Miss Howard grinned as if by surprise. “Well yes. I suppose I am.”
Griffin expelled a breath. His muscles relaxed. Her open acceptance of him was a balm to his soul. It made him feel light and unburdened. Furthermore, it made him feel very comfortable in her presence, which reminded him of what he’d wished to discuss with her earlier. She’d managed to distract him by redirecting his attention elsewhere, but it was time for him to focus now. For both their sakes.
“About our circumstances…” He waited for her to adjust to the seriousness of his tone before continuing. “As I mentioned earlier, we cannot remain here together.”
“And if you’ll recall, I agreed.”
“Quite.” For some absurd reason, her chirpy response made him irritable. He grabbed his cup a little too roughly, causing tea to spill onto the table. Whatever relaxed state he’d been in a second earlier was gone now. He knit his brow. “I will return you to your parents’ home immediately. With any luck, no one besides your own family will have noticed that you have been travelling unchaperoned and spending the night with a man to whom you are not related.”
Her lips twitched and he saw that her eyes sparkled with amusement. Glowering, he took a sip of his tea which was now completely cold. His irritation grew until he was sure he would shout at her, reach across the table and shake her, or worse, kiss her.
“What?” he growled, like the frustrated beast she was turning him into.
“Oh, I just love how you refer to yourself in the third person, not to mention your boorish assumption that I will have any compulsion whatsoever to do as you demand.”
“I did not demand anything. I merely made a suggestion.”
“No, you did not. You told me what you would do, which is to return me to London. You did not ask me if I would agree to come with you. And just to be clear, I will not.”
Griffin stared at her. “But you must!”
“Why?”
He blinked. “To save your reputation. To—”
“My reputation is of little consequence to me because of the life I have chosen. I live remotely, away from London society. Considering my age, I am also firmly on the shelf and very unlikely to become the focus of any gossip monger’s attention. No one besides my mother, sister, and aunt witnessed our kiss, and they will not breathe a word about it since that would ruin Laura’s prospects. Furthermore, only my friends and your brother are aware of the fact that you accompanied me here, and I don’t believe any of them will say a word about it to anyone.”
“But…” Griffin searched his brain for a logical argument that might rival hers. “I cannot leave you here on your own. It would not be safe.” There. Perfectly valid.
“On the contrary, I cannot think of a safer place considering the last crime committed in these parts involved the theft of a chicken, took place long before I ever moved here, and was discovered to be nothing more than a misunderstanding.”
“Very well, I will concede that you have a point, but I’m still not letting you stay here alone.”
Her pleasant smile dropped from her face, and she leaned toward him so she could glare at him properly. “You are not letting me stay here alone?”
“Any number of things might happen,” he explained while doing his damndest to ignore the quickening of his pulse and the tension now simmering between them. “What if you fall and hurt yourself?”
“I have never done so in the past.”
“Accidents happen.”
“And I am starting to pray that one might befall you,” she grumbled beneath her breath, though not quite low enough for him to miss it. He pressed his lips together to hide the surge of laughter bubbling up inside him. Her eyes sharpened. “I know you have plans to return to Vienna and I would hate to be the cause of any delay. Cassandra will join me here soon enough, so you need not worry on my behalf.”
He frowned. “When, if I may ask, do you expect her to arrive?”
She clenched her jaw as if trying to trap the answer in her mouth. “On the twentieth.”
“But that’s at least two weeks from now.”
“And I shall be fine until then.”
There was no denying the fact that she was now trying to rid herself of his company completely, and that realization instilled in him an inexplicable stubbornness. It was as if she’d thrown down a gauntlet and challenged him to a contest of wills.
“That is not a chance I’m prepared to take. If I were to leave and something happened to you, I would never forgive myself. Nor would I be able to face your friends or Caleb again after promising them that I’d see to your safety.” He paused for a second to consider the choice he had already made. Somehow returning to Vienna held less appeal than it had three days earlier, though he refused to consider the reason for that too closely at present. Instead, he forged ahead with his decision. “If you insist on staying, then I shall remain here with you until Cassandra arrives.”
Miss Howard’s mouth dropped open. Her eyes widened with dismay. “But…You cannot. I mean… It would not be proper.”
“By your own account a few short minutes ago, propriety is not much of a concern to you.”
“If you leave!” The glare was back in her eyes, even fiercer than before.
He understood her completely. “You worry what the locals will think if they discover that you and I are living together.” It was a fair point, he had to admit. And since ignoring it would defeat his reason for staying, it was also one he could not deny. Least of all if he was to call himself a gentleman.
Seeing the look of despair in her eyes, the compulsion to keep her safe grew alongside his longing to stay, so he grasped at the only plausible option that came to mind. “None of the locals met me when I was last here, so I would suggest we allow them to think that I’m Caleb.”
She shook her head as if trying to rid herself of an itch attacking her brain. “What?”
“We look identical to each other, save for the scar, which Caleb could have sustained a couple of months ago while fixing something or other on his London home.”
“But why on earth would you…Caleb…be here instead of there with his wife?”
“Because some of the rooms here need a fresh coat of paint,” he explained, warming to the idea. “Getting the work done while the children are away would be safest as it prevents them from being exposed to the fumes. And you have kindly agreed to oversee the project.”
“But wouldn’t Mary have come with you?”
“Not when she is expecting. It wouldn’t be safe for her or the child.”
Miss Howard did not look the least bit convinced. “Even if we managed to sell such a fib, there is still the matter of you and me living together.”
“Except it would not be you and me. It would be you and Caleb, a married man who’s practically your brother-in-law for all intents and purposes. Certainly, there are those who will find it odd, but bearing in mind your status as a spinster, I don’t think it will lead to scandal.”
“I don’t know…”
“The most important thing will be to prove our story, which means that I will actually have to do some painting while I am here.” He smiled at that thought. “Surely that’s too good an offer for you to pass up.”
She drummed her fingertips lightly against the tabletop while considering. Griffin’s heart thrummed with the sort of excitement he hadn’t felt in years. Not since opening his shop and selling his first mechanical bird. But it was back now, and he could only hope that the woman who had the power to grant him a bit of adventure, no matter how brief, would not deny him the chance.
Her eyes met his and he saw in them a resolve that caused him to hold his breath. “You will have to stay in the cottage, just as your brother once did.” Griffin expelled his breath and gave a quick nod. “Considering your rank, you should know that I am not comfortable with that demand, but it is a necessary precaution. I hope you understand.”
“Of course. And you must not worry. I’m accustomed to l
iving modestly.”
She did not smile. Indeed, her entire demeanor had turned inscrutable. “You should also consider trimming your hair.” Reflexively, Griffin ran his fingers through his dark locks. “Caleb’s was shorter when he was here. Trimming it will make you more closely resemble the man the people here remember.”
“An excellent point. Anything else?’
Hesitating briefly, she then slowly nodded. “If we are to do this successfully, we must start right away. We’ll go into town so I can shop for some food while you purchase your supplies. This will give us a chance to establish the façade we wish to present.”
“And prevent suppositions from being formed.”
“Precisely.”
He liked her logical reasoning. “Then we are in agreement?”
She inhaled deeply, as if preparing to dive to the bottom of the ocean. A swift nod followed, and then, “Yes. I believe we are.”
Griffin almost whooped with the thrill that raced through him the moment she gave her consent. Vienna could wait. Staying here with Miss Howard, however, was the sort of opportunity he instinctively knew he ought not pass up. Because of duty and honor and the promise he’d made to protect her. To suppose there was any other incentive wasn’t something that he was prepared to admit.
6
There was only one reasonable explanation for why she’d agreed to Lord Griffin’s mad scheme, Emily decided as they walked to the village together after breakfast. She was obviously cracked in the head. If randomly kissing him at a ball did not confirm this, then letting him stay with her at Clearview for two weeks most certainly did.
But the truth of the matter was that as adamant as she had been about trying to send him away, part of her had hoped he’d stay. It was selfish, she knew, for her reasoning had everything to do with the way he made her feel. For the past six years she’d come to the gradual realization that she would probably never marry and that she was destined to dedicate herself to the children she and her friends had taken into their care
It was a purpose that filled her life with meaning, and she knew it ought to be enough. But as much as she loved the boys and girls who depended on her, she longed to experience the sort of passion that Mary had found with Caleb. And Lord Griffin offered that chance. Being the subject of his attention made her feel beautiful and wanted.
She glanced at him briefly, at the firm outline of his jaw set in profile. The attraction between them had to be mutual. She was certain of it. And as much as it unnerved her because of her limited experience with men and flirtation, it also instilled in her the desire to explore, study, and learn.
Two weeks.
That was the time they would have together.
Alone.
At Clearview.
Her heart fluttered rapidly against her breast. Any number of things could occur between now and Cassandra’s arrival. Presently, her most fervent wish was for him to give her a proper lesson in kissing. Because she already knew that there had to be more to it than what he had shown her in London. And since it was highly unlikely that she’d ever have a better opportunity to learn what all the fuss was about, she could not afford to pass up this chance. Even if it did mean risking her heart. Which was something of a problem since he did not seem the least bit inclined to repeat the effort.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
The sudden sound of his voice almost caused her to trip. “What?” She glanced at him and nearly lost her footing again on account of the warm, coffee-colored eyes gazing back at her from beneath a fringe of black lashes. His lips curved with a hint of amusement, and Emily’s stomach dipped in response.
“You’ve been very quiet since we left the house, except for the occasional sigh which suggests something’s troubling your mind.”
“It is nothing.” She deliberately coughed to conceal the bluntness of her words. And then, to ensure he would not press her further, she infused her voice with brightness as she added, “I was merely trying to decide what to make for dinner in the coming days. Is there anything you would rather not eat?”
He narrowed his gaze as if seeing straight through her attempt at directing the conversation toward him instead. A pause followed and for a second Emily feared he would once again insist on honesty from her.
To her relief, he shrugged and turned his attention toward the road ahead. “I am not partial to animal organs. And I cannot stand cabbage, cooked carrots, or brussels sprouts.”
Emily smiled at the way he shuddered as he mentioned those items. “In that case I shall pretend I am cooking for one of the children, for I do believe your tastes are quite similar.”
That comment earned her a scowl. “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were having a laugh at my expense.”
“I would never,” she said without any attempt at hiding her effort to tease him.
He shook his head, though not without adding a smile. “You’re unrepentant.”
She chuckled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Good. For it was intended as such.” His voice was a low sensual murmur, causing sparks to fly over Emily’s skin as it teased it into awareness.
She glanced away, unsettled by the powerful effect he had on her, for although she would readily accept his advances for educational purposes, she had no desire to be seduced. Which meant that if they did kiss again, it would have to be with pre-determined parameters. It would be the only way for her to remain detached and not lose her heart to a man whose life would never include her.
This thought lingered as they entered the town a few minutes later, but was quickly dislodged when Lord Griffin asked her to direct him to the paint and hardware shop. She did so and they parted ways with the agreement to meet one hour later at the inn across from the church.
Basket in hand, Emily made her way to the butcher where she purchased a pork loin roast and a chicken before continuing to the green grocers and cheese shop. She was just exiting Wilson’s Bakery when she spotted two familiar faces.
Panic bubbled up inside her and she instinctively glanced around, searching for Lord Griffin.
When she saw that he was nowhere in sight, she allowed herself to relax. There was nothing to worry about. She would simply greet Mr. David Partridge and his sister, Miss Amanda Partridge, exchange a few pleasantries with them and be on her way.
Forcing a smile, she walked toward them.
“Miss Howard,” Mr. Partridge said, tipping his hat politely in greeting. “What a pleasure it is to see you again.”
“You too,” Emily said, with a nod directed at the siblings. “I trust you are both doing well?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Miss Partridge said. “Unfortunately we lost our beloved grandfather last month.”
“Oh. I am so very sorry to hear that,” Emily said, replacing her smile with a somber expression. “Please accept my condolences.”
“Thank you,” Mr. Partridge murmured. “It has been a trying time. If you recall, I have been managing his estate in Dorset since he went blind a few years ago. The place has felt a bit too somber lately, which is why I decided to come here and visit with the rest of my family for a while.”
“I’ve been entertaining him with card games and charades,” Miss Partridge added with a smile, “but after the rain we suffered yesterday, we decided to take advantage of the improved weather and go for a walk instead.”
“And what a good choice that was,” Mr. Patridge said, his gaze settling more firmly on Emily, “or we would not have happened upon you, Miss Howard.”
Alerted by an increased degree of interest in her since their previous encounter with each other, Emily felt her cheeks heat in response. She was still determining how to respond when Miss Partridge’s face lit up with pleasure. “Why, Mr. Crawford! How delightful to find you here as well.”
Emily stiffened and then she turned until Lord Griffin came into view, his tall, broad-shouldered form a testament to his strength and solidity. The heat in her cheeks fann
ed out across the rest of her body, and her heart began to race with anxious awareness. She held her breath, uncomfortably alerted to the fact that this was the first test of their ruse.
Griffin tightened his hold on the parcels of ready-made clothing he’d purchased. “I should say the same to you,” he said, responding to the blonde-haired lady with what he hoped was flawless credibility. “May I add that you look even lovelier than when I last saw you?”
The lady’s lips curved with pleasure. “If you weren’t already married, I daresay I’d set my cap for you myself.”
Griffin smiled, not because of the flattery, but because he was glad to know that whoever these people were, they seemed to believe that he was Caleb. Both were dressed in a manner suggestive of wealth and good taste. He glanced at the man who could not be described as anything other than very attractive. When Griffin had rounded the corner and seen him addressing Miss Howard with a sparkle in his eyes, Griffin’s insides had twisted beneath the tightening of his chest.
An immediate dislike of the man had erupted inside him – a dislike so intense there could be no logical explanation for it, except to suppose that it came from his duty to protect Miss Howard. And since he did not know who the man was or what his intentions might be, Griffin must have subconsciously chosen to err on the side of caution by considering the man a threat until proven otherwise.
Having made sense of this initial reaction, Griffin allowed himself to relax. He also did his best to behave as cordially as possible since the manner in which both the man and the lady had greeted him suggested they’d both been on good terms with Caleb. So he smiled while the young lady spoke of the weather and how she and her brother were very relieved to get out of doors after the previous day’s rain. Every now and again she would give his cheek a curious look, but she was apparently too polite to inquire about his scar, denying Griffin the need to address it.
More Than a Rogue Page 7
