Page 2 of Three Weeks with a Princess
Laughter crept into his dark gaze. “Of course you aren’t. I don’t know how I could remotely suggest such a thing.”
She sighed. “I suppose because you’ve saved my life any number of times over the years?”
“Well, Ihavepulled you out of the pond at least twice. And then there was that time you knocked down the wasp’s nest, and the time you almost fell out of the tree, and the time you knocked over that heavy bookshelf in the library—”
“At least two of those incidents were your fault in the first place. But I will concede that you’ve rescued me more than a few times. And you’re an absolute beast to point that out, by the way.”
“I am, aren’t I? But whatever would you do without me around?”
He was joking, of course, but it still made her chest go tight with sorrow. Soon shewouldhave to do without him. Jack was a man now, and a soldier. In just a matter of weeks, he would be embarking on a life of adventure. God only knew when she would see him again.
“I expect I’ll rub along just fine without you,” she said, forcing a light tone. She refused to ruin the few moments they had together with high-flown dramatics. He had to put up with enough of that from his mother.
“It was very nice of you to come up here to see me,” she added.
“I spotted you crouching behind the screen. That red pelisse of yours was a dead giveaway. Not that I hadn’t already guessed you’d be up here.”
Lia’s heart thundered into a gallop. “No one else saw me, did they?”
Lord Lendale would be angry if he knew she was spying on his guests. She wasn’t even supposed to be in the house, much less lurking about the gallery, where she risked discovery.
“No one else saw you,” he said. “Except for Richard. He sees everything.”
She heaved a relieved sigh. “That’s all right, then. He’ll scold me, but he won’t rat on me to his lordship.” Richard was the head footman and one of Lia’s biggest supporters at Stonefell Hall. He’d been only a kitchen boy when she’d arrived all those years ago. They’d all but grown up together.
“Fortunately, I managed to distract Debbins before he got a glimpse of you,” he said.
Unlike most of the servants, who treated her with indulgence, the butler was offended by her very presence. “Thank you for saving me,” she said wryly. “Again.”
Jack frowned. “Debbins doesn’t mistreat you, does he?”
“Of course not. Lord Lendale would never allow that.”
“But he’s not very nice to you, is he?”
She shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me very much.”
His frown deepened to a scowl. “I’ll have a word—”
“No. That won’t help at all.”
“Lia—”
“Why are we talking about that old rusty guts anyway? We’ve not had a moment to chat and I expect you have to go back down soon before you’re missed.” She smiled up into his dear, handsome face. “How are you? Are you enjoying your duties in the Horse Guards? I must say you look simply wonderful in your uniform.”
He grinned, his evident pride making him seem boyish again. “It’s even better than I expected. I’ve been assigned to Northumberland’s staff, so I’ll be heading out for the Peninsula within the next few months, I expect.”
The very idea of him anywhere near the war terrified her, but she refused to let him see it. Jack had always longed for a military career, and thanks to his uncle’s willingness to buy him a commission, he’d finally gotten his greatest wish. As a true friend, shemustbe happy for him.
“That’s splendid,” she said. “I hope you’ll find the chance now and again to write to us here in boring old Yorkshire. It’s beastly quiet, you know. Your letters are always a welcome distraction for me and Granny.”
“I will, whenever I get the chance.”
“You promise you won’t forget?” she asked, unable to help herself.
His dark eyes went soft and warm. “I could never forget you, Lia. You know that.”
She tried to smile. Of course he would forget her. After all, she was simply a girl, not yet even sixteen. There would be no reason for him to retain more than the occasional vaguely affectionate memory of her.
