Page 37 of The Lady and the Footballer
“Oh, yes, my father said we could travel to Nottingham to watch.”
“You will be there?” he said, his eyebrows rising. He liked the thought of her watching him play, but of course, he couldn’t ask her to attend for that purpose.
“My friend, Emmaline, loves football more than anything,” she said, looking down at her lap. “And with my father now being a sponsor…”
“It makes sense for you to attend together,” he finished for her. “For Emmaline.”
“Yes,” she said, slowly lifting her face to look him in the eye, her chin dipping shyly. “I do enjoy watching the games.”
“Do you enjoy watchingallof the players?” he couldn’t help but tease.
“Of course!” she said with surprised indignation before her lips softened into a smile. “Very well, perhaps some more than others. Because of the various skill levels, of course.”
“Of course.”
It seemed like no time at all until the hack was pulling to a stop, the driver calling out that they had arrived.
Lily pressed some coins into Colin’s hand.
“Here. Take this for your return journey. Please don’t say that you are insulted again, for the truth is that you are out here so far and this late because you were seeing to my safety. I would feel terrible if you didn’t let me pay.”
“But—”
“Please, Colin?”
It was the way she said his name that did him in.
“Very well,” he sighed, helping her down the stairs until she was standing on flat ground. He would like to walk her to the door, but that would only put both of them at greater risk of discovery.
Instead, he stood there for an extra moment, holding her hands in his.
“Goodnight, Lily,” he said softly.
“Goodnight, Colin.”
He watched her walk away from him toward the door wishing more than anything that she was coming toward him instead.
But that was a wish that would have to remain just that – a wish.
Chapter Fourteen
Lily was in trouble.
She knew that by the fact that even Emmaline noticed that her mind wasn’t where it was supposed to be.
“I’m not sure what is so intriguing outside that window, but are you going to return to the present anytime soon?” Emmaline asked, causing Lily to finally look her way.
As beautiful as the scenery rushing by the window was, she truthfully couldn’t have said what she was looking at.
It was the memory of her evening spent with Colin that remained at the forefront of her mind.
She had never met a man like him.
But perhaps that was because most of the men she had met were all near to the same – doing as they were told, acting as was expected of them, pretending to be the perfect gentlemen while doing as they wished when they thought no one was looking.
Colin might not have been born into the same society she was, but from what she had seen, he exemplified more gentlemanly qualities than any who held the actual title.
He was kind. He looked out for those who were part of his circle.
