Page 72 of An Affair with a Notorious Heiress
“Well...” Lord Somerdale suddenly looked as though he wished his boat would spring a leak, sink, and he would drown.
“We could flip for it.” Rexton removed a coin from his pocket. “Heads you take Miss Hammersley, tails Lady Landsdowne. Truly you’d be doing me a great service.”
“Of course, my lord. Flip away.”
She watched the coin spinning through the air. Rexton grabbed it, slapped it onto the back of his hand, uncovered it, and showed it to Gina.
“Heads it is,” she announced with a wide smile.
Somerdale looked as though he’d just been invited to an audience with the queen. “Splendid!”
“Draw in closer.” Rexton repocketed the coin, stood. The boat rocked. Tillie and Gina once again squealed but this time it was fear and not indignation that caused the exclamation. He extended his hand to Gina. “Rise up very slowly.”
Her sister did as ordered. With only a bit more bobbing of the boat, Rexton expertly transferred her to Somerdale. “Stay within sight. Lady Landsdowne is acting as chaperone and she’ll have my head if she thinks I allowed anything untoward to happen to her sister. Just down to the next bridge. My carriage is awaiting us there.”
“Yes, my lord. Not to worry. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“See that you are.” Rexton settled back onto the bench, and Tillie watched as the beaming Lord Somerdale rowed off with her sister.
“You took quite the chance,” she said. “He’d have been horrified if he’d ended up with me.”
“I wasn’t going to let him end up with you.”
The words made her feel warm, special,liked.
He flipped the coin to her. She managed to catch it quite easily. She studied one side then the other—which was identical to the first. Her eyes widened as her jaw dropped. “You cheated.”
“Shh.” Snatching the coin from her, he winked. “Don’t say that too loudly. We wouldn’t want it to get around that I sometimes fix the outcome.”
“But you do! All the time.”
“Not all the time. Depends how badly I want something. And I wanted some time alone with you.”
As though he hadn’t said something that had the power to turn her world upside down, he reached casually for the oars, dipped them back into the water, and with a powerful movement, set the boat back into motion.
“Did you arrange for Somerdale’s timely arrival?” she asked.
“I did not. But I’ve been looking around for someone who was expressing an interest. His sister is married to Drake, so I have it on good authority he is fascinated by American heiresses and on the hunt for a wife.”
“I thought you were simply striving not to crash into anyone.”
“That was a consideration. Pity people are about as I’m rather desperate to kiss you.”
The look he gave her caused her lips and other areas he’d kissed to tingle with want and anticipation. “It would undermine our efforts regarding Gina.”
“Indeed.” He wasn’t rowing with nearly as much effort as he had before. “You didn’t answer my question from before.”
Slowly, she removed her glove, noting the muscles at his throat working as he swallowed. “Oh? What question was that?” She dipped her fingers into the cool water.
“Would you stay?”
She studied the sun-dappled water. “It’s a moot question. I shall never be fully accepted here. And you’re very much aware of that.”
“Do you miss the balls?”
“I’ll attend them every night when I return to New York.” Lifting her hand, she flicked water at him, taking delight in the way he ineffectually jerked back to avoid the droplets. “That’s the only answer you’ll get.”
“Careful, Countess. Bait the tiger and you may find yourself serving as his meal tonight.”
