Will you believe that?’
Her eyes slid to the floor.
‘It makes no difference.’
‘You still wish to leave Adversane.’
‘Yes. Today.’
He pushed himself upright.
‘Strange. I had not thought you the sort to give up at the first hurdle.’
‘I am not giving up,’ she replied indignantly. ‘I do not believe I am the right person for this post.’
‘Adam Cottingham found no fault with you.’
‘He saw me for only a few hours. In a longer period he would realise that it was a sham.’
‘And why should he do that?’
‘Because our characters are not suited.’
‘I fail to see that it matters.’
She looked at him rather helplessly.
‘How are we going to convince everyone that we are betrothed?’
He was looking at her, something she could not read in his eyes.
‘It is like marriage, madam. We shall have to work at it.’
‘My lord, I cannot pretend to be your fiancée.’
‘May I ask why not?’
She blushed. ‘I do not feel for you any of the...the warmer feelings that are necessary to make everyone believe that I—that we—’
‘Really? That was not the impression I had last night. I thought your feelings for me were very warm indeed.’
‘They are, sir,’ she retorted, goaded. ‘I dislike you, intensely!’
‘That is not important. As long as we are polite to one another people will assume it is a marriage of convenience. You are here to meet my neighbours and relatives, your chaperone has been taken ill at the last moment and Ariadne has kindly stepped in. Come, Miss Halbrook, is it so very onerous a task? I thought we were agreed the settlement I am prepared to make will more than make up for any gossip that may arise when you jilt me.’
‘The gossip does not worry me but being caught out in this charade does. I should find it very difficult to hide my true feelings.’ Lucy raised her head, determined to be brutally honest. ‘I find you rude and overbearing, my lord. In fact I find you totally abhorrent!’
Her declaration did not appear to disconcert him in the least.
‘Then you will just have to act a little, Miss Halbrook.’ He laughed at her stunned silence and stepped towards her, reaching for her hand. ‘You have spirit, Lucy Halbrook. I like that, although sometimes I find it hard to accept your home truths about my character. My temper is cross, as you know to your cost, but I have apologised, and I will try to curb it for the next few weeks. You have my word on that, if you will but reconsider.’
His thumb caressed the inside of her wrist, causing an extraordinary reaction. Her pulse was jumping erratically, his touch awakening an inexplicable longing from somewhere deep inside her. She was aware of a pleasant languor spreading through her body and it was difficult to think clearly. However, she had to try.
‘It is not just your temper, sir. You took advantage of me.’ The memory of it sent the hot blood pounding through her body again, enhanced this time by the continued assault upon her wits caused by the light-as-a-feather touch of his circling thumb.
‘A kiss,’ he said shortly. ‘A brief sensory exploration, brought on because our senses were heightened by the ongoing disagreement. It could happen to any two people caught in those circumstances. We have my cousin here as your chaperone and as long as we are civil to one another it will not occur again.’
It all sounded so reasonable, thought Lucy, yet they were being civil now, and her senses were still heightened. He was standing very close, surrounding her with his strong masculine presence. His broad-shouldered torso blocked out the light, the grey riding coat reminding her of the shadowed cliff-like face of Druids Rock. He smelled of soap and clean linen. She could almost taste the faint hint of citrus and spices that clung to his skin, feel the strength emanating from his powerful form. Her eyes were on a level with the diamond pin nestled deep in the folds of his neck cloth, and she fixed her gaze upon it, trying to cling to some semblance of reality and stop herself stepping closer, inviting him to enfold her in his arms and repeat the embrace they had shared in the rain. She heard the soft rasp of his breath as he exhaled.
‘We can do better than this, Lucy.’ His voice was low and soft, melting the last of her resistance. ‘Say you will stay. It is only for two more weeks, and we need only give the appearance of being happy together when we are in company. If I am boorish, then I give you leave to upbraid me as much as you wish.’
She looked up at that, grasping at a mischievous thought to put an end to her languor.
‘Do you mean you will accept my strictures meekly, my lord?’
He was smiling down at her and the warm look in his grey eyes set her pulse jumping again.
‘I never promise the impossible. We shall battle most royally, I fear.’
To her surprise, Lucy did not find the thought daunting. She was aware of a tiny frisson of disappointment when he changed his grip on her hand and stopped caressing her wrist.
‘So, cry pax with me, Lucy?’
No. Impossible. There can be no peace between us. Even just standing here I can feel it.
‘Very well.’
‘And you will stay and be friends?’
Friends. Lucy found the idea very tempting. Despite all she had said to the contrary she would dearly like to be friends with this man, to have him trust her.
No! The danger is too great. Go. Now.
‘Yes. But I shall not allow you to bully me.’
Amusement gleamed in his eyes.
‘Then it should prove a very eventful two weeks.’
He lifted her hand to his lips before releasing her. Lucy trembled inwardly as the gesture sent more shockwaves racing through her body. She did not think Ralph had noticed, for he had turned to his desk and was sorting through the papers.
He said, over his shoulder, ‘Very well. If that is all, I have work to do before breakfast. You can go upstairs and change out of that abominable gown!’
No relief, no word of thanks—Lucy felt a gurgle of laughter bubbling up inside her as he resumed his usual autocratic tone. It would indeed be an eventful two weeks!
* * *
Having cleared the air, Lucy threw herself into life at Adversane. Ariadne was glad of her help with the arrangements for the house party, and Lucy cultivated the acquaintance of Amos, the aged gardener who promised her enough fresh flowers to fill the house. She also made a friend of Greg, Ralph’s groom, who accompanied her on her daily rides.
Of Ralph himself she saw very little. He accompanied her and Ariadne to church on Sunday, but after that he spent most of his time with Harold Colne or on the estate, going out before breakfast and joining the ladies only in time for dinner each evening. When Ariadne jokingly remarked that he was neglecting them he said they would see more than enough of him when the guests arrived.
Lucy discovered that she missed his company. She began to take more care over her appearance when she prepared for dinner each evening. Ruthie proved herself a proficient coiffeuse, and Lucy was happy to sit still while the maid arranged her hair, chattering merrily all the while.
However, after her first incautious speech, Ruthie never mentioned her late mistress, and Lucy was increasingly curious to find out more about the woman whose place she was supposed to be filling. A casual remark to Mrs Green brought forth the information that Lady