Page 66 of Lord of Temptation
Chetwyn sat beside her. They had spoken of the weather and the flowers. She didn’t know why she was having such a difficult time with ordinary conversation. She certainly had never found herself lacking for words where Tristan was concerned. Their discourse ran the gamut from teasing to serious to sensual to angry to sad to profound. She thought she could talk with him forever and never find herself scrambling for topics. But with Chetwyn—
“What sort of sister by marriage would you like?” he asked.
She looked at him. He had such kind brown eyes. Walter’s eyes. “Pardon?”
“I promised to provide you with a list of potential ladies for Jameson. I wondered what your criterion was when it came to a sister by marriage.”
“Only that she makes Jameson happy. I shan’t be living with her.”
“But you shall see her from time to time.”
“I can tolerate anything unpleasant for a short period of time.”
“Even a husband?”
She smiled. “No, I would like him to be pleasant all the time, although I suspect there will be moments when he’ll be difficult.”
“I can’t imagine that any man who gained your favor would ever abuse such grand fortune. He would want you to always be happy.”
She wondered if he was talking of himself. She didn’t want to journey into a discussion regarding the sort of man she wished for a husband. She feared her desired qualifications might have taken a nasty turn toward the adventuresome. “You and Jameson have been friends for a good while. Do you know if he ever had any tender feelings for Lady Hermione?”
Clearing his throat, Chetwyn looked out over the green. “He might have found himself fascinated with her.”
“Two years ago? Before the lords of Pembrook returned?”
Chetwyn nodded, then shifted his glance over to her. “It seems you have captured the attention of at least one of those lords.”
“It was only a dance.”
“Two actually.”
“Two is proper.”
“But he isn’t.”
She wanted to deny it, but proper gentlemen didn’t climb in through windows bent on seduction.
“Does he fascinate you as he fascinates all the ladies?” Chetwyn asked.
“He’s not a threat to you or any of the other lords. He has no intention of staying here. He has a ship. He travels the world. Marriage to him would be a lonely affair.”
“So you’ve considered it?”
“No!” She felt herself blushing. She had not wanted the conversation to go here. “I only meant to reassure you that he engages in harmless flirtation.”
“Then I need not consider him competition for your attentions?”
Her face, her entire body, grew warmer. She had to tread lightly here. Did she wish to encourage him? She knew him. He was kind and well mannered. She suspected he would not stray from his vows. He would not leave her weeping or angry or shattered. She wanted to reassure him, but instead she heard herself spouting a lie. “He means nothing to me.”
Chetwyn nodded. “I still miss him, you know?”
The words made no sense and left her doing little more than batting her eyes, because she was fairly certain he wasn’t referring to Tristan.
“Walter,” he added, as though she needed the clarification, and shame on her because for a moment she’d forgotten all about him.
“As do I.”
“War is a terrible thing.”
