eyes had a strange effect on Rollo. A sudden urge to take her into his arms swept over him. It was so strong, in fact, that he had to quickly pull his hand away and clasp his hands behind his back to prevent him from doing anything so untoward.
Diana led the way along a narrow path to an ornamental stone bench, where they sat for a while with the heavy scent of roses assailing their senses. It came into Diana’s mind that she would never again be able to smell roses without thinking of this moment and the handsome Earl of Ice.
Rollo was more than ever aware of Diana’s presence, despite the distance of at least a foot between them. He glanced at her face half-hidden from view by her bonnet. Her lashes shadowed her flushed cheeks, and a wayward lock of hair had escaped from under her bonnet to curl enticingly over her ear. He noticed how very dainty and perfect that ear was, and had to stifle the strong urge to trace the delicate shell with a finger. With a shock he realized that he was in danger of becoming seriously attracted to this young lady. He must take care.
Diana found herself wishing that she could feel the earl’s hand on her back again. Or perhaps on her arm. Goodness, what a thought! Despite the perfume of the roses, she thought she could discern the clean sandalwood scent that seemed to be part of him, subtle but very pleasant. She couldn’t help but notice his fine hands, the long fingers tipped with trimmed and scrupulously clean fingernails, resting on his thighs. Trying not to let him see the direction of her gaze, she glanced at the muscular thighs clad in tight-fitted breeches and felt a little shiver of awareness course through her. My, but he was a well-formed man! How had she never noticed that before? She felt the heat rise to her cheeks.
“I must thank you again for bringing forward my father’s visit to your home and extending the invitation to us all,” she said, needing to break the silence and regain her equilibrium. “You seem to be always coming to my rescue.”
She was looking up at him, smiling, her soft brown eyes drowning him. For a moment Rollo felt disoriented. What had she said? Oh, yes…rescue …
“Oh, hardly that,” he said a little tightly. What the deuce was wrong with him? “It was my pleasure to be of help. I was aware of your desire to leave London, and to tell you the truth, I welcomed the excuse to leave myself.”
“You don’t enjoy the season, then?” Diana probed. She couldn’t imagine anyone not enjoying all the ton activities.
Rollo’s lips curled in a self-deprecating smile. “It is difficult to enjoy activities where one feels much like a deer being stalked and hunted down.”
Diana chuckled. “No, I suppose not. But then you seem to have the knack for warding off even the most determined huntresses. Though—” she paused “—one would suppose that one day, you will have to give in if you are to have an heir.”
Rollo stiffened beside her. “Just so. If I intended to have an heir.”
Diana realized she had obviously said something to upset him. “I am sorry. I was just—”
But Rollo had taken out his pocket watch and announced, “I think it is time we returned to the house. The sun will soon be going down and it will get chilly.” He stood and offered his arm.
Diana gingerly took the proffered arm. She remonstrated with herself for spoiling the interlude. For a short while she had been distracted and forgotten her problems. She was grateful to Rollo for his company. Why couldn’t she have kept her thoughts to herself?
* * *
The next few days the men were busy with business matters and the ladies had only one another for company. It was the Countess of Brockwood who, at midweek, gently chastised Rollo for neglecting his female guests. She suggested that the men put business aside for a day and that they all ride out on Friday afternoon, two days hence, to Spartan Top, a hill that overlooked their land to the south of the estate.
Diana led the way along a narrow path to an ornamental stone bench, where they sat for a while with the heavy scent of roses assailing their senses. It came into Diana’s mind that she would never again be able to smell roses without thinking of this moment and the handsome Earl of Ice.
Rollo was more than ever aware of Diana’s presence, despite the distance of at least a foot between them. He glanced at her face half-hidden from view by her bonnet. Her lashes shadowed her flushed cheeks, and a wayward lock of hair had escaped from under her bonnet to curl enticingly over her ear. He noticed how very dainty and perfect that ear was, and had to stifle the strong urge to trace the delicate shell with a finger. With a shock he realized that he was in danger of becoming seriously attracted to this young lady. He must take care.
Diana found herself wishing that she could feel the earl’s hand on her back again. Or perhaps on her arm. Goodness, what a thought! Despite the perfume of the roses, she thought she could discern the clean sandalwood scent that seemed to be part of him, subtle but very pleasant. She couldn’t help but notice his fine hands, the long fingers tipped with trimmed and scrupulously clean fingernails, resting on his thighs. Trying not to let him see the direction of her gaze, she glanced at the muscular thighs clad in tight-fitted breeches and felt a little shiver of awareness course through her. My, but he was a well-formed man! How had she never noticed that before? She felt the heat rise to her cheeks.
“I must thank you again for bringing forward my father’s visit to your home and extending the invitation to us all,” she said, needing to break the silence and regain her equilibrium. “You seem to be always coming to my rescue.”
She was looking up at him, smiling, her soft brown eyes drowning him. For a moment Rollo felt disoriented. What had she said? Oh, yes…rescue …
“Oh, hardly that,” he said a little tightly. What the deuce was wrong with him? “It was my pleasure to be of help. I was aware of your desire to leave London, and to tell you the truth, I welcomed the excuse to leave myself.”
“You don’t enjoy the season, then?” Diana probed. She couldn’t imagine anyone not enjoying all the ton activities.
Rollo’s lips curled in a self-deprecating smile. “It is difficult to enjoy activities where one feels much like a deer being stalked and hunted down.”
Diana chuckled. “No, I suppose not. But then you seem to have the knack for warding off even the most determined huntresses. Though—” she paused “—one would suppose that one day, you will have to give in if you are to have an heir.”
Rollo stiffened beside her. “Just so. If I intended to have an heir.”
Diana realized she had obviously said something to upset him. “I am sorry. I was just—”
But Rollo had taken out his pocket watch and announced, “I think it is time we returned to the house. The sun will soon be going down and it will get chilly.” He stood and offered his arm.
Diana gingerly took the proffered arm. She remonstrated with herself for spoiling the interlude. For a short while she had been distracted and forgotten her problems. She was grateful to Rollo for his company. Why couldn’t she have kept her thoughts to herself?
* * *
The next few days the men were busy with business matters and the ladies had only one another for company. It was the Countess of Brockwood who, at midweek, gently chastised Rollo for neglecting his female guests. She suggested that the men put business aside for a day and that they all ride out on Friday afternoon, two days hence, to Spartan Top, a hill that overlooked their land to the south of the estate.
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