Page 7 of Rakes & Reticules
The duke was one of his closest friends. They only had one other friend that was equally as close. Roman hadn’t seen him since before he’d left for the war. “How is Pemberton?” he asked as thoughts of their friend came to him. “When was the last time you saw him?”
Thornridge shrugged. “Not since before you arrived. He has changed little.”
Viscount Pemberton was one of the biggest scoundrels in the ton. He discarded lovers frequently and was often found in some of the most disreputable gaming hells. Pemberton thought highly of himself and offered no apologies to anyone. He might mutter one begrudgingly to Roman or Thornridge, but only because they were the only two people alive he respected enough to bother. He had dark blond hair, pale green eyes, and a face that drew more women to him than one man could handle, but the viscount certainly tried.
“I think I’ll write to him and tell him I’m returning to London soon. I won’t stay with my mother for long. She can be a bit…much.” Thornridge had been right in his earlier statement. Cassius had been the favorite of both parents. His mother would welcome him home because she had no choice. He was the earl now, and she depended on him for support.
The duke’s lips twitched. “If you’re going to visit with Pemberton, keep in mind his proclivities might be more than you wish to participate in.”
He laughed. “I am aware of our friend’s habits. I think I’ll be all right in his tender care.”
Besides, he didn’t want to spend his night with any courtesans or women with loose morals. There was only one woman he wanted in his bed, and he’d gladly marry her to have her there. There were several steps in-between until he had that goal. The first one being discovering her name. Then he’d start courting her in truth. He was acting like a bloody fool and did not care.
The carriage rolled to a stop in front of Thornridge Castle. The duke exited, and Roman followed. “Go inside without me,” he told the duke. “I feel the need for a walk.” Riding would be too much. His leg was still too stiff after yesterday’s jaunt. “My leg needs the exercise after being in the carriage.”
Thornridge nodded. “Don’t overdo it,” he told him. “We will talk more later.” He said nothing else. Instead, he turned on his heels and went inside, leaving Roman alone.
Roman took that as his cue to start his walk. He only had one destination in mind, and he hoped he’d find the gorgeous woman he’d met the day before there. Maybe, for once, luck would be in his favor.
CHAPTERFOUR
Roman strolled into the clearing by the pond at a leisurely pace. Yes, he hoped she would be there, but he also realized rushing would go against his own interests. For several reasons… If he walked too fast, he would aggravate the still healing injuries in his leg, and how would it appear for him to come running up on her? She didn’t seem like the typical female and probably wouldn’t easily startle; however, she would realize quickly how eager he was to see her again. That would give her an advantage in their exchange, and he wanted to keep them on equal footing. At least for as long as possible…
Everything changed inside of him when he met her. It was almost as if he’d been waiting his entire life to meet her, and now that he had, Roman had one goal. To have her by his side for the rest of their lives. He stopped near a tree and glanced around him, then grinned like the fool he most likely was when he noticed a horse tied to a post in the distance.
He hadn’t seen her yet, though. Where had she disappeared to? Roman headed in the direction of the pond, glancing around him as he made his way to where he hoped to find her. Underneath a large tree with budding leaves, he found her on a blanket with a leather-bound book in her lap. She seemed engrossed in the pages and hadn’t yet noticed him walking toward her.
Roman stopped in front of her and waited. Slowly, she lifted her head and met his gaze. A smile filled her face as she stared up at him. “You’re sneakier than you were last time,” she said, then laughed. “Aren’t you a surprise?” Her light laughter was a balm to his heart. If only that would soothe the other aches he endured each day.
He lifted a brow. “Is that so terrible?” Roman didn’t wish to tell her about his infirmary yet, and the reason he now walked instead of approaching her on a horse. The last thing he wanted was for her to see him as some sort of cripple. He had worked hard to overcome his difficulties, and he still had more work to do, but he fully believed he would recover completely in time.
She closed the book she had been reading and tucked it away into a small bag. He was curious about it, but didn’t ask. She stood up and brushed down her trousers. Her hair was bound today, and he found he was disappointed that her dark locks were not flowing over her as they had been before. Instead, they were wound around her gorgeous face in firmly secured plaits on top of her head. She glanced at him and said, “I had hoped to see you again.”
“You did?” That surprised him. He hadn’t thought she would admit to such a thing. “Why?”
Her lips tilted upward into a smile, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. He didn’t like it. “Because we won’t be here much longer,” she told him. “and I wanted to apologize for my rude behavior yesterday.”
“I didn’t think you were rude,” he told her as her words seared through him. “Where are you going?” He focused on what was most important. Roman couldn’t very well court her if he couldn’t find her. He had thought he could handle his mother and be seen around London a bit, then return to her. That wouldn’t work if she left.
“To London, of course,” she said, as if that was the only answer that could be acceptable. “I’m to have my first season.” She shrugged as if she wouldn’t mind skipping the upcoming season. “Well, Maeve and I are.”
She was probably one of the twins if it was her first season. He still didn’t know her name, but at least he could narrow down which one she was not. He smiled. “That’s wonderful,” he told her. Roman felt happiness in his very bones. He had just decided to return home and then go to London. They would be in the same city and he could court her openly during the season.
“It is?” She raised both brows. “I’m afraid I do not understand your happiness at my upcoming season.”
He may regret his next words, but he did not see any reason not to tell her. “Because I’m leaving soon too,” he explained. “I’ll be in London soon enough as well. Perhaps we shall meet again there.”
Her smile held more warmth when it slowly filled her face. He basked in it and wanted to lean down and kiss her. It was too soon. Roman didn’t wish to frighten her away.
“I would very much like to see you again,” she admitted, then tilted her head to the side to study him. “But I must ask… You don’t know me. Why do you wish to be around me?”
Did she not realize how truly beautiful she was? There was something absolutely pure about her. When she glanced at him with those inquisitive eyes, he almost became speechless. Somehow, he found enough to utter, “Because you’re a surprise I never thought to wish for.”
Her eyes widened, and she stepped closer to him. “I feel the same about you,” she admitted. “Though I cannot explain why.”
They were so close now, he could close the distance and give in to the need to kiss her. He shouldn’t. How scandalous would that be? He’d kiss her and compromise her without even knowing her name…
“I should go.” His voice came out gruff as he fought his need to close the distance between them and press his lips to hers. He would not accost her like a lecherous man who could not control his own actions. “You were occupied when I strolled toward you. It’s not my intention to keep you from your activity.” He took a step back so he could leave before he found a reason to stay.
