"I'm not convinced of that. But in any case, she worries about you being lonely. She thinks we should remain married."
"I see I shall have to talk with her," Aurora muttered under her breath.
"I should talk with her as well about her shameless conduct. Imagine my surprise to see the two of you galloping past like wild Indians." He shook his head disapprovingly, although there was an undertone of la
ughter in his voice. "I would have expected it of Raven, but you, love…"
"Raven isn't to blame," Aurora admitted reluctantly. "The fault is entirely mine. I instigated the race."
"Did you?" His eyebrow lifted. "You mean to say you've been corrupting my sister, rather than the other way around?"
"I should not have, I know, but the horses were fresh, and there were so few people about to see… And, well, the horses did need exercise, after all."
Nicholas regarded her with amusement. "Have I uncovered a secret vice, my love?"
She bit her lip. Riding was her passion and her vice. It was her one freedom, her chance to escape her confining upbringing and the restrictive conventions governing widowhood. "As a widow, I am not allowed many liberties," she began defensively.
"So when you come to the park, you allow yourself to go wild."
"It isn't as bad as all that!"
"Oh, I don't think it bad in the slightest. The exercise has flushed your cheeks and brightened your eyes… Amazingly sensual." Nicholas's measured gaze swept over her, while his tone became low and vibrant. "You look as if you've just risen from your bed after a night of passionate lovemaking."
Aurora flushed, hardly knowing how to respond.
"It only confirms what I've suspected all along."
"What do you suspect?" she asked warily.
"That there's a hidden fire smoldering beneath that cool, regal air of yours."
She was flustered by his intimacy, yet she could not look away.
"Your eyes truly are an incredible blue," Nicholas said, his voice taking on a husky note.
Wondering how he could see her eyes, Aurora reached up to touch the brim of her hat and suddenly realized she had forgotten about her widow's veil. Somehow it had blown back, leaving her face exposed. Dismayed, she settled the film of plum lace into place, concealing her features from his penetrating gaze.
"How ungenerous of you to hide yourself away," Nicholas remarked, the laughter back in his voice. "I was enjoying the view."
"What have you been doing with yourself these past two days?" Aurora asked, determined to change the subject.
"Have you missed me, then?"
She gave him an arch look, which she then realized he could no longer see because of her veil. "I was simply worried that you might have embroiled yourself in some kind of trouble."
His smile was pure, unadulterated charm. "Whatever would lead you to think that?"
"What indeed?" Aurora replied wryly with unwilling amusement, struggling to resist his undeniable allure.
"Actually, I've been working on establishing my credentials. With Wycliff out of town, I'm finding it difficult. Your countrymen tend to look down their noses at Americans, no matter how loyal they are to the Crown."
"It would perhaps help if you were loyal to the Crown."
"Or if I had more blue blood. I suppose I need to find a sponsor to endorse me, particularly if I hope to move in your elevated social circles. Perhaps I should prevail upon you to introduce me to your highbrowed acquaintances."
She was exasperated by his devil-may-care air. "I should think you would be the least bit concerned about the danger of flaunting yourself about."
"Oh, I won't purposefully flaunt my existence, but I won't hide in the shadows, either."