Page 43 of If the Duke Dares
She swatted his arm, and the horse neighed.
“Uh-oh, now you’ve upset the horse,” Acton said with a teasing lilt, his eyes aglow with amusement.
Persephone stroked the animal’s neck. “My apologies. This man may be nice to you, but he can be positively beastly to others. Especially women.”
“That isn’t at all true,” Acton said with continued humor. “I am merely teasing, which is something I believeyouknow all too well, Miss There’s-a-rat-in-your-boot.”
Giggling, Persephone went to the door of the coach. “Touché. I’ll fetch a blanket so we can sit on the grass over there. Do you want anything from the basket?”
“Perhaps some ale?”
Fetching the ale and blanket, Persephone handed him the bottle while she laid the blanket over the ground. She sat, arranging her skirt, while he lowered himself near her, but not as close as they were in the coach.
Opening the ale, Acton put the bottle to his mouth, but paused before drinking. “Are there cups, or are we just drinking from the bottle?”
“No cups,” she said. “But I don’t need any ale.” She wasn’t thirsty. But she couldn’t help thinking about the implications of putting her mouth where his was now as he took a drink. Did she want that? It was probably the closest to kissing him she would ever get. Not that she wanted to kiss him.
Eager to distract her wandering thoughts, she asked, “Where will you go once we reach Bath?”
“I’ll spend the night at my mother’s house. I should probably return to Loxley Court tomorrow. And then I’m due at a house party next week.”
“That sounds nice.”
“Eh, perhaps. I’m going with my mother to meet potential brides.” His gaze met hers as he quickly added. “That was the plan if I decided that you and I didn’t suit. Er,wedecided. You and I, that is.”
“Well, we’ve done that,” Persephone said, not wanting to linger on that thought. “I haven’t been to a house party. What’s it like?”
They spent the next half hour discussing house parties and the ridiculous games that were played as well as the various activities the hostess typically planned. The sky had begun to darken as they spoke. Acton looked up. “I think it may rain. I was going to ask if you wanted me to grab the basket so we could have a light repast, but we may need to adjourn to the coach.”
Persephone tipped her head up. “It does look as though it could rain,” she agreed just as a drop landed on her nose. “Oh!”
“Was that a raindrop?” he asked.
“Yes.” She was already scrambling to her feet.
Acton bottled the ale and jumped up. The rain began to fall more steadily. Then lightning flashed within the clouds. He snatched up the blanket as he shouted, “Go!”
Persephone dashed to the coach and quickly climbed inside. Acton followed, handing her the ale and the blanket before hoisting himself up. He moved too quickly, though, and hit his head as he pushed in.
“Ow.” He winced before collapsing on the rear-facing seat, massaging his forehead.
Persephone set the bottle and blanket aside and moved to the other seat. “Let me see.”
He lowered his hand, to reveal his reddened flesh. Persephone gently touched the area. “The skin isn’t broken. But it’s awfully red.”
“I’m blaming that chair-bed.”
Bemused, she couldn’t make the connection. “Why?”
“Last night, I thought I was too tall for it. Today, I thought I was short enough to make it into the coach without hitting my head.”
Persephone laughed, and his gaze met and held hers.
Their faces were so close. She could see a faint freckle at the base of his nose that wasn’t really visible from a nonintimate distance.
“I love when you laugh. It’s so unreserved and…real. You aren’t like other young ladies. You don’t simper. Or flirt. Or pretend to be anything you’re not.”
“Are you real?” Persephone asked. Not just him, but the things he said to her and the way he made her feel. She’d described rogues as not being genuine, and she needed to know that he was. At least now, in this moment.
