Chapter 8 #3
Inside, however, the intimacy of the space stilled both of them.
Silence fell, and not an easy, comfortable one.
If only he were more skilled at small talk, but he’d failed at those lessons when his dear, patient mother had tried to teach them.
The first thing that came to mind was to gesture at the table laden with finger sandwiches and bite-sized cakes. “Would you like anything to eat?”
Miss Bryce’s face tilted toward him, and she regarded him for a long moment in what might have been confusion.
Then her lips turned upward at the corners.
A giggle escaped. Instead of feeling as if she was laughing at him, the cheerful sound chased away the awkwardness, and he joined in as she responded.
“No, thank you. The solitude is treat enough for me. Surely, you would enjoy watching the race, though. You needn’t stay on my behalf. ”
If only Miles could let her know the depths of his desire to be anywhere she was, no matter what was going on elsewhere.
Instead, he tossed out the only other reason for staying there that might sound plausible.
“My hosts are not newlyweds any longer, but they are still deeply enamored with each other. It can be too much at times, and I’m sure they appreciate not always having me tagging along. ”
She perked up a little, tilting her head in his direction. “Ah, I see. Are you opposed to romance, then?”
“Not specifically. I hadn’t been seeking a wife this summer, but only because I wanted to focus on my work at the laboratory. It’s a good opportunity for my career. But I wouldn’t oppose romance, given the right circumstances.”
He’d intended the response to let her know he was open to pursuing her if she showed even the slightest interest. Deep down, he hoped she would smile, bat her eyes, do something to invite his attention.
Instead, her expression fell. She looked…disappointed. Had he misread her enjoyment of his company? Perhaps she was looking for a friend who shared an anti-romance sentiment, not a suitor.
Turning to the table behind them, Miss Bryce lifted a tiny square of icing-coated cake and stuck the entire thing in her mouth at once.
After chewing and swallowing, she squared her shoulders and raised her chin, looking as if the confection had steeled her to face a challenge.
“I should be going. It wouldn’t do for us to be seen alone in each other’s company too often.
People will begin to make assumptions. Good afternoon. ”
She turned in a swirl of navy and stepped out of the tent, disappearing from his sight.
The emptiness of the tent now felt like a gaping hole, where before it had been a refuge.
With disappointment and no small amount of confusion spiraling through him, Miles tried to decide if he should go after her.
So when she ducked back inside a mere moment later, the delight that burst in his chest was uncontainable.
Until Miss Casburn also appeared, a fake half smile gracing her lips and her arm wrapped around Miss Bryce’s.
It might have been companionable if it hadn’t looked as if her grip was cutting off circulation to Miss Bryce’s hand.
For her part, Miss Bryce looked terribly uncomfortable, her eyes darting this way and that as if searching for a way out. What on earth was going on?
Sweeping into the tent, Miss Casburn released Miss Bryce and hurried to his side. “It is lovely to find you here, my lord. I couldn’t help but overhear you and Miss Bryce speaking of romance. I’m quite partial to the subject, you know. There’s nothing lovelier than, well, love.”
Along with the saccharine tone, she lifted one shoulder in what must have been meant as a flirtatious gesture. Combined with the formal title she insisted on using, it was all he could do not to cringe. “Uh, yes, I suppose so.”
Standing far too close to him, Miss Casburn rested a gloved hand on his arm. “We ladies talk, you know, and Miss Bryce has some thoughts on romance herself. Don’t you, dear?”
Miles took the opportunity to examine Miss Bryce.
She swallowed hard and pasted on the most insincere smile he’d ever seen.
“That I’m not at all interested in it? Yes.
I’m not, I mean.” She glanced up at Miles, her gaze almost immediately bouncing away.
“But Mr. Wentworth, you and Miss Casburn should explore what other interests you share. You both have at least a passing interest in romance. What else, Miss Casburn? You must be curious about Mr. Wentworth’s work? ”
Was Miss Bryce attempting to make a match between him and Miss Casburn?
The idea brought his complex plans for courting her by various means to a crashing halt.
Was she so opposed to romance with him that she needed to push someone else in his path?
And if so, was there any point in pursuing her as he’d planned?
Her words rang false, as if she were acting a part, similar to what she did at the resort.
Even their conversation only moments ago might as well have been with a completely different woman.
No, this was not the real Miss Bryce. There was something more going on between the two women, and now he had to add discovering what it was to the list of things he needed to do in order to win her.