myself without the ability to keep pace so early in the morning.”
Only he could offer an insult as a compliment in such a way that to refuse would appear ill-mannered. Fine. I would agree. It only meant that the opportunity to begin persuading him to leave had arrived early. However, there was no way I was going to walk all the way around the lake with him. A stroll around the garden would have to do. “If you wish.” I turned and moved onto one of the garden paths. He stepped beside me and adjusted his pace to mine.
After walking a bit in silence, he said, “This is a nice walk.”
Nice was not a word one should apply to nature. Exquisite, yes. Peaceful, definitely. A sanctuary from problems, a provider of hope—these were the things a person felt while walking outside. Nice was quite near to calling it ugly.
I turned onto a different path.
He didn’t miss a step. In fact, he kept so close his hand brushed mine. I clasped my hands behind me to avoid any more accidental brushing.
“It is on the small side,” he continued, “and quite formal for my taste, but it fits the house and property.”
I stopped. “I am sorry you find the small size of our house and estate straining. No doubt you are being deprived of many luxuries to which you are accustomed. My family is certain to understand if you wish to make an early departure. And as for this,” I continued, sweeping my hand in a wide arc to indicate the beauty around us, “it is perfect just the way it is, whatever your tastes may be.” I moved on, hoping rather than believing he wouldn’t follow.
He followed, resuming his place next to me. “I believe my tastes are considered refined.”
Was there no end to his arrogance? “No doubt a conclusion to which you alone so impartially arrived.”
“On the contrary, it is what I have been told.”
“By whom?”
“Single ladies seeking my attention. And their mothers.”
I stopped again, this time my mouth falling open in disbelief at his temerity. “It is a wonder you did not choose to ruin one of their lives instead of mine. It seems it would have suited everyone much more agreeably.”
“Not everyone.” His lips twitched and his eyes took on a teasing glint.
My own eyes narrowed. “Lord Williams, if it is your intent to mock me and insult my home, I would prefer to be left alone.”
He quirked an eyebrow and his lips relaxed into an easy grin. “You already mentioned you’d rather be alone. I suspect you feel that way whether I comment on your home or not. But I was not insulting it; on the contrary, I was complimenting it.”
“You have a very strange manner for complimenting.” He didn’t address my accusation about his mocking me, though, and I again felt as though I was no more to him than an entertaining way to pass time. I would not be his plaything. I would not bear his company a moment longer. Solitude inside was preferable to his company outside, no matter how stifling the house could be. I spun and headed in the other direction.
“We were walking this way,” he called out.
“I am returning to the house.”
He trailed me. “Do you eat so early?”
“No. I am going to . . . sew.”
He was beside me a moment later. He would probably follow me even if I broke into a run. I kept my gait steady, resisting the urge to test my theory. The stairs were just down the path.
He wasn’t in the least troubled by the quick pace. “You find sewing an invigorating pastime, I must assume, since you are so eager to give up this fine morning and sew before breakfast. However, if this is your normal routine, I would advise you to allow for a little more exercise in your day.”
I stopped, my hands clenching into fists. “My lord, if you must know, I detest sewing. But I’m finding this walk too taxing for me this morning.”
“You are ill?” To my astonishment, he clasped my elbow with one hand, my hand with his other, and propelled me backward onto the bench. I fell with a plop. “Can I get you anything? Would you like me to fetch you a glass of water?” He retained my hand and crouched before me, meeting my gaze with his own steady one.
What had just happened? Was this another way for him to ridicule me? Yet he seemed sincere.