The Viscount's Veiled Lady (Whitby Weddings 3)

‘That was a long time ago.’

‘Not so very long. We’re hardly in our dotage yet. How old are you anyway?’

She shuffled her bottom to the furthest edge of the blanket, but it wasn’t far enough. He was still sitting barely a foot away, close enough that she could feel the body heat emanating through his damp shirt. Could he sense her heat, too? If he could, then he didn’t seem unduly bothered by it, though that was probably because he still thought of her as a child, a kind of little sister at best. Surely the way he was speaking to her proved that. But at least her pulse seemed to be calming slightly.

‘A gentleman ought not to ask such a thing of a lady.’ She put particular stress on the last word.

‘But I’ve never understood why not. Isn’t honesty the best policy? I’m the grand old age of two-and-thirty, but since I remember you being in the schoolroom, you must be somewhat younger?’

‘Twenty-two.’

‘Really? You look older.’

‘What?’

‘In a good way, I might add. Your eyes especially. You have a wise face, Miss Webster.’ He shrugged. ‘That was supposed to be a compliment, only I’m out of practice in making them, I suppose.’

‘Oh.’ She turned her face away as he popped the piece of lemon bun into his mouth. ‘In that case, you can call me Frances again, if you want.’

‘I do want. This is delicious, by the way.’

‘I know. It’s my favourite of all Mrs Botham’s cakes.’

‘Have you tried them all?’

‘Naturally. What self-respecting aunt would I be if I hadn’t allowed my nephew to sample each one? Under strict supervision, I might add. Georgie and I have done extensive research. It’s between these and the strawberry tarts.’

‘Clearly I need to pay a visit to this bakery.’ He frowned. ‘What’s so funny?’

‘It’s just hard to imagine you in a cake shop.’

‘Why? Doesn’t everyone like cake?’

‘It just seems a bit frivolous for you, that’s all.’

‘Believe it or not, I can be frivolous on occasion.’

She looked him up and down sceptically. ‘Give me one example.’

‘How about sitting on a picnic blanket eating cake when I ought to be hauling lobster pots into a boat? Is that frivolous enough for you?’

‘It’s a start, though I think Whitby society might go into shock if you were seen in Mrs Botham’s drinking tea and eating strawberry tarts.’

‘I’ll have to rely on you for supplies then.’ He held her eyes long enough for her pulse to start fluttering again. Most people couldn’t help but look at her scar, but his gaze was steady and unblinking. ‘Maybe you could bring some to Amberton Castle, too. Violet hopes that you’ll visit her again soon.’

‘I’d like to, only it’s difficult. I’d need the carriage to travel so far and if I told my mother where I was going then I’d have to explain the acquaintance. She doesn’t know Violet and I have met.’ Not to mention that Lydia would have a tantrum at the very idea...

‘Ah...’ he nodded ‘... I didn’t think of that.’

‘But I would like to see Violet again. I liked her very much. She and Captain Amberton seem very happy together.’

‘They are. Lance is a better husband than I could ever have been.’

‘You?’ She blinked. Had he been an option? The idea unsettled her for some reason.

He nodded. ‘Our fathers wanted the two of us to marry. They even came to a secret agreement about it, around the same time I first met your sister, as it happens. I tried and tried to persuade my father to change his mind, but he wouldn’t listen. Then, after I left, Lance inherited Violet, so to speak. She was just as thrilled by the prospect of an arranged marriage as I’d been, so much so that she tried running away, too, but Lance went after her.’

‘And they lived happily ever after?’