Page 35

N o, Henry was not attempting to decide how to best tease Miss Fernside. He was attempting to decide how to respond at all.

He’d had a handful of individuals express their love for his volumes of work, but he was no fool. They were field journals, not literary masterpieces.

So, now, to have this intelligent, observant, talented woman admitting to reading his books multiple times to help her see the world when she was incapable of doing so…he was overcome.

“I put in a great deal of work with each book,” Henry began, “and I always hope that my findings will inspire others. To hear that…To see that you…” He trailed off with a shake of his head. “You have touched my heart this morning, Miss Fernside. Touched my heart and humbled me.”

Her embarrassment melted away, her hazel eyes watching him with such focus, he nearly became unnerved, but he maintained her stares so she might know he spoke the truth.

“You must have thought me so callous, so detached from reality when we first met,” he continued.

“To think I attempted to prevent individuals from calling themselves observers simply because they were incapable of leaving their homes.” He grimaced.

“I truly did not wish to cause offense. And I am sorry that I so clearly did.”

Her features softened as much as her voice. “All is well, Mr. Branok.”

And just like that, she’d forgiven him again. He could not look away from her this time. She glowed in the grey light of the morning’s rain. Flawless skin, warm eyes, soft curls. Lips coaxing and tempting as they smiled at him. Lips he’d had the chance to taste before—but would never have again.

He and Miss Fernside had made such progress to become better friends. But then, the look in her eyes—and what he assumed was in his own—was anything but friendship.

Which was precisely why he needed to look away. Doing so would help him prevent another mistake of nearly kissing her. He respected her too greatly—just as he respected their mutual desire to remain single—to allow himself to falter again.

Unless…unless Miss Fernside just so happened to change her mind in a few years.

He cleared his throat, setting aside the ridiculous notion to return to the more platonic—and safer—conversation from before.

“So you truly have read my work over and over again?” he asked.

She sighed, clearly giving up her denial. “I have.”

“Then how on earth did you confuse me with Mr. Dunn if you were so intimately aware of my work.”

Her high cheekbones painted pink. “I had never seen you before. Though that was not due to any lack of effort. You are the reason I chose to?—”

She stopped abruptly, her eyes wide and lips parted.

“I’m the reason you chose to what exactly?” he pressed.

She held her lower lip between her teeth, tantalizing, though he knew she was not meaning to be. “Never mind.”

As if there was any possible way he could let his curiosity go. “Come now, Miss Fernside. Surely we are past feeling embarrassment around each other.”

“Surely we are not.”

He scooted forward to the edge of his seat, shifting to face her more fully and casting her his most charming smile. “I promise you are safe to tell me.”

“No, it is far too telling.”

“What if I promise not to tease you?”

She shook her head.

“If I promise not to respond at all?”

“No.”

“It really is that telling?” he asked.

“It really is that humiliating .”

He thought for a moment. “What if I agree to remove ten birds from my list?”

“That would be against the rules.”

“Very well. May I beg?”

“Certainly. But it won’t work. There is no amount of begging in this world that would convince me to?—”

Her words stopped, and she gasped as Henry left his chair behind to take a knee before her, wrapping his hands around one of hers as he held it just above her lap.

With wide eyes, she stared across at him. “Mr. Branok, what on earth are you doing?” She glanced over her shoulder at the empty doorway. “Suppose someone sees you. Imagine what they would say.”

He ignored her words, catching her eyes and refusing to let go as he stroked his hands across her bare fingers. “I am begging you, Miss Fernside, on bended knee.”

She blushed, shaking her head as amusement returned to her eyes. “You have clearly taken leave of your senses, sir.”

She tried to pull her hand away, but he held fast. Perhaps he had taken leave of his senses. Did he not just tell himself that drawing closer to her would be a mistake?

Ah, well. What did he know anyway?

“Miss Fernside,” he began with an airy tone, “would you please do me the honor of telling me the truth about what you had been about to say? For I must confess, I shall die a slow and agonizingly painful death should I live out the rest of my days without the knowledge. I beg you, my lady—nay, I plead with you—to release me from my prison.”

“Very well,” she said in a sharp whisper, “I shall tell you, but only if you release me from this compromising position.”

He grinned. “Your wish is my command, my lady.” He bowed over her hand, then finally released her as he sat back in his seat.

“Heavens above,” she muttered, holding her hands in her lap as she shook her head, though her eyes shone with delight.

“So,” he began, not missing a beat from where they had been before he’d knelt, “you were saying.”

She hesitated again, and he made to move toward her, but she held her hands up to stop him. “Very well, I shall tell you. I was merely going to say, that…” She paused. “That I came on this tour with the very purpose of meeting you and being instructed by you.”

Henry stared. She had to be teasing. “Miss Fernside, you promised to tell me the truth.”

“That is the truth,” she insisted.

He narrowed his eyes, still unconvinced. Although, hadn’t she let it slip weeks ago that she’d come for him? “I thought you came for the birds.”

“That was only my second purpose. More than anything, I wished…” She blew out a sigh, pressing a hand to her brow.

“I cannot believe I am admitting to this.” She muttered another unintelligible sentence before continuing.

“I have longed to meet you for years now, ever since I first stumbled upon your books. So when I saw your name on the list, I knew I would join the excursion with the main purpose of seeing you and telling you how long I’ve admired you and your works.

” She buried her face in her hands. “There. Are you satisfied?”

Henry thought he had been surprised before. Now? He was astonished. She’d come…for him?

“Have you nothing to say to the woman you’ve just discovered to be a shameless, prowling huntress?” she asked, peeking just above her fingertips.

“I…I find myself speechless,” he uttered.

“If I would have known that was all it took to silence you, I might’ve told you all of this weeks ago.”

He laughed. “I am equally flattered and surprised. And a touch frightened.”

“Due to my clear obsession, no doubt.”

“No. I am frightened that I’ve been an utter disappointment.”

She lowered her hands with a sigh, her petite shoulders slumped slightly forward. “Well, you oughtn’t be concerned on that account. At the risk of further puffing up your pride, I will tell you that being with you has far exceeded my expectations.”

Her sincerity touched him again. He longed to tell her his own feelings about the expedition—how she’d made it the most wonderful and engaging of his life. How she’d brightened his world and soothed his soul.

But she spoke again before he could say a word in response.

“Will I see you at dinner tonight?” she asked softly, staring at her fingers splayed across her books— his books.

She was ending the conversation, which was probably for the best. He needed to leave before he said something he couldn’t take back. “Yes, I will be there. I trust you will, as well?”

She nodded in silence.

Regretfully, he stood. “I will take my leave of you, then. So long as you promise we shall speak more this evening?”

She peered up at him, her eyes soft. “Of course.”

He gave a short bow, then turned to leave, but she stopped him. “Mr. Branok?”

“Yes?”

She hesitated. “Thank you.”

“For what, Miss Fernside?”

“For accepting me as I am.” To his surprise, tears glistened in her eyes.

Henry could not keep from her any longer. Slowly, he reached down, taking her hand in his and bending low to place a kiss on the back of her soft skin.

He closed his eyes as he did so, lingering a moment, memorizing the feel of her hand in his, the warmth of her skin upon his lips, the scent of her swirling in his mind, until finally, he pulled back with a lingering look in her direction.

“It is my pleasure to know you as you are, Miss Fernside,” he whispered, then he gently released her hand, delivered another bow, and walked from the room.