Page 71 of Lady Audacious
‘It’s all right. I got the message loud and clear. You didn’t want me to harbour the same expectations as Miss Farquhar.’ She turned away from him but not so quickly that he didn’t see the hurt that filled her eyes. ‘If I wasn’t so obliged to you then I would be insulted.’ She turned back again, fists on her hips and fire in her eyes. ‘Any intimacies between us were instigated by you and if you imagined that I encouraged you in some way then you quite mistook the matter. Bear in mind that I am not accustomed to dealing with men of your stature—or indeed any men at all for that matter. I do speak my mind and sometimes act without thinking, so perhaps you misinterpreted, but really—’
‘Finished?’ He grinned at her, aware that he was making matters worse and embarrassing her even more, which had not been his intention. But when she got into a dudgeon she was a sight to behold and he didn’t think he would ever tire of the view.
‘Not quite. I want to thank you for reuniting me with my grandfather. He is the one relative I have discovered that I would like to know better. He has met my brother’s wife, did he tell you that?’
‘He did, and tells me he was not impressed by what he saw.’
‘Well then, you were right about her. Anyway, thank you.’
‘You are entirely welcome.’
They stood facing one another next to her freshly dug herb garden while the dogs chased one another around a patch of grass. He was pleased to notice that Willow was far less timid now and willing to play with her father. He took that to be an encouraging sign and it helped to quell his nerves.
‘My mother was so pleased to meet you,’ he said into the ensuing silence.
‘And I her. She wasn’t what I expected.’
Reuben decided not to ask what picture of his mother she had built up in her mind. ‘Odile, I—’
‘Reuben,’ she said at the same time.
‘You first,’ she said, staring at her muddy boots.
‘Oh lud, this is hard.’
‘You are engaged to be married and have come to ask me to wish you joy. I am not sure why you would go to so much trouble to procure my approval, but—’
‘Ridiculous child! I am not engaged. Yet.’ He paused and took one of her hands in his. She had been digging without gloves again, and there was dirt beneath her nails. ‘But I hope that I will very soon be, if you will agree to be my wife.’
‘Me!’ Her eyes widened to an impossible degree and she looked totally astounded. ‘Are you feeling quite well?’
‘You really didn’t expect this?’
‘Well, of course I did not. I am a schoolteacher. You are an earl.’
‘You are an earl’s great-niece and the most unique, challenging, contrary, infuriatingly desirable female it has ever been my pleasure to meet.’
She swallowed. ‘I am?’
‘You are, and the fact that you are totally unaware of it only adds to your allure. I think I fell in love with you the first time I met you, and I did so a little more with every meeting. Sarah noticed—and Emily too of course.’ He smiled. ‘Nothing gets past her.’
‘But you abandoned me.’
‘Which was the hardest thing I have ever done, but you needed space and time.’
‘And you encouraged my grandfather to visit to give me confidence, one supposes.’ Odile nodded, but he was encouraged to see that the cloud of uncertainty had left her eyes and been replaced with a mischievous glint. ‘I know your game, Lord Amberley. You are aware that I will not sell Fox’s Reach and you very much want to get your hands on it, so much so that you are willing to sacrifice yourself on the altar of matrimony.’
‘Wrong, you foolish woman. I am addicted to Mrs Blaine’s cooking and know the only way I can entice her into my kitchens is to have you as my wife. She has taken you under her wing and is more protective of your interests than a mother hen.’
‘Hmm.’ She smiled and slid her arms around his neck. ‘Before I decide, remind me how it feels to be kissed by you.’
Reuben pulled her against him and happily obliged.
‘Hmm,’ she said for a second time, her eyes hazy with passion when he eventually broke the kiss. ‘I suppose I could grow accustomed to such attentions.’
‘You may depend upon it,’ he assured her, ‘if only you will say yes.You may have noticed that your grandfather and my mother enjoy one another’s society. It would be cruel to separate them again so soon. But, of course, if you were to agree to be my wife then it would give Aspen a legitimate reason to remain in the district and give you away on our wedding day.’
‘This is surely blackmail!’ she cried, laughing up at him.
