*
An hour later,he trotted Ares along the country lanes until he spotted Sarah’s familiar form, clad this time in pale blue. Leaning over the horse’s neck, he whispered, “Let’s see how fast we can annoy the governess, shall we?” Then he dug his heels into the animal’s sides and encouraged Ares into a gallop. He didn’t let up until he blew past her. She darted aside with a squeal of outrage. When he turned the horse about and came abreast of her, she stood with a hand on her hip and a scowl on her face.
Something about keeping her at sixes and sevens tickled him.
“How dare you, Andrew!” A tendril of hair had escaped its bun, and with her bonnet hanging around her neck by its ribbons, that blonde tress waved in the breeze. “I am not amused.”
“Oh, but I am.” He grinned down at her. How pretty she was with the splash of high color in her cheeks and her brown eyes snapping fire. “You didn’t hear my approach? I thought we’d talked about that from the last time.”
“I must have been woolgathering.” Once more she carried a basket. When she caught him looking at its contents, she lifted her chin. “I needed a few things from the village shop.”
“What sort of things?”
She dropped her gaze and the spectacles slid down her nose. “Personal things that aren’t your concern.”
Well, he was even more curious. “I thought I’d taken care of anything you had need of for the ceremony yesterday.”
Ares stepped closer to her and snuffled her bonnet and hair, went so far as to nip at the straw brim.
Sarah snickered as she gently guided his head away. When she raised her chin, she pushed the spectacles into place. “There are some items a woman requires that a man shouldn’t know about.” Another wash of pink stained her cheeks, from his notice or the sun he couldn’t say. “A woman only weds once, if she’s lucky, and she wishes that day to feel… special, even if no one else will see such… things.”
“Ah.” Drew desperately wished to know what was wrapped in that brown parcel paper. Could it be that this innocent governess harbored a secret side? Awareness swept over him and went straight to his shaft. He remembered those embroidered stockings she’d had last week. What had she purchased this time? A silk robe? Fancy undergarments? He shifted in the saddle as his arousal grew.
“What are you doing out here besides bedeviling me?” The sound of her voice yanked him from his inappropriate thoughts.
“I came to take you on a picnic and had a hunch you might have gone to the village.” Had it only been a week since he’d met her, argued with her, kissed her? He indicated a willow basket of his own tied to the pommel. “Are you in the mood for a light repast?”
Her eyes widened behind the lenses. “You thought to do something with me that doesn’t include arguing or won’t benefit you?”
A stab of annoyance went through his chest, cooling his earlier ardor, but he shoved the emotion aside. “I did.” Be charming, Drew. You want her to marry you, not denounce you. “Is that agreeable?”
“Yes, of course.” The smile she flashed was genuine, for it reflected in her eyes and the delicate skin framing them crinkled. He gawked. Had she always… glowed like that? Then she eyed his saddle. “Do you expect me to ride to your undisclosed location?”
Well, he had, and what was more, he’d anticipated holding her in front of him. “You don’t enjoy riding?”
“Not particularly.”
He dropped his voice and used his most wicked tone. “Not even with me behind you, holding you so disaster won’t befall you?”
“I…” Her cheeks blazed with a dark pink hue.
A satisfied chuckle escaped him. She wasn’t altogether in control as she wished him to see. It would be such fun to undress her on their wedding night. “Then I’ll walk with you… as long as you promise to ride back with me,” he added with a wink. Drew dismounted. “Besides, we’re not far from the spot you chose yesterday. That’s where I’d planned to picnic.” When he offered his crooked arm, he asked, “Shall we?”
Her lower jaw fell slightly open, a sure sign he was doing his best at enchanting her. “Absolutely.” She tucked her hand into his bent elbow and soon walked beside him along the hardpacked road. “Are you foxed this afternoon? It’s the only explanation for your behavior.”
“I am quite sober.” He’d imbibed in a snifter of brandy last night before he’d settled into bed, but by and large, he hadn’t ingested vast quantities of liquor since leaving London. “What makes you ask?”
“You’re acting so… so…” She floundered.
“Charming?” he helpfully supplied.
“I would have said nonconfrontational, but charming is a better word.” Sarah glanced at him with speculation in those honey-hued depths. “How did you pass the evening last night when we parted? Did the calm you found last long?”
No, that calm hadn’t lasted. The moment he’d stepped foot in Hadleigh Hall, everything had come pouring back. “Suffice it to say I had a glass of brandy before I retired.” She didn’t need to know what a mess his life had become just now. All too soon she’d witness it for herself. Another pull of anxiety knotted his insides.
How long would she stay after that?
“Mmm, I see. How did you sleep?”