prompted. If he had remained silent, the lady could have misspoken and proven his qualms correct, but he found he enjoyed listening to the girl speak. There was a bit of a Scottish roll of the tongue on certain words, and her eyes glistened when she forgot to protect her story.
She blushed prettily. “Yes, Francis and my sister Louisa. They were older and knew how to ride long before I could sit upon a saddle.”
“And have you become a fair horsewoman?” he teased.
Her chin rose in defiance. “Quite the expert,” she challenged.
Aidan caught a glimpse of a charming dimple, one he would wish to explore in a more intimate setting. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Excellent. I have a rather extraordinary stable of fine horses. We will ride together.”
“I fear I have no riding habit, my Lord,” she said in protest.
Aidan feigned a frown. “A terrible shortcoming, Miss Purefoy. Whatever shall we do to eliminate such a failing?” His smile widened. “It is fortunate you possess a relative who can afford the cost of a few baubles and frills.”
“Oh, I could not accept such expensive items, my Lord,” Miss Purefoy said in what sounded of genuine denial. Her reaction was not of the norm: Aidan had half expected the girl to jump at the opportunity to purchase new clothes on his purse, and perhaps even launch herself into his arms, a scenario in which he would have gladly participated. “I did not agree to come to Cheshire simply to place my burdens at your feet.”
“Yet, I insist you join me: I desire your opinion on my newest line of cattle.” Aidan frowned for real this time. “We must concoct a solution.”
The girl bit her lower lip in obvious indecision. “I had thought…” She hesitated. “I had asked Mr. Hill about the possibility of serving within the household. I had hoped for children where I might become a governess.” Aidan’s nose snarled: Mary Purefoy was too attractive to be a lowly governess. She would easily become the target of a disreputable master. The lady flinched when she noted his distaste. “However…” She paused again. “As no children are about, mayhap I can serve as your secretary. My pen is very well, and I could address correspondence and social invitations. I assume a gentleman of your consequence is often sought by the local gentry as an honored guest.”
“You jest,” he said a bit more tersely than he intended.
“I assure you, my Lord, I did not.” Miss Purefoy’s hurt sounded in her tone, and Aidan knew immediate regret.”
He sipped his wine to provide him time to consider her suggestion. “I have never known a female secretary to a gentleman,” he said evenly. “But I am not opposed to the idea. Permit me to sleep upon it. I will provide you an answer on the morrow.”
*
Overall, Aidan had enjoyed his evening with the lady. Despite their contentious beginnings, they had finished their meal in polite silence, but he had found no discomfort in the act. He instinctively thought of his wife’s reticence and prayed he had not been lulled into a false security by a pair of sparkling eyes. “It was certainly not of the nature of those tedious hours I spent in forced silence with Susan,” he reminded himself before immediately experiencing the guilt of having betrayed his wife’s memory. Having someone with whom he could share a meal had been a rare treat at Lexington Arms. On the road, Aidan held few objections to dining with Hill or any other man of his acquaintance, despite the gent’s social status, but at his home, he was expected to perform as the master of the estate. From the earliest days of his return from the Continent to act upon his duty to his brother’s wife, Aidan had dined alone. His father had taken ill; the previous viscount had suffered a debilitating stroke before Aidan’s arrival from the East. Of course, Susan was in mourning for Andrew, and she was some six months enceinte at the time. So, naturally, his wife
She blushed prettily. “Yes, Francis and my sister Louisa. They were older and knew how to ride long before I could sit upon a saddle.”
“And have you become a fair horsewoman?” he teased.
Her chin rose in defiance. “Quite the expert,” she challenged.
Aidan caught a glimpse of a charming dimple, one he would wish to explore in a more intimate setting. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Excellent. I have a rather extraordinary stable of fine horses. We will ride together.”
“I fear I have no riding habit, my Lord,” she said in protest.
Aidan feigned a frown. “A terrible shortcoming, Miss Purefoy. Whatever shall we do to eliminate such a failing?” His smile widened. “It is fortunate you possess a relative who can afford the cost of a few baubles and frills.”
“Oh, I could not accept such expensive items, my Lord,” Miss Purefoy said in what sounded of genuine denial. Her reaction was not of the norm: Aidan had half expected the girl to jump at the opportunity to purchase new clothes on his purse, and perhaps even launch herself into his arms, a scenario in which he would have gladly participated. “I did not agree to come to Cheshire simply to place my burdens at your feet.”
“Yet, I insist you join me: I desire your opinion on my newest line of cattle.” Aidan frowned for real this time. “We must concoct a solution.”
The girl bit her lower lip in obvious indecision. “I had thought…” She hesitated. “I had asked Mr. Hill about the possibility of serving within the household. I had hoped for children where I might become a governess.” Aidan’s nose snarled: Mary Purefoy was too attractive to be a lowly governess. She would easily become the target of a disreputable master. The lady flinched when she noted his distaste. “However…” She paused again. “As no children are about, mayhap I can serve as your secretary. My pen is very well, and I could address correspondence and social invitations. I assume a gentleman of your consequence is often sought by the local gentry as an honored guest.”
“You jest,” he said a bit more tersely than he intended.
“I assure you, my Lord, I did not.” Miss Purefoy’s hurt sounded in her tone, and Aidan knew immediate regret.”
He sipped his wine to provide him time to consider her suggestion. “I have never known a female secretary to a gentleman,” he said evenly. “But I am not opposed to the idea. Permit me to sleep upon it. I will provide you an answer on the morrow.”
*
Overall, Aidan had enjoyed his evening with the lady. Despite their contentious beginnings, they had finished their meal in polite silence, but he had found no discomfort in the act. He instinctively thought of his wife’s reticence and prayed he had not been lulled into a false security by a pair of sparkling eyes. “It was certainly not of the nature of those tedious hours I spent in forced silence with Susan,” he reminded himself before immediately experiencing the guilt of having betrayed his wife’s memory. Having someone with whom he could share a meal had been a rare treat at Lexington Arms. On the road, Aidan held few objections to dining with Hill or any other man of his acquaintance, despite the gent’s social status, but at his home, he was expected to perform as the master of the estate. From the earliest days of his return from the Continent to act upon his duty to his brother’s wife, Aidan had dined alone. His father had taken ill; the previous viscount had suffered a debilitating stroke before Aidan’s arrival from the East. Of course, Susan was in mourning for Andrew, and she was some six months enceinte at the time. So, naturally, his wife
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