Page 34 of Her Magnificent Mistake
As Hawk pressed his lips together to hold in a snort of laughter, Marcia blew out a breath and muttered, “You must be a delight at parties, Artrip.” Then in a louder voice, she repeated, “A picnic sounds lovely. Would that be too much trouble?”
“No trouble, my lady,” he droned with a small bow, possible only because he refused to allow gravity to affect his combover. “If you prefer to eat your civilized meal out of doors like a heathen, that is of course your prerogative.”
The sound which escaped Hawk’s lips as he pushed himself to his feet wasn’t necessarily a laugh, but more of a bark. Anything to rid his body of this tension. “Artrip has firm opinions about the great outdoors.”
“Yes,” Marcia agreed with a curious glance between the two men. “I thought he was rather fond of nature.”
“Oh I am, my lady,” the butler agreed without looking at Hawk. “But it is to be revered. Worshiped, even. There are unknowable forces and spirits we cannot tame, and it is our responsibility to respect and care for them.”
Marcia’s brows had risen. “Them? The spirits?”
“Nature, my lady,” he corrected almost gently.
Hawk was watching with his mouth agape, his mind still focused on the warmth on his shoulder where her hand had touched him. “I had no idea you felt so strongly, Artrip. Would ye like to accompany me up to Pook’s Glen sometime?”
The butler’s nose curled as he turned his attention back to his master. “I would rather perform dental surgery upon myself, my lord. With a pickaxe. Is that where you are picnicking this afternoon?”
“Oh yes!” Clasping her hands in excitement, Marcia spun to Hawk. “I have heard so much about the Glen, would it be possible to see it in person?”
In that moment, Hawk realized the truth.
Hewantedto show her this special place. The place that meant so much to him and his history; the place where he felt most at home in the whole world. He wanted to share that with her…because he loved her. He still loved her.
He loved her certainty in her own talents and the world around her. He loved that her certainty wouldbendthe world around her, making it a better place. Even ten years ago, when he’d met her for the first time, he’d known she would change the world.
She’d changedhisworld.
Marcia was caring and bold and able to look past the mask everyone wore to see the goodness within. She was strong and capable andaye, he loved her.
And suspected he always would.
Blast it all to hell.
“Aye,” he managed to rasp. “Aye, we’ll head up to the burn.”
“Very well, my lord.” Another small bow from Artrip. “You will be back late, I presume?”
Hawk did the calculations in his head, and with a glance out the window at the sun, nodded. “In time for dinner, I suppose. Could ye send the boy to the stable to have them ready my bay mare and a horse for Lady Marcia? Oh, and ask my valet to find my gray hat with the smaller brim—that brown one I wore last time I climbed the burn is too big, and I…I kept knocking it off.”
Shut up, ye dobber. Ye sound like a clumsy fool.
“As you wish.” The butler backed toward the door. “The picnic will be ready for you anon.”
A picnic on a summer afternoon in his favorite place? A treat. But to share it with someone like Marcia? Even better.
He was turning to her when he felt her hand slide into his. Her eyes shone with excitement he hadn’t seen in a long time, except in his dreams.
“I cannot wait, Hawk,” she declared, squeezing his hand. “I finally get to see Pook’s Glen! Do you think we will find a wild spirit?”
Hawk swallowed. “I’m almost certain.”
CHAPTER 6
“Oh, Hawk,” Marcia breathed, looking around the Glen wide-eyed, heart skipping a beat. “It is positively magical!”
“It is,” he agreed. “And this isnae even the main attraction.” With a cluck of his tongue, he urged his mare along the burbling stream. “The real magic is up there.”
The enthusiasm in his voice was impossible to miss, and made her smile. In fact, an alarming number of things about Maxwell Hawthorne made her smile, which was not a good sign.
