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She flushed as she took the first plant from him, and they got to work.

It became clear very quickly that Alicia’s abilities outmatched his.

She had an eye for what colors went together, not to mention that Seth made an awful mess of his plants, placing them too deep into the soil, whereas hers were perfectly balanced on the first try.

“Do you enjoy gardening?” Alicia asked.

“Very much,” he replied honestly. “It seems as though you do, too.”

“My mother taught me some things when I was very young. She was always in the garden.” Her voice was quiet and wistful as she looked around the vast lawn. “She would have liked it here.”

Seth’s heart ached for her. He knew very well what it was like to lose loved ones, and he did not like the sadness that had clouded her features.

Not wishing to let her thoughts spiral into melancholy, he threw some soil at her, pretending it was an accident.

Her head whipped around in outrage as several clumps tumbled down to her skirts.

“My apologies,” he said as she narrowed her eyes at him. “Have I ruined your lovely dress?” Then, he did it again.

With a shriek of laughter, she surprised him by grabbing a handful of dirt in her fingers and throwing it at his head.

Seth dodged it effortlessly.

Alicia’s laugh was the most wonderful sound, high and lilting. She almost rolled backward, giggling wildly as Seth grabbed another handful of soil and hurled it at her.

She shouted in protest, reaching down to grab a clump, but he had reached for the same spot, and her hand accidentally landed on his own.

It felt as if the air around them was sucked out as Seth felt the smoothness of her skin against his rough fingers. He looked up to find her eyes already fixed on him, and she did not pull away, almost as if she were waiting to see what he might do.

Seth did not move, other than turning his hand so that his palm met hers. She sucked in a breath, a charged moment of connection between them before she snatched her hand away, rising to her feet.

He opened his mouth to thank her, but she was already brushing her hands over her skirts and rushing back to the house as if he were chasing her.

He sat silently beside the bed, watching her retreat, a strange sense of loss filling him at the distance growing between them.

Glancing down at the bed, he leaned back, looking at the pattern she had made in the earth. He frowned, something tugging at his insides as he looked over the plants she had placed in the bed.

Quite unintentionally, he was sure, they made the shape of a heart in the dark soil.

CHAPTER 14

Alicia reached her chambers, leaning against the door and inhaling deeply through her nose as she tried to calm her racing heart.

What was that? Flirtation? Whatever it was, I cannot allow it to happen again.

She shivered, remembering the feel of his skin against hers. She was becoming addicted to the intense desire in his eyes and embarrassed by the wild thoughts that flooded her each time he touched her.

When he looks at me that way, I could allow him anything. I lose my senses completely.

Pushing off the door, she tugged at her ridiculous dress, grateful to remove it, watching the soil that had gotten stuck in the folds scatter across the floor.

Alicia swallowed, realizing that she was smiling as she looked at it, enjoying the memory of their time in the gardens.

With a huff of irritation, she rang the bell for Rose. It would not be long before dinner; she needed to wash and dress before going downstairs. She was relieved that she could wear something finer for dinner and look like a proper duchess again.

And yet…

Was this really the perfect time to do so? She needed to repel the Duke as much as possible, and with the way things were between them, her plan did not appear to be working quite as she had intended.