Chapter 17

Felix would now have a cottage to make into a home. He would not own it, but still it was a cottage that he intended to live in for a very long time. Would she one day live in it with him?

Oh, as much as Carina wished it could be, and even though he was courting her, she tried not to let her hopes become too high. He'd not said he loved her. They talked, kissed and he attempted seduction. What if that was all he wanted from her?

Felix was so much like Bolton that Carina feared that she was only a flirtation, and a challenge since she would not fully give into his seduction.

She wanted to so very much, but she would not allow herself to be ruined. If she ever experienced intimacies with a man, it would be after she had wed, which was the very reason she would not tour the cottage. Carina already knew that she would not have been able to resist Felix if he had wanted her in his new bed.

Goodness! Her face started to burn with the very idea. But that wasn't all, her body ached to be touched. She wanted to experience the passion that came from desire. She wanted to know if mating was as glorious as Gaia claimed.

But she would not until she was wed.

When they neared Milsom Street, Felix took the curricle to the mews so that the horses could be looked after, then assisted her to the ground.

"Is there a particular shop that you would like to visit?" he asked after offering his arm.

"I need gloves."

"Is that all?"

"I only purchase what I need, not what I want," she replied. Carina needed Felix to know that she was not a spend-thrift if he were considering her for a wife.

After she had made her purchase, the two of them strolled the street and stopped to look in the windows at what was being displayed. He asked what would be necessary for a household.

"Did you not grow up in one?" Carina countered.

"Yes, of course, but I did not pay attention to what a home needed as all necessities were already provided."

"Is there furniture in the parlor?"

"Yes."

"Is there furniture in the dining room?"

"Yes."

"Is there furniture in the bed chamber?"

He leaned in. "I am to understand that the bed is very comfortable."

Carina's face heated but she ignored his innuendo.

"Are there items in the kitchen with which to cook?"

It was then that he stopped. "I do not know."

Then another concern came to her. "Have you ever cooked?"

"No. Have you?"

"No, but it cannot be so difficult, can it?"

Goodness! If she ever did marry and had a home of her own, she would need to learn how to function in a kitchen.

Felix stiffened and looked past her.

"What is it?" she asked as she began to turn.

"Nothing," he said a little too abruptly. "Shall we find a bookshop. There must be books on cooking so that I can learn to prepare a simple meal."

"I am certain there are," Carina answered, while looking behind her. Who was Felix trying to avoid?

He pulled her into the bookshop then led her toward the back without even looking at titles or sections.

"What is wrong?" she asked again.

"Nothing," he answered, though he watched the front window and those who walked by and then quickly turned his back to the window when a pretty blond passed. Beside her was Lord Clarkston. Ah, so it wasn't the woman, but the man who had shot him. Given Clarkston was a lord and Felix was a coachman turned estate manager, it was likely he did not want to endure another encounter with the horrible man.

"Let us see if we can find the books you need," she offered.

What the blazes was Miss Daphne doing in Bath and why was she with Clarkston?

Was she still a miss? She must be if Clarkston was squiring her about.

Bloody hell. If she saw him, she would go right to his grandfather, which mustn't happen until he'd secured Carina as his wife.

Felix had wanted to take his time in courting her, then confess his heart and propose, but feared that he was now running out of time.

Then again, he could simply avoid returning to Bath until Society returned to their country homes for the summer.

Yes, that is what he would need to do, except he wanted to spend time with Carina in places other than the back garden.

There must be places in Bath where he would not risk encountering Miss Daphne.

Carina had found three books that provided recipes and instructions. Felix barely glanced at them.

"Whichever provides the easiest and simplest meals," he finally said. "I will go through the kitchen to make certain that I have pots and whatever else I may need."

She handed him a book. "These recipes appear easy enough at first glance."

"Thank you." He took it from her. "Hopefully I will not poison myself."

After Felix paid for the book, he slowly stepped out onto the walk and glanced in the direction Miss Daphne had walked and hoped that he did not see her. Thankfully the curricle was in the opposite direction.

"We should return you home." He offered her his arm. "I would not want Lady Lydell to worry about you."

Carina frowned but said nothing further.

Once they were again seated in the curricle, Felix tucked his chin and made certain that his hat was pulled low enough to shadow his face.

"Is it Lord Clarkston who you are avoiding?"

Felix clenched his jaw. He did not want to lie to Carina, but if he told her the truth, it would ruin everything. "I have no wish for either of us to encounter him again. He did shoot me, even if it was not intentional."

He didn't exactly lie; he simply had not offered the full truth of the matter.

"I am certain that Lydell's cook will still provide you with meals."

"I will likely find myself at the kitchen door if I do not manage to learn on my own." Though he hoped that once they married, if Carina would have him, she would provide those meals. Except, she didn't know how to cook any more than he did. For two servants, they knew very little about running a household, cleaning or how to prepare meals. Hopefully his new salary would allow him to hire a maid of all work so that they at least didn't starve.