Page 18 of Entertaining the Earl (Vows in Vauxhall Gardens #2)

“G ood afternoon,” Lord Bourne said with a bow of his head.

“Good afternoon,” Susannah replied, taking the proffered cloak from her maid, who was waiting, ready to chaperone them.

“We do not have to walk for long if you are feeling fatigued after your illness,” Lord Bourne said as he put on his top hat and opened the front door. Sunlight streamed through, and Susannah followed him out, wishing he had offered her an out earlier in the day, when her mother had been present.

Except…except she didn’t really. Because she didn’t truly curse the day he had arrived, and she’d missed spending time with him—even though she knew it was bound to hurt her more in the end.

“Thank you.” When he offered his arm, she took it. “I hope I can manage a little way. After all, I have been cooped up for days.”

The day was fine, and the streets were busy, with everyone taking advantage of the nice weather to walk in St. James’s Park, to see and be seen.

Louise kept her distance, and so it was almost as though they were alone.

But not alone like they had been the other night in the library. They would never be alone like that again.

“I hope you are truly feeling better,” Lord Bourne said.

“I am, thank you.” She knew she needed to remain polite and friendly, without allowing her heart to get any further engaged.

“I was concerned that…” he began, but then he trailed off. As intrigued as Susannah was, she did not press him. They were silent for a few moments, and then he tried again. “I wondered if, perhaps, you were not ill, exactly…”

Her heart began to race. She hadn’t made her feelings obvious, had she? She did not want anyone—and most especially not the earl—to know she had spent three days upset in her room because a man she knew would never marry her had stated as much.

“I was ill,” she insisted quickly.

“Ah. Forgive me then.”

They walked a little further, the sunlight pleasant on her skin after days of being indoors. Susannah tried to think of a topic of conversation that might be neutral, that would not cause her heart to ache, that would not give away her stupid feelings.

“Did you manage to read much, while you were ill?” he asked. “Or perhaps make headway on your own novel?”

“I read, a little,” she said, wishing she had never admitted her foolish notion of one day writing a novel.

“My head was sore…” And in truth, reading about love and weddings and everything being right in the end hadn’t been what her poor heart needed.

She was sure she would get over it soon, and her books would bring her joy once more…

Or she would choose some less romantic ones when she next ventured to the library.

Except how could she step into the library without thinking of him, and that kiss?

“I finished Pride and Prejudice ,” he said, and she couldn’t help but look up at him, a smile taking over her lips.

“That was quick.”

“It was very engaging,” he said. “Another excellent recommendation.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Her heart felt lighter at the thought that he did care about her opinions. So he had no interest in marrying her—that wasn’t a surprise. He still listened to what she had to say, and that was more than most.

*

The conversation between them was far more awkward than he had hoped, and he tried to steer it to easier ground. She smiled when he mentioned his reading, and that was something—but he still could not shake the fact that he had offended her. With the kiss.

The kiss that he couldn’t seem to forget.

“I’m not sure whether I will stay in London for the entire Season,” he said, more to see her reaction than anything else. If his presence was making her uncomfortable, he didn’t want to inflict it on her for the weeks that were left of the Season.

He found he didn’t particularly want to leave…but he thought remaining was possibly putting off his duties back at his estate in Kent.

And he wasn’t sure his desire to stay was motivated by anything sensible.

“Oh,” she said, her features falling for a second, before an impassive look took over her face once more. “You mentioned that before the Merriweather ball.”

“I have a lot to attend to in the country…”

She nodded. “Of course.”

Was she disappointed? Or simply remaining distant, as she had done since that kiss? Well, since she had felt ill at the ball, at least?

He couldn’t tell…and he knew it didn’t really matter. He enjoyed her company, and making her smile—but he had no plan to marry her. So he most certainly should not be entertaining staying in London because of her.