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“Even great minds like yours need rest, Pru.” He removed his hands from behind his head and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees to fix her with his gaze. “You have been researching almost every damned day since I met you. If I broke you, I’d never forgive myself.”

A laugh escaped her. “I cannot be broken by mere research.”

“Well, I for one am not willing to risk it.” His eyes crinkled in the corners.

She rolled her eyes. “You are being overdramatic.”

“We are taking the day off, just accept it.”

Settling back into the chair, she watched the town give way to countryside. She supposed one day would not hurt. So long as she managed to keep her head around Seth.

Gentle green hills punctuated by great swathes of evergreen trees passed by them until they reached land surrounded by a cream stone wall.

“Your brother’s estate?”

Seth nodded. “It’s our preferred one. Closest to London and all that.”

They stopped by the gatehouse and the driver had a quick conversation with someone there then they rolled down a long road lined with oak trees. The house was visible even from the end of the road—an elegant square building surrounded bycolumns. No doubt it was not as big as the family seat but the house was sizeable and attractive.

“It’s lovely,” she commented.

Seth smiled. “It’s my favorite. Not just because of the proximity to London but because it’s the most practical of the houses. It hasn’t had much work done to it in the past fifty or so years so the layout is nice and simple.” He indicated to the house. “One great big square with a courtyard in the middle.”

“Funny, I would have thought you might appreciate modernization.”

He shook his head. “Why prettify something when it does not need it?” His gaze bore into hers, making her frown. Was he trying to tell her something else?

“What of your family seat? Is that very modern?” she asked quickly—an attempt to ease the tension thickening the air in the vehicle.

He nodded. “My brother has done nothing to it. As I told you, his wife left him in rather dire straits. But my father added to it, as did his father.” He shook his head. “That’s the problem with these buildings. Each man has a different vision and they all get muddled together and built on top of one another. I’d rather these buildings be left as they were.”

“Oh, so you would rather it was some draughty medieval castle perhaps?”

He chuckled. “Very well, I do not mindsomemodernisms.”

The carriage drew up in front of the house and came to a stop. “You are quite surprising sometimes, Seth,” she commented.

“Good. I would so hate to be predictable.” He offered her a hand and she took it, her guard completely forgotten.

Blast. His fingers were strong and supporting around hers, clasping them ever-so-perfectly. She imagined they would feel that way no matter where they touched—on her face, her body…She drew in a shaky breath and slipped her fingers out of his to hold her hat while she looked up at the building.

“Do you need some refreshments after the journey?”

Prudence shook her head. “No, it was not that long.” She peered around them, taking in the expanse of land that stretched away from the building.

“I shall show you the house shortly, but there’s something I want you to see first.”

She folded her arms. “You are being very mysterious.”

He took her hand. Without thinking, she hooked her fingers between his. It felt too perfectly right, and even if she wanted to escape his hold, it was impossible. He dragged her away from the house with such enthusiasm and speed that she couldn’t keep herself from laughing in between trying to keep up with him.

“Slow down,” she protested with a grin. “Wherever it is you are taking me, I am certain it will not vanish today.”

He stopped and smiled. “We’re nearly there anyway. Just over this ridge.” Slowing the pace, he led her over the rise in the land and came to a stop.

Pru gasped. Eyes wide, she took in the sight of what had to be an ancient medieval fortification. There was not a lot of it left but it sat on a slightly raised mound and one side gave away that it must have been a castle, its wide base and gray thick stones leading up past an arrow slit before ending unceremoniously in a wave of broken stones. Around it, there were signs that it must have been a sizable castle, but the only evidence was a few squares of gray, embedded into the grass.

“You have a castle,” she breathed. “Your very own castle.”