“Of course.”
Tendering her a grin of knee-weakening charm, he held up the basket. In order to take it, Lily had to set down her valise, which she did reluctantly.
“You are too kind,” she said with forced politeness as she accepted his offering. “Boots will no doubt appreciate your generosity. But you should not have come, my lord. And most certainly you should not be bringing me gifts.”
“Why not, Miss Loring?”
Lily felt exasperation rise inside her. Lord Claybourne was being deliberately obtuse, since she had clearly warned him about Winifred’s matchmaking machinations. “You know very well why not. Did you not hear a word I said last night?”
“Yes, I heard every word.”
When Tess’s gaze shifted between them at the undercurrents of tension vibrating the air, Lily modulated her tone, realizing she would do better to pretend indifference.
“Then you should have heeded my warning,” she said more evenly. “You cannot bring me gifts without giving rise to speculation. Lady Freemantle will be in raptures.”
“Lady Freemantle doesn’t concern me.”
“She will think you are courting me.”
“So?”
At the casual question, Lily stared at him. “S-so…” She stammered to a halt as she understood his implication, since words failed her. “You cannot possibly be thinking of courting me.”
“I beg to differ.”
From his mild expression, he didn’t appear to be ribbing her, yet he couldn’t be serious.
“Lord Claybourne…that is absurd. You don’t wish to wed me, and I most certainly don’t wish to wed you.”
His hazel eyes regarded her steadily. “How will we know unless we explore the issue? And for that we must have the chance to improve our acquaintance.”
He was making her unsettled now, and extremely vexed. Lily narrowed her gaze on him. “I don’t know what sort of game you are playing, my lord, but I do not care for it in the least.”
“It is no game, angel.”
Lily tightened her jaw. “The polite response would be to thank you, Lord Claybourne, but-”
“But you are not the polite kind,” he interrupted, his eyes dancing with provocative humor.
“No I am not!”
She could see Tess’s brow furrow at her terse reply. Lily had little patience for the social niceties, but she was never overtly rude. She wasn’t certain how to deal with a seductive nobleman showing her such marked attention, either.
He flashed her a lazy smile. “I am willing to make allowances for your testiness, Miss Loring, since I know the cause.”
You are the cause of my testiness, Lily thought in frustration. Not the aftereffects of the champagne.
She wanted to be rid of the provoking marquess. Fortunately she had an ideal excuse. Drawing another calming breath, Lily forced a cool smile. “I would invite you to come in for refreshments, my
lord, but I don’t have time to entertain you this morning. I need to find my sister Roslyn and make certain she is all right. After the robbery last night, she will likely have little desire for company.”
Lord Claybourne frowned at that. “What robbery?”
“Oh, hadn’t you heard?” Lily felt a bit more confident now that she wasn’t quite so much on the defensive. “Last night Roslyn stayed late to direct the servants in setting the Hall to rights after the ball. Afterward, Lady Freemantle was driving her to Miss Blanchard’s house when their coach was held up by a highwayman at gunpoint barely a mile from here.”
His brows snapped together. “Were either of them hurt?” The sharpness of his tone was gratifying, Lily thought.
“Thankfully, no. But the footpad was likely wounded. The Duke of Arden happened along in time to foil the robbery and shoot the fleeing brigand. And now there is a massive search out for him.”