Page 15 of Married By Twelfth Night
“I will happily list them for you, if it helps.”
That could take all day. She shook her head, her feet doing their best to keep up with his. “Don’t change the subject. Is it safe to assume that you did not come up with a plan and that you are hoping I will take it from here?”
He gave a shoulder shrug. “I am new to faking courtships with women. Perhaps you have some experience you might lend me?”
She gave him a very dull stare, which was quite brave of her since she really should have been watching her skates.
“No? Well then, I suppose we will have to forge our way one step at a time.”
She risked falling again and narrowed her eyes at him, her skates wavering as she did. “You’d better not take your flirtations too far.”
He set his free hand on top of hers to steady her again. “You’d better not forget you like me and say something rude.”
She emitted a nervous laugh, very aware of the strange pressure and warmth seeping through her mitten. “Touché.”
“Ah, I made you laugh. An improvement. We are well on our way to fooling everyone.”
She shook her head. “The only one you’re fooling right now is yourself. Can anyone truly believe the two of us could make a match?” She was proficient in chasing away men, and he had a trail of swooning women on his heels. Two such repelling opposites had no business being together.
“It appears we are fooling your parents. I caught your mother watching us as we skated off together. It made me worry that my acting skills are too good.”
Mama was a gullible target. She believed her daughters were capable of ensnaring hordes of the finest suitors. She was destined for disappointment. “Your surprise visit yesterday has already gone to her head. Instead of wondering about your sudden interest, she has immediately jumped to matrimonial conclusions. She has no preference which daughter you pick, so that is in your favor.”
Grace watched Tobias easily beat Ruth in their race, and Bridget rushed to join them for a second run.
“You will be happy to know that you chose the better skater for your real relationship,” she added, admiring Ruth’s elegant form.
Richard chuckled. “Where is the fun in that? I’d much prefer to have a woman by my side than chase after her.” Grace knew she shouldn’t react, but her stomach tightened. He seemed to realize what he’d said and cleared his throat. “I mean, I hope I do not have to chase Ruth for long.”
A disobedient foot slid slideways, and she instinctively leaned into Richard. In some rather quick maneuvering, he managed to switch the arm that held hers and threw his free arm around her waist.
Her waist!
She blinked up at his light-blue eyes and his much too satisfied grin.
“Another time around?” he asked, his smile widening.
Oh, he was good at this. “Don’t gloat,” she said, carefully extricating herself from his arms. Her heart pounded much too fast for a little stumble.
“I’m not gloating. It’s just nice seeing there is something you don’t excel at.”
“This is one of many things, but it won’t keep me from trying.” She pushed away from him. She’d felt a little thrill from Richard before on an occasion or two, and it scared her then as much as it did now. She was doing well enough, and a few falls wouldn’t kill her. Staying on Richard’s arm might though. He was too convinced of his own self-importance, and she needed to remember how very much she disliked him.
“What about our planning session?” he argued after her.
She shook her head. “A woman doesn’t plan how a man will court her. You will have to put some effort into it.”
He didn’t have to skate fast to catch her; in fact, he had to slow down. “And what of your end of the deal?”
“I won’t disappoint you, Richie dear,” she said with a cheeky grin. “No one outside your family loves Belside manor more than me. But I can only take courtship in small doses, and I am afraid I have reached my fill for the day.”
She had almost said she had reached her fill ofhim, but that wouldn’t have been nice. And she was trying to be on her best behavior. She liked loathing Richard, and she didn’t want anything to interfere with that.
Most especially Richard himself.
Chapter 7
Richard wasn’t used todrinking melted chocolate with shortbread, and especially not in the middle of the day. They’d taken Sunday off skating but had gathered again this morning for a second day of diversion on the ice. Afterward, Grace and Bridget announced their refreshment of choice and dragged them all into the drawing room. Only Mr. and Mrs. Steele had escaped, claiming business at home.
