Phillip nodded.
“And she was and had everything I wanted.”
“So I should give Fyre a rose?”
Lucien smiled.
“Best night of my life, my friend. I do not care that I sank to my knees before the woman I love more than anything in this world, before the members of society. All I had to offer her was me and my love.”
“I cannot say I am in love, Lucien.”
“You do not have to say it. It may not come to you for a while. I see it now, but until you are ready to accept it, what I see is of little consequence. My point is, your way of offering her protection may not be what she wants. Learn about her. Show her you do have the ability to listen and are not just falling back on your title to get what you want.”
“How did you get to be so smart?”
Lucien shrugged. “You say this like you are shocked. I have always been the smart one between us.”
Striding across the room, Phillip plucked the drink from his friend’s hand. “No more for you, as you have obviously over-imbibed.”
Rolling his eyes, Lucien just walked to the sideboard and poured himself another. Phillip topped off his drink and settled down in the chair across from his friend.
He’d missed this. Good friends, good times and good drink.
* * * *
Fyre opened her door and froze for a second. She blinked, stepped back inside, closed the barrier. After a deep breath, she tried once more.
She’d not been hallucinating. Parked outside her small cottage was a well-sprung carriage. There wasn’t even any need for her to look at the crest emblazoned on the side.
A thin man stood by the door.
“Good morning, Miss Gwen.”
“Morning.” She gulped and found it within her to be braver than she truly was. “Can I help you with something?”
“I am here to give you a ride out to Hawk’s Cove. Lord Edais is expecting you.”
“I did not know that I had a meeting with him today.” She waved off her statement and shook her head. “I cannot ride with you. Please pass along my thanks to the earl for his offer but I must get to work.”
There. Firm yet polite.
Smile firmly affixed to her features, she walked around the horses and set off toward town.
She heard the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves behind her and she stopped to turn. They stopped as well.
Three more times, she walked then stopped. The result never changed.
“Are you going to follow me to town?” Heat flashed up her neck. She wasn’t used to being the focus of people’s attention but that was exactly what this man driving the carriage behind her had done to her. Placed her smack in the center of it.
“I am doing as ordered, Miss Gwen.”
“And that was to follow me?”
His pale skin flushed as she glared up at him. Reining her temper back under control, she turned so she could face him completely. She didn’t have the right to take this out on him. He, much as she did every day, was only following his orders.
“I do not suppose that Lord Edais said what this was in regards to?”
He shook his head and she realized he wasn’t as old as she’d first estimated him to be. “He did not see fit to tell me.”
“I will accept the ride.”
She witnessed the relief which poured over him and he hopped down, moving to the door. She shook her head. His brows gathered close and she almost laughed. His expression was tormented.
“I will ride beside you. And you have to take me to my job in town so I can inform them I have been summoned by the earl.”
He mulled it over then nodded. Stepping closer, he held out his hand and assisted her up onto the top of the carriage beside where he would be sitting. She made sure her dress didn’t have any problems so she wouldn’t be flashing skin—she didn’t want to get a certain reputation.
Not that me riding around in the earl’s coach will help with any of this.
Moments after the driver clambered up beside her, he cut his gaze to her and flashed a smile. One she returned.
“What is your name?”
“Davie, Miss Gwen.”
“No need for calling me Miss Gwen. Gwen or Fyre is just fine.”
“Fyre?”
He released the brake, snapped the leathers, and the team moved forward. It wasn’t long before she settled into the rhythm of riding on the hard seat.
“My brother gave the name to me when we were much younger.”
His laugh was contagious and she joined him. Even though townsfolk looked at her with odd expressions as the carriage with the earl’s crest moved toward her destination, she didn’t mind. As they went, she and Davie chatted back and forth.
He halted the team by the front door of her destination and helped her down.