Read Online Susan Johnson by When Someone Loves You - Free Book Online
Authors: When Someone Loves You
Ads: Link
indeed.” She felt a piquant excitement, something uncommon of late, the thought of the races tomorrow altogether pleasing. “Why don’t I see how Mother is doing in the morning and I’ll let you know.”
“I’ll send Eddie over.”
“Rather than have Eddie ride over, perhaps needlessly, if you don’t hear from me by noon plan on stopping by, say, at one?”
A faint smile played about his fine mouth. “I shall pray for your mother’s continuing recuperation.”
She dipped her head. “I shall as well.”
“Good,” he murmured, taking her hand in his.
She didn’t pull away, although she should have.
A small silence fell.
Bending low, he dropped a light kiss on her forehead. “Thank you for your pleasant company,” he murmured.
She hadn’t been kissed so platonically in years. It was a lovely, beguiling gesture. She smiled up at him. “Thank you ,” she said.
“Until tomorrow, then.”
“Provided all the stars are aligned,” she noted.
“I’ll see what I can do.” A roguish certitude infused his words.
“Even you aren’t so arrogant, Duff, as to think you can command the stars.”
“You don’t know me very well.”
She should have said she had no intention of getting to know him well, but she said, instead, soft and low, “Nor you me.”
He grinned. “Don’t say you’re flirting with me?”
“I most certainly am not,” she protested, lying to herself as well as him, feeling an unalloyed joy even as she perjured herself.
“Whatever you say, Miss Foster.”
“Belle,” she offered.
“Belle,” he repeated, a delectable enticement in his silken tone.
What was she doing, she thought with alarm. Why was she succumbing to his practiced charm? Who better than she should know better? Pulling her hand from his, she moved swiftly toward their horses. “Do you think your mount has any chance at all of beating my little mare on the ride home?” she asked as though nothing had passed between them, as though she didn’t feel the need to pretend indifference to his allure.
“It depends how well you ride,” he replied drolly, quick to pick up on her altered mood.
She swivelled around. “I can ride as well as you.”
“Ten quid says you can’t.” He understood her need to put more distance between them. He was grateful she was sensible for them both.
She began running toward the mare. “You’re going to lose!” she cried.
If he wasn’t afraid of losing badly, he would have stood there enjoying the view. Her feet were flying over the grass, her skirts billowing out around her, her curls bobbing, her slender form a delight to the eye. He particularly liked that she was wearing his hair combs, the sapphires sparkling in the sun as she ran. He’d have to bring her something more tomorrow—something to make her smile.
Then he broke into a run and shouted, “I’m gaining on you,” just to hear her laugh.
She did.
Somehow he’d known she would.
As though they shared some common bond.
In his new joyous mood, he refused to acknowledge that bond as shared misery.
He much preferred the notion of a spiritual renewal.
Or say, optimism.
And maybe two months from now, it could be something else entirely.
Chapter
10
D uff surprised his family by appearing just as they were sitting down to dinner.
“Come in, darling,” his mother exclaimed, waving him in as he stood in the doorway. “How nice you look.”
“Eddie convinced me it was time to dress for dinner again,” Duff said, moving into the room. Recently, he’d been disinclined to honor the formality. On the occasions when he’d come for dinner he’d been casually attired. “You must have seen to the alterations on my evening clothes,” he said, smiling at his mother as he strode across the large room that was bathed in the saffron glow of a midsummer twilight. “This fits.”
“Weston sent a man up. He’s always so very accommodating. You look quite elegant, my dear. Sit here…by me,” the
“I’ll send Eddie over.”
“Rather than have Eddie ride over, perhaps needlessly, if you don’t hear from me by noon plan on stopping by, say, at one?”
A faint smile played about his fine mouth. “I shall pray for your mother’s continuing recuperation.”
She dipped her head. “I shall as well.”
“Good,” he murmured, taking her hand in his.
She didn’t pull away, although she should have.
A small silence fell.
Bending low, he dropped a light kiss on her forehead. “Thank you for your pleasant company,” he murmured.
She hadn’t been kissed so platonically in years. It was a lovely, beguiling gesture. She smiled up at him. “Thank you ,” she said.
“Until tomorrow, then.”
“Provided all the stars are aligned,” she noted.
“I’ll see what I can do.” A roguish certitude infused his words.
“Even you aren’t so arrogant, Duff, as to think you can command the stars.”
“You don’t know me very well.”
She should have said she had no intention of getting to know him well, but she said, instead, soft and low, “Nor you me.”
He grinned. “Don’t say you’re flirting with me?”
“I most certainly am not,” she protested, lying to herself as well as him, feeling an unalloyed joy even as she perjured herself.
“Whatever you say, Miss Foster.”
“Belle,” she offered.
“Belle,” he repeated, a delectable enticement in his silken tone.
What was she doing, she thought with alarm. Why was she succumbing to his practiced charm? Who better than she should know better? Pulling her hand from his, she moved swiftly toward their horses. “Do you think your mount has any chance at all of beating my little mare on the ride home?” she asked as though nothing had passed between them, as though she didn’t feel the need to pretend indifference to his allure.
“It depends how well you ride,” he replied drolly, quick to pick up on her altered mood.
She swivelled around. “I can ride as well as you.”
“Ten quid says you can’t.” He understood her need to put more distance between them. He was grateful she was sensible for them both.
She began running toward the mare. “You’re going to lose!” she cried.
If he wasn’t afraid of losing badly, he would have stood there enjoying the view. Her feet were flying over the grass, her skirts billowing out around her, her curls bobbing, her slender form a delight to the eye. He particularly liked that she was wearing his hair combs, the sapphires sparkling in the sun as she ran. He’d have to bring her something more tomorrow—something to make her smile.
Then he broke into a run and shouted, “I’m gaining on you,” just to hear her laugh.
She did.
Somehow he’d known she would.
As though they shared some common bond.
In his new joyous mood, he refused to acknowledge that bond as shared misery.
He much preferred the notion of a spiritual renewal.
Or say, optimism.
And maybe two months from now, it could be something else entirely.
Chapter
10
D uff surprised his family by appearing just as they were sitting down to dinner.
“Come in, darling,” his mother exclaimed, waving him in as he stood in the doorway. “How nice you look.”
“Eddie convinced me it was time to dress for dinner again,” Duff said, moving into the room. Recently, he’d been disinclined to honor the formality. On the occasions when he’d come for dinner he’d been casually attired. “You must have seen to the alterations on my evening clothes,” he said, smiling at his mother as he strode across the large room that was bathed in the saffron glow of a midsummer twilight. “This fits.”
“Weston sent a man up. He’s always so very accommodating. You look quite elegant, my dear. Sit here…by me,” the
Similar Books
