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gave a casual wave of her hand, as if dismissing the conversation before she turned and continued down the path. “It would seem ignorance is not limited by age or class,” she added over her shoulder.
    Rutherford glowered at her back as she confidently strolled away from him.
    Had she just called him old? And surely she had not implied he was ignorant.
    He often prided himself on his open mind and modern way of thinking. He wasn’t as unconventional as Blackbourne, by any means, but he was in no way ignorant.
    And at thirty-six, he certainly was not old .

Chapter Six
    While he stood there trying to absorb her well-aimed insults, Miss Terribury had continued through the forest and was now out of sight. With a huff of irritation, he started out after her. This was not how he had intended to spend his morning.
    She didn’t even turn her head to acknowledge him when he fell back into step beside her. Though her stride was still swift and determined, her skirts did not whip quite so furiously about her boots. And after a while, even her steps eased to a more comfortable pace. If her emotional state could be ascertained by the fierceness of energy she displayed with her movements, he would hazard to guess she had calmed from her prior passion.
    He wasn’t so sure, however, that she had forgiven his thoughtlessness in scorning something she clearly had a great love for. It bothered him that she might class him amongst others who would deride the pursuit she had committed herself to.
    They walked on for several minutes without speaking before it obviously got to be too much for her and she broke the silence. “Now you know why I wish to avoid marriage. Tell me, my lord, why do you resist such a very basic duty to your title and family? Is it not vital that you take a wife and produce heirs to ensure the continuation of your esteemed line?”
    There was a note of bitterness in her tone and she phrased the question in a way that was a clear challenge to his honor.
    Further retaliation against his earlier affront?
    He decided to allow the maneuver.
    “I have every intention of fulfilling my responsibilities,” he answered with firm assertion. “On my own terms and in my own time.”
    He had known his entire life what was expected of him, what his role was in the world and how important it was that he live up to his family legacy. Under his grandmother’s strict tutelage, he had been diligently molded to represent the title and family with all the pomp and protocol the position demanded. The second he had learned of his parents’ death, he had ceased to be the little boy who ran through the woods with his hound, climbed trees and stole pastries from the kitchen. He had not questioned the path of his life and had taken up the reins of his title and his responsibilities in perfect stride. He had been groomed for it since birth.
    It had not been until he was slightly older that he’d realized how little it mattered what he wanted personally and he’d questioned the unending dedication to duty. He’d decided then that he would commit himself to meeting the expectations of his title, but he would keep one decision for himself. The choosing of a bride.
    “Ah, I see,” she replied softly, though he did not know how she could have any idea what it was like to have one’s entire life plotted out for you practically from the moment of your birth.
    He turned to look at her and saw empathy softening her expression. Without their usual sparkle of humor, her eyes reflected a depth of thought and feeling he hadn’t noticed before.
    He recalled her own struggle in resisting the expectations of her mother and society.
    Perhaps she did understand to some degree.
    He cleared his throat and turned his gaze forward again.
    The forest had grown thicker and the atmosphere was darker beneath the heavier branches of coniferous trees. Instead of the clean scent of bright sunshine, everything smelled of moist earth and green growing things. A