Page 34 of The Baron and the Bluestocking

“I should,” she said with a shrug. “And you, don’t you want to go back to the hunt?”

“Definitely not,” he replied, and her gaze snapped to his again.

“What will you do then?”

He gave her a small smile as he brought his fingertips up to run along her cheek. “I think I’ll stay with the ladies and watch.”

Her answering grin made his heart swell with hope. “Really?”

He nodded. “The occultation will hopefully happen tonight if it doesn’t take place during the day today. I might as well save my strength and spend some time with the person I find the most interesting at this party.”

“Who?” she asked but her smile grew.

“You.”

That made a blush fan out on her cheeks. “Thank you for that.”

“Now,” he said, keeping his arm about her, and beginning to walk back toward the picnic, pulling his horse behind him. “Tell me how you’re going to manage your mother if you’re not plotting another fake courtship.”

“My mother has been relatively quiet the past few days.” Tillie shook her head. “A turn of events I’m still puzzling out.”

The marchioness had been quiet? That was odd.

But then his steps faltered. If his mother had been working toward a courtship between himself and Tillie, was it possible that the marchioness was behind the plot as well? But then how did that explain Viscount Bancroft?

“Besides.” Tillie gave him a sidelong glance. “I thought you were offended by my plotting.”

He grimaced. “Quite the opposite. I love all of your ideas. I was only offended because…” He drew in a deep breath.

“Why?”

“Because I’m in awe of you Tillie, and I think I was hurt that you didn’t feel the same about me.” There. He’d spoken at least part of the truth without making this already difficult day really messy.

“I do.” She stopped, her hand coming to his chest as she partially turned to him. “I am in awe of you too.” She nipped at her bottom lip, his own heart beginning to race in his chest. “In fact, I think I always have been.”

“Even when you put frogs in my bed.”

They started moving again, making their way down the trail. “Especially when I put frogs in your bed. A girl’s got to get a boy to acknowledge her existence somehow.”

That made him laugh and suddenly it felt right to share his feelings. He’d tripped past acknowledgment a long time ago and fallen heart first into love.

“Tillie,” Ben called from down the trail. “Where are you?”

“Drat,” Tillie muttered.

Alex chuckled. “I’m going to slip around the corner.”

“That’s good.” Tillie nodded as she stepped away, but her gaze remained on him. Part of her wished to stay by his side, but she didn’t wish to be caught with him. “I’ve a few things to say to my brother about the stories he shared with you.”

He laughed as his heart began to race in his chest. Then, he slipped his hand from her waist and mounted his horse, starting in the opposite direction. He’d share his feelings with her soon enough and then he’d let her decide if he was a man with whom she could build a life.

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