Page 33 of Tempting the Earl

Disappointment flowed through her, cooling the warmth of discovery she’d experienced just a moment ago.

“Miss Morgan,” he said in even pleasantness, adding a tight smile.

Ainsworth dipped a quick curtsy. “My lord. Has your urgent business been satisfactorily concluded?”

A swift, barely perceptible twitch of his brows met her inquiry before he nodded. “For now.” Then he turned to his sister. “Hello, Caillie. How was your walk today? No unfortunate incidents, I hope.”

Ainsworth had noticed the two of them had started using each other’s given names shortly after the Bentleys’ visit. It seemed Roderick’s comment had struck a sensitive chord after all.

“None at all,” the girl replied. “It was a lovely excursion. I wish you could’ve joined us.”

“Next time,” he replied as he bent to run his hand over Bramble’s head and scratch behind the dog’s ears.

Ainsworth got a flashing sense he truly did regret not being able to join them. Her earlier thoughts about being grateful for his absence suddenly made her feel wretchedly selfish. In fact, a great deal of her behavior since spotting the handsome lord amongst her hens made her feel wretched.

After giving the collie a few more pats, he straightened and gestured to the front door. “Shall we?”

Once in the hall, the ladies removed their bonnets and light jackets while the earl took off his top hat and gloves. The items were all quickly swept away by a waiting footman as Shaw released Bramble from the leash and instructed another footman to lead the dog away to be cleaned up and likely offered a treat.

“The weather is so lovely today,” Caillie noted mournfully, “it feels almost shameful to be back indoors again.”

“If you’d like, we could enjoy a little refreshment in the garden,” the earl offered. “It’s not quite as grand as Hyde Park, but I’d say it’s far better than a stuffy parlor.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Caillie exclaimed. “Doesnae it, Worthy?”

Ainsworth nodded. She couldn’t exactly refuse. And it did sound like a nice way to spend an hour or so. Back home they were both more often outside than in, even on days that weren’t so lovely as this one. And despite its rather strict orderliness, the earl’s garden really was quite gorgeous.

“It does.” She nodded and offered a quick smile to the earl.

He blinked, the subtle reaction indicating his surprise at her uncharacteristic acquiescence. Then he turned to Shaw. “Would you please ask Mrs. Athens to have some lemonade and perhaps some biscuits brought out to the veranda?”

“Of course, my lord.”

As the butler left the hall, the earl turned to Caillie and gallantly offered his elbow before addressing her with courtly formality. “Miss Claybourne, may I have the honor of escorting you to the garden?”

The girl grinned widely and responded with a graceful curtsey before taking the earl’s arm. “I’d be delighted, my lord.”

A hint of amusement curved Ainsworth’s mouth at the earl’s unexpected act of fanciful chivalry toward the girl. For just a second, she imagined how it’d feel to be the recipient of the lord’s gallantry before forcing the thought aside as she followed them through the drawing room to the windowed doors that opened to the garden terrace.

A few minutes later, the three of them relaxed at a small table set up along the railing of the stone veranda where they could look out over the wonderful display of flora that made up the very complex design of the earl’s garden. Ainsworth recognized most of the flowers and shrubs and trees, though many were still in the early stages of their seasonal foliage and only a few had started to bloom.

Even so, the air was fresh and bright and the scents of green growing things drifted pleasantly on the breeze. It was surprisingly easy to forget that the wide world of London was just beyond the garden’s tall stone walls as she allowed herself to simply breathe in the loveliness of the setting while Caillie regaled the earl with every detail of their sojourn to the park.

The lass made the excursion sound far more exciting than it actually was and had full command of the earl’s rapt attention—well, as rapt as the relentlessly stoic earl was likely to appear anyway.

Gratitude welled in Ainsworth’s heart despite herself. If nothing else, the earl’s interest in his young sister was above question. He never failed to give the girl his full attention no matter what the lass happened to be going on about. Ainsworth wanted to hate him for displaying such consistent regard and proving one of her fears unfounded, but she couldn’t. Not when Caillie so clearly enjoyed his company.

As the subject shifted toward a discussion of other places Caillie hoped to visit during her stay in London, Ainsworth occupied herself with what had become one of her favorite pastimes—watching the lord’s expression, searching for any telltale signs of his thoughts, trying to discern what emotions, if any, might flow beneath his unyieldingly aloof manner. She’d come to recognize the subtle signs she believed to indicate moments of concern or frustration and the rarely seen flashes of impatience.

But what of the more amiable sorts of emotions? Did he have any of those?

She’d seen him smile a time or two—just a swift tilting of his mouth that had felt more perfunctory than genuine. Except maybe for that moment in the park, shortly after the incident with the swans when he’d briefly mentioned scandal. That smile hadn’t been perfunctory, but it had been annoyingly brief.

Since he was so intently engaged in conversation with Caillie, she risked a glance at his mouth.

His lips were so often pressed firmly together, but not at the moment. Surprised to note the softness in in the lower curve and the distinct arches that formed a rather sensual upper lip, she found herself rather entranced. And then—as she watched intently—his lips slowly widened and curved to reveal a flash of teeth.

Her belly erupted into a riot of flutters just as he shifted his attention in her direction.

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