“Brandy.”
She arched her brows. “Isn’t it a bit early?”
He laughed, poured a finger in a glass, and offered it to her. “For the discerning lady.”
“Ladies do not drink strong spirits.”
“Coward,” he said with a laugh.
“If you think that taunting me will work, you are wrong,” she said.
He leaned against the sideboard and swirled the brandy. “You’ve no idea what you’re missing.”
“Well, then I won’t miss it. Now, if you are done trying to tempt me, which will never work, I suggest we have a look at the principle drawing room—or is there more than one?”
He finished off the brandy. “I’ve no idea.”
“Perhaps you will recall more about the house as we explore,” she said.
He scoffed. “Or find buried treasures.”
“You are entirely too cynical,” she said, marching out of the study. “It will spoil your appetite.”
He watched her round little bottom and said, “My appetite is definitely whetted.”
As they walked into the breakfast parlor, the aroma of fresh bread filled the air. Colin’s stomach growled, making them both laugh. “We might as well eat now,” she said. Then she opened the hamper and unwrapped the cloth keeping the bread warm.
Agnes appeared and bobbed a curtsy. “My lady, I await your instructions.”
“You must be hungry.”
“If it pleases your ladyship, I’ll duck out to the barn and eat with John.”
After she left, Angeline frowned. “It is a long walk to the barn.”
“The alternative is to join us, and you know she would be uncomfortable. John will welcome her company.”
“You’re right, of course.”
He opened up the hamper and retrieved a container of lemonade and two glasses. They sat next to each other where there was a patch of warm sun that made her want to curl up like a cat. They dined on cold chicken, ham, cheese, bread, and biscuits for dessert.
“Would you care for more chicken?” he asked.
She placed her hand over her stomach. “I’m full and fear I’ll be lethargic all afternoon if I eat any more. May I serve the rest to you?”
“Lord, no. I’m stuffed.”
She started packing the food, and he set the plates inside the basket. When she handed him the leftover bread wrapped in a cloth, their hands brushed. The accidental touch stirred something inside of her. She caught him looking at her with slightly parted lips. Then he took a deep breath and looked away.
Angeline told herself she was imagining the heightened awareness between them. At any rate, she could not afford to make a misstep. He was a family friend, and she was here only to assist him. Nothing else could or would ever transpire between them.
Unbidden, she recalled his strength as he’d swung that ax two days ago and the dark hair on his chest and forearms. He was the sort of man who made women forget to breathe, but she reminded herself that he was a rake, a man who pursued pleasure first and foremost. There were probably dozens of women he’d left in his wake. She’d made one bad mistake; she had no intention of making another.
When she closed the hamper, there was an awkward silence.
He cleared his throat. “Shall we investigate the drawing room now?”
“Yes, I’m curious to see what we’ll find.”
When he offered his arm, she took it and immediately discerned warmth from his body and the scent of him. She glanced at his profile. Although she was tall, he still towered over her. The cleft chin, straight nose, and strong jawline were familiar and yet somehow more pronounced. One dark curl fell just above his brow. She remembered that he’d despised his wavy hair, but his untamable curls were definitely part of his appeal.
After they reached the landing, he led her inside a drawing room. She surveyed the overall space and thought it had potential. “The carpet escaped fading here,” she said.
He opened shutters. “You can see the reason.”
“It is unfortunate they weren’t used in the other rooms.”
He leaned
She arched her brows. “Isn’t it a bit early?”
He laughed, poured a finger in a glass, and offered it to her. “For the discerning lady.”
“Ladies do not drink strong spirits.”
“Coward,” he said with a laugh.
“If you think that taunting me will work, you are wrong,” she said.
He leaned against the sideboard and swirled the brandy. “You’ve no idea what you’re missing.”
“Well, then I won’t miss it. Now, if you are done trying to tempt me, which will never work, I suggest we have a look at the principle drawing room—or is there more than one?”
He finished off the brandy. “I’ve no idea.”
“Perhaps you will recall more about the house as we explore,” she said.
He scoffed. “Or find buried treasures.”
“You are entirely too cynical,” she said, marching out of the study. “It will spoil your appetite.”
He watched her round little bottom and said, “My appetite is definitely whetted.”
As they walked into the breakfast parlor, the aroma of fresh bread filled the air. Colin’s stomach growled, making them both laugh. “We might as well eat now,” she said. Then she opened the hamper and unwrapped the cloth keeping the bread warm.
Agnes appeared and bobbed a curtsy. “My lady, I await your instructions.”
“You must be hungry.”
“If it pleases your ladyship, I’ll duck out to the barn and eat with John.”
After she left, Angeline frowned. “It is a long walk to the barn.”
“The alternative is to join us, and you know she would be uncomfortable. John will welcome her company.”
“You’re right, of course.”
He opened up the hamper and retrieved a container of lemonade and two glasses. They sat next to each other where there was a patch of warm sun that made her want to curl up like a cat. They dined on cold chicken, ham, cheese, bread, and biscuits for dessert.
“Would you care for more chicken?” he asked.
She placed her hand over her stomach. “I’m full and fear I’ll be lethargic all afternoon if I eat any more. May I serve the rest to you?”
“Lord, no. I’m stuffed.”
She started packing the food, and he set the plates inside the basket. When she handed him the leftover bread wrapped in a cloth, their hands brushed. The accidental touch stirred something inside of her. She caught him looking at her with slightly parted lips. Then he took a deep breath and looked away.
Angeline told herself she was imagining the heightened awareness between them. At any rate, she could not afford to make a misstep. He was a family friend, and she was here only to assist him. Nothing else could or would ever transpire between them.
Unbidden, she recalled his strength as he’d swung that ax two days ago and the dark hair on his chest and forearms. He was the sort of man who made women forget to breathe, but she reminded herself that he was a rake, a man who pursued pleasure first and foremost. There were probably dozens of women he’d left in his wake. She’d made one bad mistake; she had no intention of making another.
When she closed the hamper, there was an awkward silence.
He cleared his throat. “Shall we investigate the drawing room now?”
“Yes, I’m curious to see what we’ll find.”
When he offered his arm, she took it and immediately discerned warmth from his body and the scent of him. She glanced at his profile. Although she was tall, he still towered over her. The cleft chin, straight nose, and strong jawline were familiar and yet somehow more pronounced. One dark curl fell just above his brow. She remembered that he’d despised his wavy hair, but his untamable curls were definitely part of his appeal.
After they reached the landing, he led her inside a drawing room. She surveyed the overall space and thought it had potential. “The carpet escaped fading here,” she said.
He opened shutters. “You can see the reason.”
“It is unfortunate they weren’t used in the other rooms.”
He leaned
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