier,” she hedged.“The one with the eye miniature.My sister, Kate, is a good artist.She paints those sometimes, for people who want a memento of their sweetheart.”
She looked away.Brilliant, Clarissa.That sounded like she was digging, trying to find out if he had a sweetheart.Not that she cared in the least!
Genial as always, Rupert fished the locket out from between the buttons on his shirt.“I remember Lady Milthorpe singing your sister’s praises two years ago.I’m sure her miniatures must be very popular.”He flipped the locket open, showing her.“Mine was a gift from my Aunt Imogen.That’s her eye you see there.She said this way, she could always watch over me.”
Clarissa exhaled, relieved that the conversation was back in safer territory.“It sounds as though you two are close.”
The lopsided grin returned, although it didn’t quite reach his eyes.“We were.She died two years ago.A malignancy, the doctors said.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Rupert nodded.“As am I.Auntie Im was my mother’s sister.My mother died when I was eight—”
“Mine died when I was five,” Clarissa noted.
“Ah.”Rupert inclined his head graciously.“Then you understand.”
Clarissa nodded sadly.
“After my mother died, Auntie Im was the one who looked out for me.”
“Not your father?”Clarissa asked.
